07. Why Postpartum Depression Feels So Lonely and the Support You Actually Need

12. Sick of Hearing "I Hope You Feel Better?" 3 Things to Say to Well Meaning People That Will Change Their Perspective on PPD

Hi Mama, * Do you feel frustrated or unseen when people say things like “I hope you feel better soon” but don’t really understand what you’re going through? * Have you struggled to explain your postpartum depression in a way that actually helps others understand your experience? * Do you find yourself staying silent or shrinking your truth because you don’t know what to say when people try to “encourage” you? In this episode, I talk about the emotional weight behind well-meaning but often unhelpful phrases like “I hope you feel better soon.” I walk through why these comments can feel invalidating during postpartum depression and give you 3 simple, clear responses you can use to help others better understand your experience. This episode will help you set boundaries with confidence, feel more emotionally seen, and communicate your needs without guilt or overwhelm. You’ve Got This Mama! Love, Stephanie   Connect with Me: Contact: hello@stephaniehathaway.net Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overcoming-postpartum-depression-support-hope-advice/id1895173886 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overcoming-postpartum-depression-support-hope-advice/id1895173886] Next Steps: Join a supportive community of new moms just like you who are looking for community, hope, validation and practical support at my free Facebook group: bit.ly/PPDsupportgroup [http://bit.ly/PPDsupportgroup] Also, become an insider and get weekly emails from me with the latest episodes and even more support! Sign up here: bit.ly/PPDlist [http://bit.ly/PPDlist] This podcast is based on my personal experience and research and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. I am not a doctor or licensed therapist—please consult a qualified healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation. If today’s episode is triggering for you and you feel like you need additional help to process your thoughts or feelings, please reach out for support. You can call or text Postpartum Support International at 1-800-944-4773. You can also find more resources by visiting their website: postpartum.net You don’t have to walk through this alone. If you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, please call 9-1-1 immediately!

11. If You’re Sick of Feeling Lost in Postpartum Depression, It’s Time to Find Hope Again

Hi Mama, * What if feeling “lost” in postpartum depression doesn’t mean something is wrong with you—but that you’ve been trying to carry too much on your own for too long? * Are you wondering why nothing seems to be helping, even though you’re trying your best every single day? * And what if hope doesn’t have to return all at once—but can come back in the smallest, quietest moments? In this episode, we’re talking about what it really means to feel lost in postpartum depression and why that feeling is often not a sign that something is wrong with you—but a sign that you’ve been carrying more than any one person was meant to carry alone. I share part of my own journey of questioning who I had become during postpartum depression, wondering why simple tasks felt so overwhelming, and believing that I should be able to handle everything on my own. We unpack how postpartum depression can leave you feeling disconnected from yourself, why overwhelm is often mistaken for personal failure, and how shifting the question from “What’s wrong with me?” to “What do I need right now?” can begin to create space for healing. We also talk about how hope often returns through small, repeatable moments—not dramatic breakthroughs—and why support is not a bonus in recovery, but an essential part of the healing process. If you've been feeling lost, alone, or discouraged, this episode will remind you that you are not broken, you are not failing, and you do not have to find your way through this by yourself. You’ve got this Mama! Love, Stephanie   Connect with Me: Contact: hello@stephaniehathaway.net Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overcoming-postpartum-depression-support-hope-advice/id1895173886 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overcoming-postpartum-depression-support-hope-advice/id1895173886] Next Steps: Join a supportive community of new moms just like you who are looking for community, hope, validation and practical support at my free Facebook group: bit.ly/PPDsupportgroup [http://bit.ly/PPDsupportgroup] Also, become an insider and get weekly emails from me with the latest episodes and even more support! Sign up here: bit.ly/PPDlist [http://bit.ly/PPDlist] This podcast is based on my personal experience and research and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. I am not a doctor or licensed therapist—please consult a qualified healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation. If today’s episode is triggering for you and you feel like you need additional help to process your thoughts or feelings, please reach out for support. You can call or text Postpartum Support International at 1-800-944-4773. You can also find more resources by visiting their website: postpartum.net You don’t have to walk through this alone. If you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, please call 9-1-1 immediately!

10. This Is What Actually Helps When You Feel Lost in Postpartum Depression

Hi Mama, What if the reason you feel so lost in postpartum depression isn’t because you’re doing something wrong—but because you’re carrying too much alone? Are your days feeling overwhelming before they even begin? And what would change if you stopped trying to fix everything and focused on simply getting through the next small moment? In this episode, I'm talking about what actually helps when postpartum depression leaves you feeling confused, disconnected, and stuck.  I explore why carrying everything internally can make the struggle feel even heavier, how simplifying your days can create more emotional breathing room, and why support, structure, and honest connection are often the things that help you find your footing again. If you've been feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next, this episode will remind you that you don't have to do more—you may simply need more support. You’ve got this Mama! Love, Stephanie   Connect with Me: Contact: hello@stephaniehathaway.net Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overcoming-postpartum-depression-support-hope-advice/id1895173886 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overcoming-postpartum-depression-support-hope-advice/id1895173886]   Next Steps: Join a supportive community of new moms just like you who are looking for community, hope, validation and practical support at my free Facebook group: bit.ly/PPDsupportgroup [http://bit.ly/PPDsupportgroup] Also, become an insider and get weekly emails from me with the latest episodes and even more support! Sign up here: bit.ly/PPDlist [http://bit.ly/PPDlist] This podcast is based on my personal experience and research and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. I am not a doctor or licensed therapist—please consult a qualified healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation. If today’s episode is triggering for you and you feel like you need additional help to process your thoughts or feelings, please reach out for support. You can call or text Postpartum Support International at 1-800-944-4773. You can also find more resources by visiting their website: postpartum.net You don’t have to walk through this alone. If you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, please call 9-1-1 immediately!

09. Can’t Snap Out of Postpartum Depression? How to Hold Onto Hope When It Feels Heavy

Hi Mama, * What if you can’t snap out of postpartum depression—no matter how hard you try? * Are you expecting yourself to feel better by now and wondering why you still feel stuck, heavy, or overwhelmed? * And what if hope isn’t something you have to create—but something you can borrow when you can’t find it yourself? In this episode, we’re talking about what it really looks like to walk through postpartum depression when it feels heavy, exhausting, and unchanging. I share part of my own journey of waking up every day determined to “feel better,” only to end each day feeling defeated and wondering why I couldn’t just fix what I was feeling. We unpack why postpartum depression is not something you can simply push through with willpower and how shifting from “I need to fix this” to “I just need to get through today” can begin to lift some of the pressure you’re carrying. We also talk about borrowing hope from others when your own hope feels out of reach, noticing small evidence that this season is not permanent, and staying gently connected to something bigger than your current pain. If today feels too hard, this episode will remind you that healing does not require perfection—and that even in the middle of the heaviness, there is still hope. You’ve got this Mama! Love, Stephanie   Connect with Me: Contact: hello@stephaniehathaway.net Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overcoming-postpartum-depression-support-hope-advice/id1895173886 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overcoming-postpartum-depression-support-hope-advice/id1895173886]   Next Steps: Join a supportive community of new moms just like you who are looking for community, hope, validation and practical support at my free Facebook group: bit.ly/PPDsupportgroup [http://bit.ly/PPDsupportgroup] Also, become an insider and get weekly emails from me with the latest episodes and even more support! Sign up here: bit.ly/PPDlist [http://bit.ly/PPDlist]   This podcast is based on my personal experience and research and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. I am not a doctor or licensed therapist—please consult a qualified healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation. If today’s episode is triggering for you and you feel like you need additional help to process your thoughts or feelings, please reach out for support. You can call or text Postpartum Support International at 1-800-944-4773. You can also find more resources by visiting their website: postpartum.net You don’t have to walk through this alone. If you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, please call 9-1-1 immediately!

08. 4 Secrets to Getting Through the Newborn Stage When You Feel Alone and Need Support

Hi Mama, * What if the reason you feel so alone in the newborn stage isn’t because no one cares—but because you’re trying to carry too much by yourself? * Are you expecting your life to look “normal” right now, even though everything has changed? * And what would shift if you stopped waiting for support to be perfect before allowing yourself to receive it? In this episode, we’re talking about four simple but powerful secrets to surviving the newborn stage when you feel overwhelmed, isolated, and like you don’t have enough help. I share a personal realization from my own postpartum journey—that I wasn’t as alone as I felt, but I also wasn’t fully letting people in. We walk through practical ways to shrink your world, create meaningful connections through small daily touchpoints, lower unrealistic expectations, and finally accept imperfect support without guilt or pressure. If you’ve been feeling emotionally exhausted, stretched too thin, or like everything depends on you, this episode will remind you that you were never meant to do motherhood alone—and that support does not have to be perfect to make a difference. You’ve got this Mama! Love, Stephanie   Connect with Me: Contact: hello@stephaniehathaway.net Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overcoming-postpartum-depression-support-hope-advice/id1895173886 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overcoming-postpartum-depression-support-hope-advice/id1895173886]   Next Steps: Join a supportive community of new moms just like you who are looking for community, hope, validation and practical support at my free Facebook group: bit.ly/PPDsupportgroup [http://bit.ly/PPDsupportgroup] Also, become an insider and get weekly emails from me with the latest episodes and even more support! Sign up here: bit.ly/PPDlist [http://bit.ly/PPDlist]   This podcast is based on my personal experience and research and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. I am not a doctor or licensed therapist—please consult a qualified healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation. If today’s episode is triggering for you and you feel like you need additional help to process your thoughts or feelings, please reach out for support. You can call or text Postpartum Support International at 1-800-944-4773. You can also find more resources by visiting their website: postpartum.net You don’t have to walk through this alone. If you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, please call 9-1-1 immediately!