Transformed by Postpartum Depression: Women's Stories of Trauma and Growth

by Walker Karraa

Transformed by Postpartum Depression is a poignant tale of 20 women’s journeys through postpartum depression and the growth that they experienced as a result. These women described severe suffering as they had been taken completely by surprise by their depression. They also experienced failure of care providers to screen for or treat depression, and finally reached a place where they determined that they would do whatever it took to recover. These women not only survived their ordeal, but emerged stronger than they were before.

Transformed by Postpartum Depression is a deeply rich, compelling journey. These women creatively engaged and transcended their “diagnosis,” truly transforming themselves, their relationships, and their lives finding self-empowerment within their personal creative journeys of healing.

285 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 7, 2014

About the author

Walker Karraa, PhD, is a provocative thought leader in the field of maternal mental health. Through her writing and research, Walker pushes the edges of current concepts of maternal mental illness in order to reveal unexplored terrain in women's psychology and philosophy. After the traumatic birth and severe postpartum depression of her son in 2000, she dedicated her career to advancing knowledge regarding mental health in mothers. She was a certified birth doula CD(DONA) for nearly a decade before returning to school to complete her doctorate in transpersonal psychology. Walker is the Founder of STIGMAMA, a site dedicated to supporting women's writing about the stigma of maternal mental illness.

Reviews

[Kelliec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great evidence onPPD as trauma. A must read

A great evidence-based book on Post Partum Depression as trauma. I highly recommend this to providers in the birth world from OBs to Doulas.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walker Karraa's book looks at the transformative quality of postpartum depression, which she argues should be viewed as a traumatic illness. Her study relies on the stories of 20 women who experienced postpartum depression and post traumatic growth. Certainly more attention needs to be paid to the recovery period of postpartum depression. This book is a good place to start - it brings up a lot of issues that should be further explored as well. As an n=1, I can identify with the stories of the women to varying degrees. Many of the women dealt with their depression by turning to writing as an outlet - with several of them actually going on to publish books. This could be a very useful book to mothers currently dealing with postpartum depression and to those who want to understand how postpartum depression can bring about positive change.

[Jenny Benson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great information and well researched. It would have benefitted so much from a good editor. Seemed self-published, which ultimately was too distracting for me.

[Morgan Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Research and stories

It was an interesting combination of real stories and research presentation. I feel like I have a whole new respect and understanding for PPD

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extensively researched and compassionately presented. My copy is full of highlighted sections that resonated with me.

While I appreciated the details and the honesty, it felt like the women in the book (some of them, at least) were getting their stories told (or telling their stories) with some positive spin and a rosy perspective. My own PPD experience was not in the least bit positive, and I would be dishonest if I intimated otherwise. Any "transformation" for me was simply losing a part of myself that I don't think will ever come back. It could well be my own bias, but the optimistic silver linings here seemed forced. If these women are really able to grow so much from this experience, though, more power to them.

Karraa and I once corresponded via email, and her empathy and professionalism were apparent. She obviously knows her stuff and genuinely cares about the women about whom she writes. Unfortunately, this book could have used a better editor, as the tone and the flow were not consistent with a research undertaking of this breadth. Karraa deserves for her work to be more carefully presented than it is here, I think.

[Kitt O'Malley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Walker Karraa, PhD

Thank you, Walker Karraa, PhD, for shedding light on and sharing real women's stories of postpartum depression. Women's authentic experience of pregnancy and motherhood must be heard. Honestly, at times I found this ultimately hopeful book difficult to read, for it kept bringing back memories of my own traumatic birth experience, which I will spare you here (suffice it to say, I remember the pain quite well). Unlike many of the women interviewed by Dr. Walker, I had been under treatment for depression for almost 20 years before I became a mother. The family practitioner who delivered my son was the same physician who prescribed my antidepressants. Plus, her husband was a psychiatrist. They kept me in the hospital longer than the other mothers, and though they didn't say so, I was pretty sure it was because they were assessing me for PPD given my history - for that I am thankful.

[Dyane Harwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mother who was diagnosed with postpartum onset bipolar disorder, I've experienced postpartum depression as part of the PPBD spectrum. As an avid reader, I've searched high and low for an extraordinary book that would help me make some sense of what I've suffered, and that would inspire me and give me hope. Dr. Karraa presents the illuminating interviews she undertook with a variety of incredible women. Dr. Karraa emphasizes how these mothers' lives have changed profoundly through the agony of postpartum depression. At last I've found the book I've been searching for, and I'll be gifting it to every friend I know.