What's on my heart today?
JOY
=D
I've been thinking a lot about this little word that entails so much.
Yesterday, I went to my doctor to find out I'm going through this postpartum "funk". Yeah, not so cool, but hey! This post is not to focus on the actual condition, but to bring some truth to light about the one experiencing the "funk," and a few tips to go along with it .
First of all, I want to say that, YES, I felt defeated. I never thought it would happen to me. I felt weak, both physically and emotionally. I felt like I wasn't good enough as a wife and a mom. I had crying spells and I felt I was the only one. But the truth is that all those things I felt before are LIES.
When you feel that way, always remember that's NOT WHO YOU ARE. That's just the "funk" whispering in your ears. DO NOT BUY THOSE LIES! Remember who you really are, remember how much you love those around you, remember how you love to smile, how you love to live and love!
You were created to rejoice...
You have MANY reasons to rejoice. just look around...
This is not what God created you for. Just like you didn't give birth to a child with the hopes of him being unable to be happy and to receive love... You were created to be LOVED, and to ENJOY of this love poured over you.
So, yes, I had to decide whether to take pills for this or not... and I'm just going to wait a little longer. I'm trying to go all natural here and see if there are things I can do to help the situation. There are some practical things I started doing today:
-Take vitamin C. Orange Juice, tangerines, etc. Yum!
- Take vitamin D. This stuff does it all, including fighting against fatigue--very important!
-Exercising: This is tough when you have little ones. Just to find time during the day to do it is a hassle. I haven't decided how to approach this one yet, but maybe going for a walk every day, or if you have the chance of going to the gym, etc. It helps a lot!!
-Spend some time under the sun, just relaxing and taking in even more vitamin D!
- Avoid using Aspertame or Nutrasweet ( thanks for the tip, Janet! =D)
- Talk it out. Don't be ashamed of how you feel. This is not your fault.Find friends that love you and are willing to carry you through this. I had friends that stayed up till 11pm last night talking to me on skype, praying for me, seeing me cry and making me laugh! Don't be afraid to be real about this, because this is not your fault. Is not a flaw in you.
- Allow yourself to be LOVED. Sometimes, we try to be the strong woman who wants to help others, but we're not willing to let our guard down and receive. This is a good learning experience. Open up to those around you and RECEIVE all the love and the help they offer. Remember, you were created to be LOVED.
So, I've decided to wait a couple weeks to see how I'm doing, and if things don't get better (which I believe they will), I'll go back to my doc.
If you're out there and you're going through this, please don't feel alone. Send me an email at hellolecloud@gmail.com I want to know how you feel, I want to pray for you, I want to help you out in any way possible. I will also be posting more tips on how to walk through this season as I learn more about it.
"You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever."
... thank you, Jesus, because Your Joy is my strength!
ps: If you've experienced the postpartum funk, please leave a comment with some words of encouragement for those currently going through it. Let's help each other out! =D
5 comments:
Thank you, thank you, thank you! We are SO on the same page! Actually, just in the past few weeks I have come to the realization that I think I've been experiencing PPD for months. Too much to post about it here, but thanks for being so open about it! I haven't taken any meds, and I think I'm seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. Have you heard of/joined Lake Norman Mommies? They have an entire forum for this! <3 ya, girl!
I had to deal with a little of that the first month of Elliot. He will cry, cry, cry the whole day and I was wondering if that was motherhood. Thanks God we discovered that he has a lactose intolerance and after I quit taking dairy products my little sunshine start to shine for me. He is the happiest baby ever!
Now, after 3 month since his birth, I went trough a surgery to fix my stitches, not fun, but lets hope that is the end of all of this postpartum deal.
Thank you Pamela for your post, and lets pray for each other. I don't have the luck to get in touch with you like would like but I know that we can connect in the spirit.
Being a mom is the hardest thing I ever did, but is the best job I ever could wish to have.
What a sweet and honest post. I will be praying for your as you walk this journey of faith. My daughter struggled with postpartum depression and as a young woman who loves Jesus with all her heart, it was a very confusing time for her as she struggled with the realization this was going on in HER life. I have seen the Lord grow her in so many ways using this affliction He allowed in her life. She still struggles at times, especially with the feelings of not being good enough as a wife and mom. I pray the Lord will sustain you and all of the young mothers striving to raise their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Keep looking to Him and replacing the lies from the enemy with HIs precious and life sustaining TRUTH!
hello Pamela..i love ur blog:)U are honest and ur baby is ur lookalike:)kip smiling. May God bless u n ur family:)
hi pamela!
i had some serious ppd after my second baby. my little ones were 21 months apart, and i think that the extra everything it takes from moms who have a newborn and a tiny toddler can make dealing with ppd especially hard!!! i was very leary of taking medication (and never did) and i had good days and bad days. i never really declined to a 'rock bottom' status, but it never really got better either.
i just want moms to know that experiencing ppd doesn't have anything to do with: the kind of wife you are, the kind of mother you are, your relationship with christ. i heard some really bad council when i was in the midst of it like " this should be the happiest part of your life, what are you so sad about", " just pray about it", "seek the lord", " your husband and you should have a date night", "maybe you should go to work full time, some moms aren't cut out to stay at home". some of these things were said by others and some were said by me! anyway, it lastest a while (as in not months, but well over a year). i did as many natural things i could to "help". and they did help, some. i spent extra time on my knees with the lord. sometimes just crying to him. i wouldn't trade that time in the valley of depression for any sunny hill-top. i came out of it seasoned. wiser. stronger. and JOYFUL!
remember that "weeping may last for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" (sometimes the night seems terrible long, but you are not alone)
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