I have been posting my blog and sharing my story with postpartum OCD now for over three years now. Most comments I have received in that time have been extremely positive, which I really appreciate. It is hard to share your story about something so vulnerable and stigmatized. The positive comments have meant a lot to me. In the past week, the vibe has changed on my social medias. I have been getting a lot of very negative comments from random people that are completely unnecessary and mean. To see them was really hurtful, especially since my mission has always been to raise awareness for postpartum OCD and help other families.

One of the comments I received was that I was unsafe for children and should have a hysterectomy. That comment was very disturbing to me. I have worked so hard through my recovery from postpartum OCD to show that having a fear of harming someone isn’t the same as actually harming someone. Seeing that comment was absolutely not okay. The Lindsay Clancy trial has really brought attention to maternal mental health, but some of it seems to be negative. I have worked really hard to show that recovery from postpartum OCD is possible and that it is often a misunderstood diagnosis. Comments like the one I received showed me that postpartum OCD is still very misunderstood to some people.

Honestly, the mean comments take me back to when I first shared with my family what I was experiencing. The difference is they never said anything as horrible as me needing a hysterectomy, but it was definitely misunderstood by my family. I had to spend a lot of time showing my family what OCD is especially postpartum OCD. I didn’t want them to think I was a monster when I wasn’t. To be honest, the comment I received is exactly why moms are afraid to get help. If we share what we are going through, and someone doesn’t understand it, are we going to lose are child? That was my fear in the beginning. A comment like I received is a huge setback to the work I have been doing for maternal mental health awareness.

If I have learned anything from the last couple of weeks, it’s that raising awareness for maternal mental health is more important now than ever. No mom should ever have to feel scared, ashamed, or embarrassed to ask for help if they are struggling with their mental health. We deserve for people to understand what perinatal mental health conditions are because that is how we help more families. The negativity that has been surrounding maternal mental health conditions has only motivated me more to continue my advocacy. I wish postpartum OCD was less misunderstood.