Mother-of-four, 31, shares a moving post about what postnatal depression really looks like

While this photograph may look like a blissful moment between mother and daughter, what’s going on below the surface is quite the opposite.  

Mother-of-four, Mel Watts, shared the photo of herself and her youngest daughter Indie in a shower to highlight the reality of the post-natal depression she was suffering at the time and just how easy it is to miss the signs. 

In a candid post, the Australian mummy blogger said the photo sadly reminds her of how many ‘precious moments’ she has missed and hopes to raise awareness about post-natal mental health. 

‘It’s funny how in this photo you couldn’t see how unwell I was,’ her caption began. 

Mel, who is from the NSW Central Coast, posted about her experience on Instagram in a bid to raise awareness – and encourage other mothers to seek help

‘I’d still wake up everyday, still attend to my three children. Often zoning out and just sitting. Sitting there looking blank yet on the inside my mind was screaming, my stomach was knotting, my mouth was dry and hands shook.’

Before giving birth to Indie, who is now three, Mel had son Ayden, 12, and Ivie, six. She has since had a little boy, Sonny, who is one with her husband Nolan. 

‘From the outside in everyone thought I was fine, unlike other illnesses it was really hard to see mine,’ she continued.

'From the outside in everyone thought I was fine, unlike other illnesses it was really hard to see mine,' she continued

‘From the outside in everyone thought I was fine, unlike other illnesses it was really hard to see mine,’ she continued

Before giving birth to Indie, who is now three, Mel had son Ayden, 12, and Ivie, six. She has since had a little boy, Sonny, who is one with her husband Nolan

Before giving birth to Indie, who is now three, Mel had son Ayden, 12, and Ivie, six. She has since had a little boy, Sonny, who is one with her husband Nolan

‘People would ask how I was going and I would say good. I wasn’t good, I didn’t want to waste their time, worry them. They were busy with their own lives. I was already a burden on my own I didn’t want to be someone else’s as well.

‘My anxiety was brought back to the surface once I had children, postnatal anxiety.’

She said her bowel movements were compensated from the anxiety and she was using the bathroom ’10 times a day’, even using gastro stop tablets to help.  

‘But then I would be anxious that I was so dry my kidneys would shrivel up, so I’d drink too much water that I’d make myself sick,’ she said.

'My anxiety was brought back to the surface once I had children, postnatal anxiety,' she said (pictured here with Ayden)

‘My anxiety was brought back to the surface once I had children, postnatal anxiety,’ she said (pictured here with Ayden)

'My favourite place was bed. In the dark. I was scared of the no sleeping. I was scared of my babies crying from being hurt asleep,' she said (pictured with her youngest son Sonny)

‘My favourite place was bed. In the dark. I was scared of the no sleeping. I was scared of my babies crying from being hurt asleep,’ she said (pictured with her youngest son Sonny)

‘So then I was nauseated, then being so nauseated I was tired – drained even. It was a cycle. A continuous cycle.

‘My favourite place was bed. In the dark. I was scared of the no sleeping. I was scared of my babies crying from being hurt asleep.

‘I was scared of what would happen to Ayden if I died… would he be separated from his siblings? It just wouldn’t stop.’

She finished her lengthy caption by saying she was ‘beyond glad’ she finally reached out for help because she could now enjoy ‘living her best life’. 

'Taking the first step was the hardest. But now I look at this photo and I'm sad. I missed so many precious moments with this girl, Indie,' she said (Indie and Sonny pictured)

‘Taking the first step was the hardest. But now I look at this photo and I’m sad. I missed so many precious moments with this girl, Indie,’ she said (Indie and Sonny pictured)

‘Taking the first step was the hardest. But now I look at this photo and I’m sad. I missed so many precious moments with this girl, Indie. 

‘In the shower was my safe place. With her was amazing for us both. So many other things were clouded.

‘If you don’t feel yourself at any point, go seek help. How this woman looks in the image is miserable, scared, unsure and confused. I can see past the image captured… I feel the image instead.’



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