As a military spouse who has experienced the aftermath of having a newborn during a deployment, I can’t help but add my voice to echoes of so many other women who stand and stood before me. Postpartum depression is more than a few sad days brought on by exhaustion and change. The definition “baby blues,” does not adequately describe the anxiety, anger, guilt, hopelessness, irritably, lack of concentration or unwanted thoughts that so many women experience.
First and foremost, we have to be brave enough to personally give our own illnesses a name. The military community is known for our ability to be resilient and strong in the face of opposition BUT we are not expected to do and be these things ALONE.
We of all populations have seen the effects of mental illness. We watch it come home from war, play on the playground with our children, and see it, too often, take the lives of our friends. We cannot, in good faith, bring awareness to these issues while simultaneously ignoring our own mental health. Asking for help from a medical professional is the first step in combating perinatal mood disorders.
After seeking help and illustrating a battle plan, let us join a community of like minded individuals who can benefit from our stories as we benefit from theirs. Such a community can be found at The Emily Effect.
It is here that Emily’s legacy has influenced a movement for navigation of resources, personal testimonies of overcoming and thriving, and above all place for camaraderie. We need to stand with moms. As spouses who are or are not influenced by mothers we owe our most sincere efforts in aiding this movement.
Together, like we have done for decades before, we can overcome.
