263: Coping Through Treatment-Resistant Postpartum Depression with Lynn Wilhite

The message of today’s conversation is that postpartum depression and anxiety don’t always have simple, easy fixes. Medications, therapy, and other supports don’t help some as quickly as others. In these cases, suffering mothers need to know that they are not alone and that others are going through the same challenges that come with lingering depression. Today’s guest shares her story to bring awareness to this issue. Join us to learn more.

As a social worker and mom of a three-year-old son, Lynn Wilhite suffers from postpartum depression. She has been struggling since pregnancy, with medications being unable to help her effectively thus far. She has created the Instagram page, My Journey with PPD, as a way of trying to reach other moms and partners with similar experiences. Lynn hopes to bring awareness to the fact that PMADs don’t always have an easy fix and loved ones need to support a mother for the duration of her journey.

Show Highlights:

How Lynn’s PPD story began as she planned, with her psychiatrist, adjustments to her antidepressant and sleeping medications to prepare for her first pregnancy

How not sleeping for an extended period of time brought on her depressive episode

How her son’s birth went well, except for the NICU interventions brought on by her medications—and her first dose of “mom guilt” occurred

Where Lynn is today–three years postpartum and over 40 medications later

How her son had sensory processing disorders and needed several therapies, perpetuating her mom guilt 

How Lynn tried multiple medications, trying to find something that worked

How suicidal ideations and problems in bonding with her son brought additional challenges

How Lynn experiences grief, even today, over her guilt and all the things that haven’t gone well in her motherhood journey 

Why Lynn was hospitalized at two years postpartum after trying every medication available in different combinations

How a move to a different state left her with a gap in therapy and support

How a new medication is starting to lift the depression fog for Lynn and give her cautious optimism

What Lynn’s current therapy work is doing to help

What Lynn wants people to know and hear from her story

Resources:

Connect with Lynn: Instagram

Visit www.postpartum.net for resources and support! 

Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.  

Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today!

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