If suffering from postnatal depression, does medication really help?
Hi, i have a small baby, she is 4 and a half months old. I think i could be suffering from postnatal depression. I was depressed for the majority of my pregnancy due to it being unplanned and pressure to abort (from her father) After she was born, i had the baby blues, i think it was because i was so overwhelmed with having a new baby etc, but i soon got into the swing of things, and i do love my daughter dearly. Lately things have taken a turn for the worse, and i find myself crying more often than not, i have suicidal thoughts, i hate myself and feel like a failure. If it wasn’t for my elder daughters (15 & 16) my baby would surely be in care, as days when i can not even bare to look at my baby, they take over for me. Which makes me feel even worse, that i have to subject them to this life. I don’t leave the house, unless i absolutely need to, and when i do, i feel self conscious and paranoid like everyone else can somehow sense that i am a failure. I find it hard to go to sleep, which in turn makes it harder for me to wake up at a decent hour. Everybody around me like my mothers, sisters seem to expect me to be ‘strong’, so sometimes i pretend that i am happy, to make them feel better, but inside i am dead. I just want to feel better again. I often wish i did have an abortion or i think about giving my baby up for adoption. I have even called social services to do so, but didn’t give them my real details, the next day i was happy that i did that. I am going to the docs on friday, and i plan to confess how i am really feeling. But i just want to hear from other mothers who maybe suffered from postnatal depression too and recovered. Honestly, did the medication work? and how long did it take to have effect? and how does it make you feel? groggy? more alert? what?
Thank you everyone 4 all your input and 4 sharing your experiences.I have a beautiful home with a large garden, and i recently purchased a 12ft trampoline which i use from time 2 time, so i think i get enough exercise and fresh air. I am just not enjoying mixing with people right now, so i spend alot of time at home. As I don’t want other pples sympathy. Also where i live i dont have any friends or fam, every1 lives far away.Lately i have been going out on Friday eves and drinking, listening to music ( which feels really good and makes me 4get about my life for a moment)…but it is only temporary. Every where i go, everyone seems to be happy. It hurts to see moms and dads with their babies, knowing i am raising mine alone. Her father hates me. He came to a few hospital appointments, was there when she was born and was around for a few weeks after, but due to an argument we had in June, he hasn’t seen her since and he wont talk to me. This doesn’t help, as i don’t know whats going on.
Tagged with: Depression • From • Help • medication • Postnatal • really • suffering
Filed under: Postnatal Depression
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Don’t wait until Friday to go to the doctors, call them immediately and go in NOW. For the sake of your children, go on medication.
I suffered from some depression after my son was born. I am currently taking medication, and it has helped immensely. I believe you should take medication, too, as long as your are comfortable with it.
Again, go to the doctors NOW, don’t wait another second!!!!!
Medicine ABSOLUTELY works. It takes generally about 4 weeks to notice an improvement and 6-8 weeks for the full effect.
Depending on the medication and you it will have different side effects or none.
I have bipolar disorder … so in addition do postpartum depression I’ve been depressed many times before and have taken many other medications for it. Some work better than others, and some have more side effects. If you take a medication and cannot tolerate the side effects or you don’t feel as if you’re getting better … don’t settle with that medication – there are many meds to choose from.
This time I took Wellbutrin XL. For me, the Wellbutrin actually made me feel a bit more awake (it is used off-label for ADD because it is a mild stimulant) … but other than that I felt much better. Wellbutrin is a bit different than most anti-depressants because it is not an SSRI … most (Prozac, Lexapro etc … are)
The side effects from anti-depressants are much better than the pain of depression … especially depression as a new mother.
Let me tell you first, you are not alone.
I suffered from PostPartum Depression for all three of my pregnancies.
Then I suffered after they were born… and my youngest just turned 1 a few weeks ago… and I am STILL suffereing from depression.
First.
Most importantly.
Get yourself into the doctors office as FAST as possible.
If you are a low income family, you can get things at a reduced rate (i pay $30 for counseling when it would normally cost about $50) and this is great if you are low income.
Ask around.
There might be a professional in your area that does that.. or not.
Get counseling.
Get help.
Go to the doctors. Not just to a practitioner, but to someone in the field of psychology.
It helps.
And listen.. these feelings DO pass. Things DO get better.
A few things you can try to help your depression go away are these:
Excersise. Go outside for 2-5 minutes a day and do a rapid jog, some fast jumping jacks, or run around a track. Lift weights, or just do things that get your body going. This helps with your sleep patterns to. Sitting at home on the couch or computer is just relaxing your body. When you go outside, you activate the “on” button for your brain, so when you DO come inside and go to bed, the “off” button is even more likely to be ‘turned on’ and therefor you go to bed faster.
Open the windows every morning.
Got a window that faces the sunrise? Open those curtains as wide as possible every morning.
Look at that sunlight. Stare it down. The sunlight sets off a certain chemical in a humans brain that ‘wakes them up’ and makes them more alert to their surroundings. It also helps the seratonin levels.
Go places.
Take your daughters to the store with you and just walk around for an hour.
Go window shopping at Walmart. Tell your older daughters that youre all going to the store to try on the coolest stuff.
Seeing your children be happy will make YOU happy. That is the bottom line.
Take some me time.
Go take a bubble bath. Go for a jog/walk by yourself. Get your boyfriend/husband/significant other to watch the girls while you go do something by yourself. Reading.. something that is YOURS and yours alone. No children allowed! lol
Use a support system.
Call your mom. Call your dad. Call your grandparents (if theyre still around). Talk them into watching your kids for a few hours while you do… whatever you want to do.
Even if you dont leave the house, they can still make lunches, change a diaper, and keep the kids entertained while you.. sit and watch tv. Check your email. Watch Youtube videos. Whatever. Use your family/friends as a support net. They are there for you!
Sorry this was so long and sounding like a weird medical blog.. but its the truth.
Please remember to not hurt yourself. Where would your children be if you were dead? Who would they be with? Would you want your children to grow up without their Mother?
Now… go to that doctor. Get those apointments made. Do things to make yourself happier.
i had really bad panic attacks/anxiety/and would cry a lot, esp when i would look at the knitted cap and outfit he wore in the hospital. i still tear up when i look those things though,maybe bc he was so small and sweet. anyway, i had to get on cymbalta bc i would have racing heart and think i was dying whenever he would wake me up crying. he had colic so it was really bad. the cymbalta works and doesnt make me groggy, i can function normal, and i feel good most of the time. i also was put on lamictal bc the cymbalta alone did make me aggravativeand moody. it can do this to some people. supposedly i have bipolar type 2 where you dont have maniac phases, just mood swings. it works like a charm. it doesnt make me groggy or feel funny. it makes me feel calm and content. nothing really bothers me anymore.
the right med will help you; u def need to seek some help and tell them everything so they can best decide what kind of treatment u need…don’t feel like a failure; and imbalance in brain chemicals can no more be helped than if u had cancer..it’s a medical condition…..get help; you need to be happy, and then your baby will be happy…..been there…