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St James, New York, July 1, 2008 — (APWire) New book shines light for moms who suffer from postpartum depression.

"If you ask the media, postpartum depression is a guaranteed headline when a woman goes crazy and kills her baby. This kind of media coverage terrifies women to the point that they are even less apt to come forward and ask for help if they think they might be depressed. Unfortunately, the sensationalism that surrounds a tragedy or postpartum psychosis sends a message that you're 'normal' or 'psychotic' — and there is no in-between." (Conquering Postpartum Depression, a Proven Plan for Recovery, Ronald Rosenberg, M.D., Deborah Greening, Ph.D., and James Windell, M.A., Da Capo Press, 2003).

Envisioned as a celebration of motherhood, the event hopes to raise awareness of pregnancy and postpartum depression. All proceeds will go to benefit the Postpartum Resource Center of New York. This non-profit organization serves New York State women and their families who are at risk for, or experiencing, a perinatal mood disorder. Continued public support will help ensure that the agency can increase education and support programs and reach out to the community through training healthcare providers and building partnerships; their mission relies on support from individuals, private foundations and corporate partnerships. Each gift brings them closer to achieving their vision of establishing a Perinatal Depression Parent Support Network in every New York State community.

Andrea Yates had postpartum psychosis, the rarest of the three types of postpartum depression (PPD) and a medical emergency. The most common being the "Baby blues," which affects about 80% of moms, and then postpartum depression, which affects 10% to 15% of moms.

Author Geri O'Keeffe shares, "I went through PPD; I want the moms to ask for help, to not be afraid, to go to their OB/GYN, or primary physician, or their husbands and family; to call the Postpartum Resource Center of NY. To get help ASAP. Yes, I am the epitome of a person who has conquered the disease and is enjoying life now with my daughter and husband, but it took seven years for me to completely heal."

It is one thing to say to your husband, "I can't sleep, I can't handle the baby, I can't function," but the underlying feelings, thoughts, and emotions are difficult to express. Different from most of the books out there, Stork's Revenge evokes the horrible pain, the depression, the OCD, and taps into the darkest confines of the author's mind through her prose and poetry. Includes journal notes written during the time the author spent on a psychiatric ward-not because of psychosis, but because she finally gave up — four years after her baby was born.

Geri O'Keeffe lives in New York with her husband Rich, and her precocious and precious 12 year old daughter, Amanda.

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The Stork's Revenge: My Struggles and Triumphs over Postpartum Depression (Wyatt-MacKenzie, July 2008) by Geraldine O'Keeffe, paperback, $15.00, 188 pages, ISBN: 978-1-932279-88-7, Parenting, Self-Help/Depression

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