I need you to know

If my postpartum depression has developed into postpartum psychosis I will not be aware.

My brain pattern will no longer look normal and I will no longer be able to reach out for help even if I wanted to.

At this stage I will be depending on those around me to know.

This is what I need you to know:

• Is there a history of mental illness (Am I genetically inclined)

• Is my environment conducive to this developing (Eg. Have I experienced a death or job loss or something else in addition to being a new mom)

• I will need you to ask me straight out in a gentle loving manner if I am thinking of suicide

• If I say yes I need you to then entertain me and humour me for a little while longer, and then ask me how I think I'd do it.

If I have actually thought of a plan then I need you to know that I'm a very high risk.

• If you notice sudden changes in my appetite and if I have missed a straight 24 hours of sleep. I need you to lovingly watch over me. I need you to clear away the cords, the knives, and the medicine cabinet... Clean out the house completely.

I depend on you at this point. I AM NO LONGER IN CONTROL.

• And finally, if I am normally an impulsive person then that may be the only regular thing about me at this stage, which will further add to me making a rash decision that will never be able to be reversed.

I DEPEND ON YOU. SO I NEED YOU TO KNOW FROM ALL NOW.

If you love me, please be in the know, because if ever I have a baby again and if ever I develop depression and if ever that depression morphs into psychosis. By the time you find out the information you need to know...it would be too late.

As a society we can help by just knowing the facts. Learn the signs.

When it is happening it will be too late at that point to go find out.

#postpartum #mentalhealth #suicideawarenessday #parenting #womanhood #depression