“I thought I was strong, but postpartum depression brought me to my knees.”

Tiffany’s story

When Tiffany Ramales and her husband got married, they looked forward to a happy future with lots of children. Their journey took an unexpected turn as they faced years of fertility challenges, transforming what should have been a blissful time into a struggle. This was followed by a harrowing delivery for Tiffany, which included severe trauma, a post-delivery infection from her emergency C-section, and a newborn who fell ill with the flu and required hospitalization.

These experiences left Tiffany overwhelmed with anxiety and stress. And she didn’t anticipate the profound impact on her mental health.

“I thought I was just experiencing the ‘baby blues,’” Tiffany shares. “I believed I was mostly okay, but I was having panic attacks almost daily. It felt like my body was perpetually in a state of flight and panic. After several attempts to seek help, I was referred to the Shoppers Drug Mart Women’s Clinic at Ontario Shores, where I was diagnosed with postpartum depression, anxiety, and OCD.”

According to Statistics Canada, nearly 23 percent of new mothers report symptoms consistent with postpartum depression and/or anxiety disorders. The LOVE YOU by Shoppers Drug Mart Women’s Clinic at Ontario Shores offers focused, short-term consultations and innovative treatment for women facing perinatal mood disorders and other reproductive mental health issues. The clinic’s services include psychiatric consultations, interpersonal psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoeducation, and medication support, with an average treatment plan spanning about four months.

At the Women’s Clinic, Tiffany finally found the help she so desperately needed. She received weekly therapy and medication management from the team of experts, including a psychiatrist, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, and social worker.

“This program truly saved my life. I wouldn’t be here without it,” Tiffany explains.

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“Without Ontario Shores and the LOVE YOU by Shoppers Drug Mart Women’s Clinic, I wouldn’t be here today,” she emphasizes. “I see myself as a strong person, but if my mental illness brought me to my knees, I can only imagine how others must feel. It’s vital to make this support widely available, which means donating, raising awareness, and advocating for women who need help.”

Although Tiffany still deals with some anxiety and OCD symptoms and continues on medication, her postpartum depression has greatly improved. “Becoming a mother was the hardest challenge I’ve ever faced,” she reflects. “I battled fear, intrusive thoughts, panic, disappointment, and a deep sense of guilt—especially since I longed for a baby so much. Thanks to my doctors' support, I’m considering having another child.”