#panic-attack

#panic-attack

When I was pregnant with my son in 2023, I read all about postpartum depression. I thought that if I were prepared, it wouldn't happen to me. However, it's not that easy, and after my son was born, I fell into the thralls of postpartum depression and anxiety. When I began to struggle with leaving the house in fear that something would happen to us, I knew my mental health was out of my control.

'Do you have the 20 bucks you promised me for gas?' I twisted the key in the ignition. The staccato heaving of my electric blue Chrysler PT Cruiser competed with Anita's rustling through her floppy purse. 'Ugh, I must've forgotten it. Surely, that's OK. I'll just - ' I started gasping for air. After weeks of forcing a state of calm collectedness, my body finally rebelled. My voice: ' Surely that's OK?! ' (First, mocking.)