22. Turning Post Partum Depression into a Glimmer of Hope with Leeann Romig (Part 1)

A genuine empath by nature, it’s no wonder that once Leeann Romig found her own glimmer of hope, she immediately sought to become that glimmer for others.

In part 1 of this conversation, Leeann opens up about her life-long struggle with weight, including bullying attention she received from other children as a result of her early on-set puberty and inherited metabolic disorder; talks about the depression and anxiety she experienced following her parents’ divorce at 12, as well as the prejudice she endured being part of a now “broken” working-class family in a wealthy town; and shares what it was like trying to navigate her pivotal teen years amidst the entrance and exit of multiple “father figures” and an unwelcoming relocation away from all she knew.

Then, we dive into some of the traumatic circumstances surrounding her first marriage, including the physical and emotional abuse she quietly took while mistaking it as love, as well as two unintended attempts for children that resulted in in an ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage; explore how she came to find her now husband Michael and the transformative change she took from not wanting kids to craving motherhood; and set the stage for her dark 10-year journey battling post-partum depression.