The Viral Photo Shows The Disease Mothers Don’t Talk About
The protagonist in the photo that went viral is Kathy DiVicenzo. This anonymous heroine initially uploaded an image on her facebook account that is worth a thousand words.
The photo of her sitting overwhelmed with her two children on the floor quickly went viral as it captures the essence of postpartum depression, a disease that is not often talked about.
Although mothers usually don’t talk about it out loud and prefer to keep it quiet, the official statistics speak for themselves. According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in nine mothers suffers from it.
Postpartum depression is a syndrome that can occur after childbirth. It can manifest itself in a moderate or an intense way. It usually happens in the first three months of the baby’s life, although it can also manifest within the first year after delivery.
The Photo That Went Viral: An X-ray of a Silent Disease
The shocking photo that went viral has spread around the world. It has revealed a disorder that is so common but takes place in the silence. As a result, it is not well understood by many people.
Kathy is seen with her two children in this gory photo that went viral. The location was not staged, but as usual. All three are sitting on the floor of an untidy room full of toys. It’s not just the distress on Kathy’s face that shows her sadness.
The children also play an interesting role in this picture. The eldest daughter tries to get her mother’s attention while the baby lies on the floor with a full diaper. But the photo is complete by Kathy’s appearance, which puts a stamp on the problem.
The mother, disheveled and grey, does not look good in an ill-fitting bra. On the one hand, it hangs down, referring to the breastfeeding period and all that goes with it (the good and the bad). Her face is also an ode to the periods of fatigue, living proof of how exhausted she is.
The other side of the same coin
But this facebook post wasn’t all. This American mom has uploaded another photo for comparison. The opposite image in which the scene changes drastically. In this situation, the first thing you notice is that the room is tidy.
In addition, the girl looks at her mother with a smile on her face as she plays with her two dolls. Meanwhile, the baby is dressed and lies on a soft blanket. The biggest change and contrast can be seen with Kathy. She is groomed, well dressed and she is smiling. More rested, she looks radiant, happy and complete.
In this way, Kathy DiVicenzo successfully ends the stigma and breaks the silence around this topic. This mom goes even further by encouraging all moms who have this condition to share their experiences. In this way “everyone knows they are not alone”.
The US National Institute of Mental Health defines postpartum depression as a “mood disorder that can affect women after childbirth.” According to experts in the field, the causes of this disease respond to a mix of physical and emotional factors.
Symptoms of Postpartum Depression
There are many signs that show that a mother is suffering from this disease. It is essential to get the necessary support to prevent the development of more serious complications. The symptoms and risk factors to consider include:
- A deep sense of sadness and emptiness, loss of hope
- Crying regularly for no apparent reason
- Too much fear and melancholy
- Bad mood and constant irritability
- Marked tendency to sleep too much or inability to fall asleep
- Experiencing anger or anger
- Loss of interest and memory and difficulty maintaining attention and concentration
- Lack of appetite
- Suffering from physical pain, stomach problems and muscle disorders
- Difficulty interacting with friends and family and emotional attachment issues with the baby
