Episode 254-When the Darkness of Postpartum Depression Doesn’t Lift with Julie Thomas
WARNING: This episode contains conversations about suicide ideation and may not be suitable for all listeners/viewers.
Having a baby seems like it will be a season full of unending joy, but for many mothers, the elation of a new child can bring with it an unforeseen darkness too. Recent studies suggest one in every eight women experience postpartum depression. It can be jarring to experience the joy of new life while also enduring the pain of depression and anxiety in the wake. How do you move through the darkness into the light when it feels impossible?
For Julie Thomas, she couldn't have imagined the way in which darkness would seem to take over. Well after the birth of her child, she was experiencing a depression that would not lift. It felt hopeless and isolating, so much so that she contemplated taking her own life. While her story isn't one of instantaneous healing, God taught her the slow and steady way He can heal when we turn to Him in the depths of our pain. For her, it was a combination of safe people, leaning into scripture and sharing her story with others that would eventually help the fog of depression clear.
In this episode, Davey and Julie talk about what to do when you become afraid of both the darkness and the light, how to help someone through a season of depression, and why telling your story can become a catalyst towards healing.
This conversation will help the one who needs hope in the most desperate of places as well as the one who wants to be a help when someone they love are suffering in the dark. And it will remind us all that no matter what difficulties we are facing, we are not alone.
“God dealt with one thing at a time. There was time and there was grace and He knew when and where and how it needed to be dealt with.”
Julie Thomas
Website: www.julsthomas.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/Juls_thomas
Book: Hope Inside Out: Approaching Depression with Purposeful Hope
Are you ready to take the next step on your healing journey? The Pain to Purpose Course is a proven path to help you navigate trauma, tragedy and transition. To learn more, go to: www.mypaintopurposeplan.com
Life is difficult and pain is real. But you can partner with God to take back your story. Join Davey for a free webinar on 5 Steps to Taking Back Your Story: www.nothingiswasted.com/starthere
Do you want to access all Nothing is Wasted offers on your particular pain point? Check out Curated Pathways and find resources and hear stories of hope and healing from people who have walked a similar journey: www.nothingiswasted.com/pathways
