This Is What It Feels Like To Survive Postpartum Depression And Anxiety

One in seven moms will suffer from a perinatal mood disorder. These are just a few of them.

Each year somewhere between 600,000 and 1,000,000 new moms (both biological and adoptive) suffer from maternal mental illness in the United States alone.

Filmmaker Jill Krause traveled to three cities to interview seven different survivors of postpartum depression and anxiety. This short video tells their stories:

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"I knew this would be a powerful experience before I started, but I was surprised by how truly honored I felt listening to these women," said Krause, who has written about her own experiences with postpartum anxiety.

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"Each one was different," Krause explained, "Different stages of struggle and healing, and different battles."

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Still, Krause told BuzzFeed Life, "each one was driven to share by love -- love for their children, and love for other moms."

Peripartum mood disorders go largely undiagnosed. Although 1 in 7 mothers with be affected, only about 15% ever seek treatment.

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To put things in perspective, "postpartum depression is far more common than gestational diabetes," explains Dr. Ruta Nonacs, a perinatal and reproductive psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital.

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In fact, according to Dr. Nonacs, "postpartum depression is the most common complication associated with pregnancy and childbirth." Unfortunately, unlike potential medical complications, the mental health of postpartum women is not closely monitored.

But there is help. It does get better.

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If you believe that you or someone you love may be experiencing postpartum depression or a related illness, please reach out to a mental health professional immediately. Visit PostpartumProgress.com for a list of specialists in your area.