When Parenthood Feels Too Hard: A New Look at Postpartum Depression

The Struggle We Don’t Talk About

Parenthood is often painted in rosy hues—soft lighting, cooing babies, blissful bonding. But for many new parents, the experience looks nothing like the movies.

In the latest episode of Quiet Connection, host Chelsea Myers speaks with therapist, author, and advocate Marissa Zwetow about the painful truth: sometimes parenting is just really, really hard. And that can be enough to break you.

“It wasn’t that I had a mental illness. It was that nothing was working. And no one told me that was normal.”

In her quiet bedroom, she reflects on the unexpected challenges of motherhood that no one prepared her for. Could it really be postpartum depression?

Is It Postpartum Depression, Or Is This Just Really Hard?

Marissa shares her story of giving birth, struggling to bond with her baby, and being bombarded by advice, expectations, and screaming (literally). Despite being a licensed mental health professional, she couldn’t relate to the clinical descriptions of postpartum depression. What she felt was different.

“I didn’t relate to the checklist. I wasn’t crying all the time—I was overwhelmed. I was trapped. I was angry.”

She eventually came to a powerful realization: her symptoms weren’t necessarily evidence of a disorder. They were a response to the overwhelming, isolating, and exhausting experience of new motherhood—something that isn’t talked about nearly enough.

Flipping the Script on Postpartum Depression

Marissa isn’t denying that perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) are real and serious. But she is urging providers, professionals, and parents alike to look deeper at what causes those feelings.

“We rush to label. But what if the problem isn’t inside the parent? What if it’s the situation that’s making them sick?”

She argues for more validation, more compassion, and more nuanced language—something that could help struggling parents feel seen before despair becomes depression.

With validation and understanding, identity in motherhood shifts.

You’re Not a Monster—You’re a Mom Who’s Struggling

If you’ve ever thought, “I love my kid, but I hate this job,” this episode is for you.

Listen now at quietconnectionpodcast.com or find Quiet Connection on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. You can also follow Marissa’s work at postpartumhappiness.com.

“This isn’t about choosing to be unhappy. This is about survival. And naming that is how we start to heal.”