Mother’s Day.  My very first Mother’s Day.  G was four months old.  I went into a large chain bookstore to purchase Down Came the Rain:  My Journey Through Postpartum Depression by Brooke Shields as it just had recently been released.  I laid the book on the counter and the young lady ringing it up asked about my baby, and she mentioned she had a baby the same age. 

Then she said, “I just don’t see how anyone who has had a baby can be depressed.”

Did she really just say that?  Did the sales clerk really just comment upon my purchase?  It felt like I had been slapped across my face.  My heart hurt and I revolved between anger and crushing sadness. 

That incident combined with other comments that had recently been said to me sent me into a tailspin that I did not cope well with.  I went into a depressive episode.  I did go back to the store and speak to the manager about the clerk and she apologized profusely and knew who had said it.  I really wanted to make sure it was not done to another mom like myself.  She had no idea how her ignorant comment had hurt.

See?  Memories tied to this book…on to my thoughts about it, which will admittedly be biased because it was the first book I bought about PPD and it was at a crucial time in my illness.

I really, really loved it.  I felt understood and not alone.  I was impressed with Ms. Shield’s bravery to be so open, and her story gave me hope.  Sprinkled throughout was information that was very helpful. To this day, I wish I could give her a hug.  I am not a celebrity fanatic by any means and make an effort to avoid the gossip mags at the check-out line, but she is one person I admire.  I’m proud of her.  Is that ok to say? 

Her subsequent debate with another member of celebrity society about PPD and meds, and her openness, has always inspired me to not be ashamed and to speak out as well.  This is not an illness to be ashamed of in the least.

Down comes the rain, but out comes the sun.  There is hope.  Check this book out, I think you’ll be encouraged.

The book is designed so well.  It is a collection of stories from women who have experienced almost every range of postpartum mood disorder and the stories are organized into chapters of similar experiences.  Each is kept short and easy to read, and any triggers for intrusive thoughts carefully edited.  I truly appreciated these features.  When struggling to focus, short pieces of information are so important for the hurting woman! 

Its most phenomenal benefit is that it helps any woman reading it to know that they are not alone.  There is such a large community of us with a variety of symptoms and a unique journey, but regardless, we are not alone. 

This book is a secular book, however, they are testimonies from Christian women and valuable wisdom from moms from all walks of life.  As long as the wisdom does not contradict Scripture, then Truth is Truth, yes?  I think this is valuable addition to the library of any mom hurting from a postpartum mood disorder.

This book is indeed what its title says it is.  God bless you, Sandra, for putting this together.  I know it is a blessing and encouragement to women everywhere!  I know it was to me, even after I had recovered. 

You can visit Sandra Poulin’s Mother-to-Mother Postpartum Depression Network website here.

http://www.crossroads.ca/100hs/program-2008-sep01-sep05.php

Her interview starts around the 14:30 mark.  My player stopped working partway through the interview (which frustrated me to no end) but what I did see was marvelous.

Sue – you did a fabulous job, so composed, so calm and so beautiful!!  I cannot wait to see the rest of the interview!

Ladies, check it out – the interview and Sue’s book.  She is an inspiration and a true example that you, too, will make it through your journey through PPD.

I wanted to share with all of you my thoughts on this wonderful book, The Lifter of My Head:  How God Sustained Me During Postpartum Depression by Sue McRoberts, one of the first of its kind in the known Christian publishing world (see also Why I Jumped by Tina Zahn and Wanda Dyson - also a very powerful testimony).  Christian books about this topic have been desperately needed for such a long time, particularly as tragedies stemming from various postpartum mood disorders pervade the media more and more each day.  I often have to close my eyes to the news stories just to keep the sadness from utterly tearing my heart apart. 

Sue tells the story of her journey through PPD by interweaving it with the voice of wisdom, the voice of knowledge, the voice of encouragement and the voice of God through His Word.  In the midst of my own bout with postpartum depression, I remember reading about the need to focus on Scripture itself, as opposed to a devotional reading, in the midst of any kind of depression.  Not a book about Scripture, or a book about some aspect of Christian life (although those books do have their value), but Scripture itself, for this is the food of life, the Word of God, a living breathing ointment for our hurting souls and the nourishing infant’s milk we need when we need it the most.  That is one of the most inspiring and true aspects of this book and I rejoiced as I read it.  Sue shares so much Scripture that clearly tells us exactly where God is when we hurt – always by our side and usually carrying us.

What I often consider a sign of a great book such as this is the ability to apply the wisdom to any number of life circumstances.  For example, reading a book about infertility and loss (Hannah’s Hope by Jennifer Saake) after already giving birth to my son taught me so much about the journey I was now on, despite the fact that my infertile days had come to a close.  The same can be said of Sue’s book.  I learned so much that can be so applicable to any dark valley that one may go through.  Lean on Scripture and hold on with all your strength, even if by your very fingertips.  I also learned much about friendships, again crying as I recalled how Christ worked through the many types of friends as He carried me through my depression.

Sue talks about how each PPD journey is so unique and I could not agree more.  They are as unique as fingerprints, yet the same in intensity.  Even so, I found myself identifying with so many of Sue’s feelings and reflections on her experience and I again felt that I had never been alone through postpartum depression.  I had tears running down my face as I read and remembered, but Sue is always quick to remind the reader of the resulting growth that comes from walking through a dark valley such as postpartum depression.  I can personally attest to the joy and growth and God’s work in the life of a believer who has gone through such a thing – I would not trade my experience for anything and I now have a burning passion to help women just like myself and Sue, and thus the formation of Out of the Valley Ministries! 

I was greatly encouraged by this book and inspired by Sue’s story and I am praising God for her victory over this horrible illness.  It is a story of encouragement and most of all, a story of hope.  There is always hope.  Let not the tragedies that we hear about daily on the news be the sum total of our thoughts and knowledge about postpartum mood disorders.  Instead, let there be the hope of survival and the sharing of knowledge as we dispel myths and rumors about PPD through opening our hearts and sharing our stories just like this.  Millions of women have survived postpartum mood disorders.  Sue did.  I did.  You can, too.  But this is impossible without your medical professional, possibly medications and talk therapy, and most of all – not without the Lifter of our heads.  He’ll carry you through.

In all seriousness, check back later – I’ll feel up to writing it again sometime soon.  In the meantime, I highly recommend this fantastic book – you can find it here on Amazon.com. 

In Him,

Tara