The Silent Storm: a letter on postpartum depression by Dr. Dee | Feminine Systems

She gave birth to a baby.

But she also gave birth to a new version of herself—One no one told her how to hold.

Postpartum depression is not just “baby blues.” It’s a chemical shift, a spiritual unraveling, and often, a cry in the dark that gets dismissed with:

• “Don’t worry, it’s normal.”
• “Just rest.”
• “Be grateful, you have a healthy baby.”

But I’m here to tell you—You deserve more than survival.

What Is Postpartum Depression (PPD)?

Postpartum Depression is a mood disorder that can affect women within the first year after giving birth. It impacts 1 in 7 mothers, yet so few feel safe enough to speak about it.

It is not a weakness, a lack of gratitude, or bad parenting. It is biochemical, emotional, hormonal, and situational.

What Does It Look Like?

You might feel:

• Deep sadness or numbness
• Irritability, rage, or sudden emotional swings
• Loss of interest in things you once enjoyed
• Intrusive thoughts that scare you
• Trouble bonding with your baby
• Exhaustion that rest doesn’t fix
• Shame for feeling this way

And the hardest part? You might feel too guilty to ask for help.

But You Must. And You Can.

Because healing is possible. And you are not broken. You are in between worlds—recovering from birth, rebuilding your hormones, and carrying centuries of silence around motherhood.

As a Doctor, I Want You to Know…

There are medical treatments for postpartum depression:

• Talk therapy (especially with perinatal mental health professionals)
• Medication (antidepressants are often safe, even during breastfeeding)
• Hormone support and nutritional rebalancing
• Sleep regulation and social support systems

Early intervention is the key. The earlier you seek support, the sooner you feel like yourself again.

As a Mother, I Want You to Know…

I’ve seen women cry in bathrooms between feeds. I’ve seen mothers smile for visitors, then break down after they leave. And I’ve seen women heal.

When they were held. Not just by doctors—but by circles, by rituals, by systems that see the mother, not just the baby.

The Feminine Systems Approach to PPD

We don’t just treat symptoms. We rebuild your sense of self.

Our postpartum care invites:

• Emotional literacy through journaling and support groups
• Body-honoring rituals like self-oil massage and grounding teas
• Nutritional support focused on brain and gut healing
• Restoration timelines that span 6–12 months, not just 6 weeks
• Community—because isolation fuels depression

You don’t have to do this alone. You shouldn’t have to. You deserve to be mothered, too.

To every woman quietly wondering if this heaviness will lift—Yes, it will. With the right care, with enough softness, with space to speak the unspoken.

You are not just someone who had a baby. You are someone becoming a mother. And that becoming deserves its own sacred attention.