Postpartim Depression and Exercise - Force Yourself

I was looking at some old emails and found this one I had written to someone at the 16 month mark of my severe postpartum depression. At that time, it felt like I was dangling off of a mountain, hanging by a thread.

"I  joined a gym this week and did some hard core exercise. I feel better.  The change is small but significant. It's the first 'lift' I have felt in 8 months.  And they have a daycare as well."

If you are feeling super stuck in a postpartum depression, force yourself to get some hard exercise. I didn't want to do it but realized I would need to do a lot of things I didn't want to do if I wanted to dig myself out feeling like the living dead. And I had a dear friend who was really pushing me (and not letting up) which helped get me there. Let your friends help you by saying "yes" even when you feel like it is impossible.

My mantra was "As long as you are making the effort, God will never let you down." Find your own mantra and hold on to it.