Spacemom answers your PPD questions January 13, 2006
Posted by spacemom in : Depression , add a commentI don’t mean this to be a bitter post. On one of my web boards, someone asked about PPD. That’s post partum depression to those of you not versed in this.
Two people said I would have more info about it. And you know what? I do. And it BITES that I have more info on this.
Q: So, how does PPD feel?
Like someone is ripping your soul out of your body through your left nostril. (If you use the right nostril, it just tickles)
Q:Why can’t you just get over it?
Well, when you can walk up to someone with diabetes or high blood pressure, and tell them to just get over it, I will just get over PPD. IT’S A DISEASE! It is a chemical imbalance of serotonin. Exactly why this happens is still not understood. You can’t just "get over" depression.
Q: Tom Cruise says that you should take more vitamins instead of drugs. What do you think?
I think Tom Cruise is a major ASSHOLE who doesn’t understand that this is a real disease. I hope his sweetie doesn’t come down with this. It sucks.
Q: Do you want to kill your children?
NO. PPD is not something that makes you kill your children. Post Partum Psychosis can. This is what Andrea Yeats has/had and she needed HELP. The biggest crime in that whole situation is that her husband failed to help her, and left her in a situation where she could do harm. PPP affects 1-2% of women after pregnancy.
Q:Your youngest is 18 months old, shouldn’t you be done with this?
Unfortunately, I may have to deal with this the rest of my life. Once you have a chemical change, your body may never go back to where it was. You reach a new "norm" and I may have to fight this forever, or until menopause, when my hormones get to play with me again!
Q: Do you tell people about this or are you afraid they will think you are crazy?
Oh, that’s a toughie. To be honest, some people I tell. I tell new moms who are afraid of their feelings. I tell the dads that need to really step up and support the moms. I tell those close to me. I am afraid that some people think I am nuts. When I was first diagnosed, I was afraid that if I told the doctors, they would take Soleil away from me. I was wrong. They will only remove the child if there is a clear danger. PPD is not a clear danger. But it must be treated.
Q: So what would you tell someone who thinks they have PPD?
First, it is not your fault. This is a physical and chemical change. It is not you.
Secondly, you need to talk to your OB. This is important. They work with mental health providers who specialize in PPD. They can direct you to the right people with the right resources. You do not have to suffer. You can be a good parent with PPD, you just need to get help.
Third, unless the person who is offering advice has personal experience with depression, nod and say "ok thanks" to any advice they offer. Only those who have gone through depression really get it. At least, that’s been my experience…
Any other questions?
