How To Deal With Postpartum Depression: What Helped Me

Becoming a parent is often described as magical, but the postpartum period can also be profoundly disorienting. After having my son, I was, of course, thrilled to finally hold my newborn, but I wasn’t prepared for the emotional crash that followed. I quickly learned that joy and struggle could coexist, and that postpartum depression could turn those early days that were “supposed” to be the happiest of days into some of the darkest and loneliest moments of my life.

My body was healing from birth, my hormones were shifting rapidly, and I was sleeping in tiny, fractured stretches. Suddenly every decision felt high-stakes. I knew postpartum would be challenging, but I didn’t anticipate I’d spend more time crying than the baby, the constant overwhelm, or the fear that maybe I wasn’t cut out for motherhood. The guilt layered on top only deepened the sadness.

How Common is Postpartum Depression?

What I didn’t understand then was how common these feelings actually are. According to the Office on Women’s Health (OWH), about 1 in 8 women report symptoms of postpartum depression in the first year after giving birth (OWH, 2026). Once I finally recognized what was happening, I started focusing on what might actually help.

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What Helped Me Deal with Postpartum Depression

  1. Getting Outside

    Isolation seemed to make everything feel heavier. Going outside, feeling the sun on my skin, and taking a slow walk around the block made a huge difference for me personally. Fresh air didn’t magically solve postpartum depression, but it helped me remember that there was life beyond exhaustion. That tiny reset made the day feel more manageable.

  2. Seeing a Mental Health Professional

    One of the most pivotal steps in my healing from postpartum depression was seeing a psychiatrist, who recommended trying an antidepressant or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Having a professional listen without judgment, validate what I was experiencing, and offer tools and treatment options changed everything for me. Within weeks, the constant heaviness I was experiencing began to lift, and I actually started to feel like I was enjoying motherhood, rather than just surviving.

  3. Getting “Ready” for the Day

    I didn’t realize how much a tiny routine could impact my mood. In those early newborn days, there’s basically no structure; just an endless loop of feedings, naps, diaper changes, and trying to survive on very little sleep. Staying in my pajamas all day only made me feel worse. So I started spending a few minutes each morning getting “ready,” even if I had zero plans to leave the house. It helped signal to my brain that the day was starting and that I still mattered in the middle of the chaos.

  4. Grieving My Old Life

    No one warned me how much grief comes with becoming a mother. I deeply missed being able to do things freely without calculating feeding schedules or nap windows. I missed me and the ease of my life pre-baby. Part of my healing was giving myself permission to mourn what used to be, while getting to know the new version of myself and settling into our new normal as a family of three.

  5. Letting People Help

    Letting support in, emotional and practical, was one of the most healing parts of postpartum for me. When my mom or mother-in-law dropped off meals, it gave my husband and I one less thing to worry about. When they helped with laundry or ran an errand for us, it allowed us more time for rest. When friends sent flowers or thoughtful gifts, that made me feel seen. It made all the difference.

  6. Carving Out Small Pockets of “Me Time”

    Finding tiny pockets of “me time” was also crucial for my mental wellbeing. That looked like drinking a hot cup of coffee while the baby napped on me or catching up on my favorite TV shows. Journaling also became a huge part of this. Putting my feelings on paper helped me process giving birth, the identity shift of motherhood, and the emotional whiplash of postpartum.

  7. Remembering It Won’t Last Forever

    When you’re in the thick of postpartum depression, it’s almost impossible to imagine things ever feeling normal again. I had to keep reminding myself over and over that this was just a season. The sleepless nights wouldn’t last forever. The exhaustion would subside. Even when I didn’t fully believe it, holding on to that made the hard moments feel less heavy.

Conclusion

If any part of my story feels familiar, know that you’re not failing and you’re not alone. Postpartum depression is real, common, and treatable, but it often takes a trained professional to identify what’s really going on beneath the exhaustion and overwhelm. Reaching out to a mental health provider can help you get a proper diagnosis and explore postpartum support groups. You deserve care, and you don’t have to navigate this season on your own.

This article reflects personal experiences and general information. It is not intended as medical advice or a substitute for professional care. If you need additional support, consider reaching out to a licensed mental health professional. Always follow your prescribing provider’s directions on when to start or stop taking medications as well as change dosages.

References

  1. Office on Women’s Health (OWH). (2026). Talking Postpartum Depression. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://womenshealth.gov/TalkingPPD

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Authored By 

Jessica Estrada

Jessica Estrada is a writer and editor with 15 years of experience covering fashion, beauty, wellness, and lifestyle. She began her career at Racked LA, where she chronicled Los Angeles style and the rise of digital influencers, before joining Los...

Reviewed By

Aimee Smrz, PhD, LP
Dr. Aimee Smrz is a licensed clinical psychologist and the Clinical Director of the North Region of LifeStance Massachusetts. She provides individual therapy to adults with a wide variety of problems, including depression, anxiety, chronic pain, relationship issues, and the impact of childhood trauma. People looking to break free of old patterns and move forward with their lives can benefit from working with Aimee. Using an integrative approach tailored to the individual needs and skills of her patients, Aimee uses a wide variety of techniques based on a broad set of modalities such as ACT, CBT, CPT, DBT, psychodynamic theory, and TARGET to help patients reach their goals. Teaching mindfulness and relaxation techniques is a core part of her work, as is educating patients about the brain basis of their symptoms. Dr. Smrz received her Masters in School and Clinical Psychology and her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Adelphi University, followed by a pre-doctoral internship at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts Mental Health Center and a post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School/Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates. Prior to her doctoral training, Dr. Smrz worked at both Bay Cove Human Services and The Cambridge Hospital (now CHA). She also has experience in Industrial and Organization Psychology. Prior to joining Lifestance in 2020, Dr. Smrz practiced at Atrius Health.

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