Down Came the Rain, by Brooke Shields

The subtitle of this volume by the actor Brooke Shields describes well its content: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression. Shields went through a grueling series of fertility treatments in order to get pregnant, had a difficult labor followed by a C-section, and nearly immediately after the birth felt detached and sad. Spending most of her time sobbing, Shields felt like she was in the Twilight Zone, "waiting for someone to turn off the TV."

Fairly quickly, family and friends recognized that something was wrong. They urged her to get help, in the form of a nanny and/or medical assistance. Shields, a perfectionist who believed in solving her own problems, resisted for a number of weeks, but finally agreed to get temporary help with the baby and take medication. When she felt better, she decided to stop taking the drugs and crashed again. She finally accepted that she was suffering from postpartum depression and that, not only did she need the medication, but therapy would also be beneficial. By daughter Rowan's first birthday, Shields had regained her equilibrium and had even begun thinking of a second child.

For a public figure and perfectionist like Shields, revealing her struggle with depression must have required great courage. Her honesty has undoubtedly helped other mothers suffering with depression and provided a tool for the people who love them. I admire her for taking that risk and shining a bright light on postpartum depression. On the other hand, there is something odd about the persona she presents--she seems not quite to inhabit her own life, observing herself rather than actually being. This may be an artifact of the memoir form in the hands of a non-professional writer, or a byproduct of having been looked at by people since she was just a baby herself. Or it may be my imagination (full disclosure: I came to the book with a bit of bias against Shields after reading Andre Agassi's book). That issue notwithstanding, Shields's book is worth reading.