A Full-Circle Moment and a New Chapter

By Madeleine Drake

At PSI, we understand that storytelling has the power to save lives, and we are honored to provide a space for survivors to share their stories. This article is part of a subsection of the PSI blog dedicated to survivor stories. Please note that this story has not been edited, and caution is advised as distressing themes related to perinatal mental health may be present. If there are specific trigger warnings for an article, they will be listed below. Links to resources can be found at the bottom of this page.

I just had a full-circle moment. In December 2025, I made a pitch to the company I work for, Stok, to donate their annual charity funds to Postpartum Support International – and won! I stood in front of all of my colleagues and vulnerably shared my story in the hopes that it would be picked amongst a handful of other pitches. Sharing your inner truth with the outer world (let alone a hundred of your colleagues!) was no small feat. But the risk was worth the reward! Here’s what I said:

I’m very grateful to be here, it’s feeling like a full-circle moment for me, actually.

And let me tell you why.

In January 2020, when we were all about to step into the collective crisis that was the Covid-19 pandemic, I was stepping into a personal crisis.

At 11 months postpartum, I was in the darkest, loneliest, hardest place I’d ever been.

I had postpartum depression and anxiety.

After years of healing work, I’m so happy to say that I’ve pulled myself out of that place. I couldn’t have done that without the help of Postpartum Support International and the expert professional they connected me with.

I would now say I’m in the strongest, most energized, connected place I’ve ever been.

As a way to thank them, I now volunteer through their peer support program helping others pull themselves out of their mental health challenges.

So how does this relate to Stok and our purpose?

Well, to show up to work ready to live Stok’s purpose requires us all to be grounded, energized, and well.

Parenthood and the journey towards parenthood brings the full spectrum of emotions and challenges.

With 50% of Stokers either being parents or on the journey towards parenthood, it’s important that we care for this group of people.

It’s for this reason that we need to support organizations that support families so that we in turn can do the bold work ahead.

For anyone who may be going through it. I hope PSI’s slogan lands softly for you:

You are not alone.

You are not blame.

With help, you will be well.

I share this with you because I hope it acts as a lighthouse, shining light when it may feel dark and stormy in your world. Shining light on the possibility of change and hope for a new chapter in your postpartum life. Shining light on a more aligned and grounded way of living.

Look for the lighthouses. May they guide you home to yourself.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or views of PSI, its leadership, employees, affiliates, or partners. Any content provided by the author is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as representing PSI’s official stance on any matter.

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