In nearly every neighborhood in America there will be at least a few mothers who have experienced Postpartum Depression (PPD). Despite its prevalence and severity, it’s a topic that is rarely discussed. At the core of BoldJourney is a belief that learning from each other’s experiences is essential and so we asked some incredible mothers to open up to us about their experiences with PPD.
Sharnell Hall
After struggling with postpartum depression, I found my way back by picking up a paintbrush one day. Painting became my escape, a way to express what I couldn’t put into words. It gave me purpose and helped me heal. Creating art has been a powerful journey of rediscovering myself. Read more>>
Richelle Villalta
My husband and I got married in the fall of 2019. It was one of those golden days when everything felt perfect—unaware that we were living in the calm before a storm. We had no idea we were celebrating one of the last “normal” weddings before the world would change forever.
Fast forward to March 2020. The world had just shut down, and while everyone was adjusting to a new reality, I found out I was pregnant with our first child. It should have been a moment of pure joy, but instead, I felt overwhelmed with anxiety. Looking back, that should have been my first clue that something wasn’t right. Perinatal anxiety had quietly moved in. Read more>>
Emma Marchione
Towards the end of 2023, after having my first child, I was diagnosed with postpartum depression. I had a loss of identity. I didn’t recognize the person in the mirror. My life became very black and white. There was no happiness, no color. I had a great support system that encouraged me to seek help. I’ve always struggled with mental health in the past, being diagnosed in 2019 with bi-polar disorder. After months of therapy and medications I started to feel like myself again. I have always been a creative person and worked with wedding photographers in the past. I wanted to create my own brand, my own name. Read more>>
