Earlier this year I sat down at my computer and read a story that left me in awe. It’s stuck with me ever since.
On a late Friday afternoon in October 2008, I was standing stark naked on the side of a DC highway, nearly facing death because of a mental illness I didn’t know I had.
It left me in awe because it was shocking. I had never actually heard the term “postpartum psychosis” even after news stories of mothers killing their children.
The delusions worsened. I believed that my husband was the devil and that I was God. I thought he was trying to trick me. While talking with him on the phone, I answered his questions with questions, to avoid giving away where I was on the highway. When helicopters flew overhead, I was convinced the world was going to end and that presidential nominees Barack Obama and John McCain were headed to DC to join forces and save the world. I thought of a few ways I could help save the world: My husband and I could kill each other. Or we could kill our children. Or my parents. Or I could get baptized by a friend.
But it also left me in awe because it was so brave. The above excerpts are just part of the story Heather Coleman shared on Postpartum Progress, and at the time I told her it was the bravest story I have ever read. She shared that experience to help others and so others 
could understand more about postpartum psychosis. She also told her story at Ignite DC. I encourage you to read the whole story or watch the video (or both) – I guarantee it will do something to change your perspective on life.
Heather is now trying to find the people who helped her that day so she can say thank you. Can you imagine what could have happened? I would want to say thank you as well, and I hope she’s successful in doing that.
As part of her effort, she has started a Facebook page to try to find those people. If you think you can help her, click that “like” button, would you? I did, and when her updates appear in my Facebook feed it’s another dose of inspiration from someone who went through something horrible and is using that experience to make the world a better place.
