Mom With Postpartum Depression Shows The Reality Of Having A Mental Illness

May 16, 2017

For women like Kathy DiVincenzo, navigating motherhood while dealing with postpartum depression is not easy. So she had a photo shoot to show what being a mom with her condition is really like.

Credit: Danielle Fantis Photography

DiVincenzon wrote on Facebook:

"Chances are, you're feeling pretty uncomfortable right now (trust me I am too). I'm going to challenge you to push past the discomfort society has placed on postpartum mental illness and hear me out."

Credit: Danielle Fantis Photography

"May has been declared Postpartum Depression Awareness Month and as someone with diagnosed postpartum depression, anxiety, and OCD I feel like it's time to show you what that can really look like, not just the side of me that's 'Facebook worthy.'

The truth is, both of these pictures represent my life depending on the day. I would only ever comfortably share one of these realities though and that's the problem. The only thing more exhausting than having these conditions is pretending daily that I don't. I work twice as hard to hide this reality from you because I'm afraid to make you uncomfortable. I'm afraid you'll think I'm weak, crazy, a terrible mother, or the other million things my mind convinces me of and I know I'm not alone in those thoughts."

Credit: Danielle Fantis Photography

"We need to stop assuming that the postpartum period is always euphoric, because for 1 in 7 it's not. We need to start asking new parents how they're doing in a deeper way than the normal, 'so how are you doing?' that triggers the knee jerk, 'everything's great!' response. We need to learn the signs, symptoms, risk factors, and support plans for postpartum conditions.

We need to break the stigma and #EndTheSilence by sharing our stories and letting others know they're not alone. If you have had a postpartum mood disorder please share your story below, or simply post ❤ to show you can relate. Let's show others that they don't have to suffer in silence."

Credit: Danielle Fantis Photography

"In case no one has told you, you're doing an amazing job. You are loved and you are worthy. You're not alone. Information to local and national support will be in the comment section. I know how unbelievably hard it is to reach out, but I promise you it is worth it. YOU'RE worth it."

Photos via Danielle Fantis Photography