Persevered: A Maternal Mental Health Memoir

Summary

If you think you know what mental health during and after pregnancy looks like, Persevered: A Maternal Mental Health Memoir will make you reconsider. This book is a raw personal account of surviving the darkest moments of new motherhood while juggling high expectations at home and at work.

Zivin takes the listener on an intimate and eye-opening journey that weaves together her perinatal medical records, journal entries, research, and imperfect memories. The story unfolds across hospital rooms, the author's home, and the university where she works, highlighting the complexity of holding on to one's identity when everything feels uncertain. Zivin writes with striking honesty about the confusion, guilt, and isolation that so many mothers experience alone but rarely admit to others.

Persevered moves beyond one woman's survival, breaking the silence that still surrounds maternal mental health. Zivin’s story reminds us that reaching out, sharing our experiences, and demanding better support can make a difference, not just for mothers but for families and communities. This memoir is for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed, anyone who has supported a loved one through challenging times, or anyone who believes that honest storytelling can spark real change.