When a baby is born, the cultural expectation is joy. But postpartum depression does not follow cultural scripts. For many mothers, the weeks and months after birth include persistent sadness, anxiety , irritability, intrusive thoughts, or emotional numbness . The gap between expectation and lived experience can feel isolating, confusing, and frightening. Postpartum depression is common, treatable, and often misunderstood. Let’s talk about what it really is. Postpartum depres
