Becoming ready for recovery
“…once I got out and made myself do it, it would kinda take my mind off of it” (Irene), Irene was adamant that no one knew about her PPD other than her husband and realized later this caused great isolation. “But then you have to [recover], you have no choice after a while. I think once l started feeling like my old self, you have to say, ah, I don’t want to feel like this anymore. And really just get your head back in the game. Um, I think it is up here [pointing to forehead] as far as just trying to change yourself. The way you look at it, not be ashamed of it, not, you know” (Dee). “Believing that it goes away, that, it, was the hardest thing for me to do. So, um, I don’t think that’s patience, what is that, faith” (Bea)? “Instead of being panicked, I was, I wasn’t quite calm, but I was, you know, just able to bundle the stresses of everyday life” (Fay).