When the doctor handed her newborn to Christine Lazorishak, she knew she had symptoms of postpartum depression. Her nurses said it was natural to feel less excited about her second child — that her history of anxiety could be playing a role in creating the fear inside her head. They said everything was OK.

A few months and a new therapist later, Lazorishak was diagnosed with postpartum anxiety, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder — all temporary mood disorders tied to her chemical makeup after her pregnancy.

“That was 11 years ago, and it’s so sad because I’m still finding mothers who have no understanding of what’s going on with their bodies,” said Lazorishak, who lives in Whitefish.

It took more than a year for her to find the right balance of medication and lifestyle to feel normal again.

On Saturday, North Valley Hospital will sponsor its first storytelling workshop for mothers such as Lazorishak who have experienced birth or postpartum trauma.

The event will be hosted by Melissa Bangs, a Missoula resident with her own story of facing postpartum psychosis, which eventually landed her in a psychiatric ward. At Saturday’s event, Bangs will share her story and help participating women learn how to share their own experiences.

While a small percentage of moms experience postpartum psychosis, a reported 15 to 20 percent experience a postpartum mood disorder, according to Postpartum Support International.

Lazorishak said as a mom who experienced isolation when she went through postpartum disorder, she shares her story with others every chance she gets.

“It’s so important for women to know, while this is common, it’s not normal and they shouldn’t live with it,” she said.

Cindy Walp, director of North Valley Hospital’s Birth Center, said it’s hard to rely on data to understand the depth of postpartum disorders.

“There’s an expectation that a new mom is going to be happy. And when they’re not, they feel like something’s wrong with them,” Walp said. “We have a lot of work to do in our society to make it something we can talk about openly.”

She said that secrecy leads to discrepancies in health organizations’ data.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, one out of 10 women experience some form of a postpartum disorder. The American Psychological Association reported one in seven could face it. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reported between 5 and 25 percent of women experience it.

Walp said the more people talk about postpartum disorders, the more doctors are able to help and women will understand they’re facing a treatable illness.

“I had postpartum symptoms, but I never reported it,” Walp said. “Like a lot of Montana women, I tried to take care of it myself. It could have been a shorter course had I sought out help.”

Along with women being honest about their experiences and working with doctors to find solutions, Walp said it’s important for state officials to take action to understand the diverse issues of postpartum disorders.

“I’d like to see a needs assessment throughout the state to give an accurate view of what’s happening here,” she said. “We need to see where our gaps are on this issue, get more training on it in the state and pull our resources together.”

Walp said events such as the one on Saturday could help local health workers evaluate what’s happening within the Flathead Valley and establish new programs in response.

The workshop costs $100 per person and will be at the North Valley Professional Office Building from 1 to 5:30 p.m. People must register in advance and scholarships are available. To register or for more information, go to www.playingmonopolywithgod.com.

For more information on parent support groups, visit http://www.nvhosp.org/our-services/the-birth-center.

Reporter Katheryn Houghton may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at [email protected].