Long Sutton mum releases book about post natal depression (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Long Sutton mum releases book about post natal depression

2:08pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in General By Joanne Mace

A MUM of one has released a new book detailing her experiences with post-natal depression (PND).

Helen Bells, who was born and brought up in Long Sutton, wrote The Mother Of All Journeys after having her son, David, in 2009.

Currently living in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, with her serving army officer husband, Helen, 35, had not originally intended to write a book but found herself writing to organise her thoughts and feelings when she began to recover from PND a few months after David’s birth.

Helen, who attended St Nicholas’ School, in Fleet, revealed: “My husband suggested I jot things down. It progressed naturally from writing down a couple of thoughts to them becoming chapters, and finally a book.

“I found the writing part very easy as it came straight from the heart and the book is a very honest account of how I felt at the time.

“I did find it therapeutic. I am the sort of person who likes lists and is very OCD, so to have everything documented and to be able to see how my life was improving was very cathartic.”

Due to the stress involved, Helen decided not to go down the traditional path of sending a sample chapter to publishers and waiting to be offered a deal. Instead, she decided to pay to self-publish – and she is delighted with the results.

Helen said: “Whilst I had to pay for it, the book is 100 per cent as I want it to be – from the content to the cover.

“Even though it was quite an expense, my husband and I decided it would be worth it for a couple of reasons – one, because writing a book is a lifetime achievement for anyone, and two, to help other people. If I can help one person with what I have written, then it has been worth it.”

Helen is now recovered, and is a very happy mother to David, now two-and-a-half.

She is adamant that she has no intention of ever writing another book: “This one is a piece of me and I don’t think I could ever replicate it with anything else.”

Her main hope is that it will reach other mothers who are struggling to cope with their new situation.

“I hope the book will allow other people who are suffering with PND or who are generally struggling with motherhood to realise that they are not alone. I would like people to see that things do get better over time and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

“I thought my world had ended when I had David and that I would never feel normal again but I did. It was a slow journey but I got there. It is not unusual or strange to find it hard to come to terms with having a baby.”

Further information is online at themotherofalljourneys.co.uk.