The Most Depressed I've Ever Been Was After Maternity Leave Ended
I was worried I was headed to a dangerous place until I asked my boss a simple question.
During the postpartum depression study at New York University hospital, the writer experienced a significant dip in her mental health after returning to work. Six months into the study, doctors were astonished by the shift in her responses. The transition from being a full-time parent to working meant leaving the baby with someone else for nine hours a day, which she found emotionally taxing.
Despite her love for her job and financial stability, the added burden of childcare costs made her question the decision to return to work. The writer struggled to find a balance and even contemplated quitting her job, drafting multiple emails expressing her dilemma. However, she remains committed to her career as a professional writer, despite her initial doubts about staying at home with her son full-time.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
