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Mom Sums Up Postpartum Depression in One Raw Instagram Photo

"This is what postpartum depression looks like, or at least what it did for me."
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By Anisa Arsenault, Associate Editor
Updated February 22, 2018

Tori Block is on the other side of postpartum depression. She fought, she won, and now she’s sharing a glimpse of what it looked like for her. Because she wants other moms to know, from her experience, someday the lowest lows will just be something you look back on.

“This is a picture I most likely will not keep up for very long,” Block writes on Instagram. “This is me, at the peak of my postpartum depression. I asked [my husband] Shiloh to take a picture of me, so I could remember how far I’d come, if I ever came out of it.”

She did come out of it, and it’s something she’s extremely outspoken about on her Instagram page. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t recall exactly what it felt like.

“Looking back at this photo I remember perfectly the pain I felt, the dread in waking up everyday, the physical pain that engulfed me from thoughts in my brain,” she says. “I didn’t want to leave this life, but it seemed like the only way that would rid me of the pain I was in.”

Ultimately, and with the support of friends and family, Block began seeing a therapist and a psychiatrist who prescribed her medication.

“I didn’t ask for it, it wasn’t welcome. But there it was, and I kicked its f*cking ass and beat it to the ground before I let it consume me.”

According to the American Psychological Association, postpartum depression affects 1 in 7 women. If you or someone you know is suffering, know you’re not alone and there are options for getting help.

H/T Babble

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

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