by Becky Vieira posted in Parenting

We don?t talk enough about postpartum depression.
There are not enough conversations about what it is, how it can feel, what a woman should do if she suspects she is suffering from PPD, or how she can ask for help.
I had near-crippling postpartum depression after the birth of my son. It took me months to realize my feelings weren?t simply ?baby blues.? It took me even longer to share my story.
It?s not easy to speak out about PPD. If you haven?t had it you may wonder why women don?t ask for help or see a doctor.
It?s not that simple. Or easy.

Postpartum depression is complex. It can be all-consuming and rob you of your ability to think logically. And our society has a stigma against mental health, making the topic taboo for many. Since speaking out I have been amazed at how many women suffer in silence, so I?ve been documenting my journey on Instagram to continue the conversation about postpartum depression.
Along the way I?ve ?met? other moms through social media with PPD and we?ve formed a community of support. One aspect that surprised me initially was the different reasons we all stayed silent. Postpartum depression can have general similarities, but we can?t paint it with a broad brush. Each woman has her own unique experience, making it all the more difficult to identify in some cases.
May is Mental Health Awareness month and Maternal Mental Health Awareness month. With the hope of educating others about PPD, some of these women ...