Help with Depression

I suffered and still suffer from depression. I was postpartum so bad I almost lost my husband and had to do something about it. Its been 3 years and I still take effexor, the dr put me on paxil at first and I saw a councilor, the drugs worked right away and i didnt have thoughts of i am a bad mom, i thought my husband was cheating i was my own worst enemy, and one day i told my husband i think about killing myself. That is when I got help. A new baby and lack of sleep ect leads to that and I alternative meds never work as fast as you need them. Its hard to enjoy your life when you yourself are falling apart and your husband leaves and know one understands why you are so sad. I know and somepeople end up taking meds forever. I am one of those people and not ashamed to admit I need that pill to take away all the overthinking and not seeing the wonderful things I have. I saw Dr. George LaMasters at the Maynard wellness clinic on scottsdale Rd. He found the right medicine for me. Xanex and Prozac are to addicting I would not recommend those. Paxil was calming, I could never cry anymore, It was like a happy day and no static in your head. I know I am rambling on I know what youre going through and its horrible. I hope this helps. Talk to your husband and explain this is not me and I am getting help and I need your support because I love you and our family. Thats what I said to my husband and he supported me through it. Yours will do the same.. Take care and god bless.

Hi M.,
I'm glad to see you have gotten some help with getting out of the depression. Another great resource is Kelly Damron. She wrote a book called "Tiny Toes". It addresses depression in the book. It is the story of her fertility issues, then her pregnancy and then her PP depression. You can also check out her blog. http://twinpeas.com/wordpress/ She is now on a mission to help those that suffer from all of those things she had to struggle with. She is caring and compassionate. You may enjoy some of her ideas and thoughts.
Best of Luck

S. V

Hi M.,

Definitely talk to a doctor. I had various levels of depression after each of my three kids, but it was by far the worst with my last. I was severely depressed. The other responder is exactly right, if someone hasn't been through it, they will not understand how you feel. I remember crying on my husband's shoulder because I didn't want to feel the way I did, but there was nothing I could do to pull myself out of it.

Now I am on anti-depressants and I am so much happier. Our whole family benefits. Because it is so true that "if Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!"

See a doctor, if your OB or family doctor won't help you, find another one. The problem is serious, but it can be fixed. Good luck!

M. I am sorry to hear you are sufferng. I just want to clarify a few things about prescription meds. I am on an SSRI (Examples, Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro). They are not addictive however, you can't just stop using them cold turkey. You have to be weaned off or you can have side effects like dizziness etc. I personally take Zoloft for an Anxiety disorder and it changed my life. I now don't want to call 911 thinking I am dying anymore. (It was awful feeling that way and knowing it wasn't reasonable to be afraid.)

Meds that are addictive are the benzodiazepines. Valium, Xanax, and Klonipin are just a few. I would avoid these types of meds.

Don't be afraid to take something for your depression. IT IS REAL! Consult with your doctor and ask him if he thinks one of the SSRI's might help you. Zoloft sure helped me!

T. C.
Spa Girlfriend Parties
www.spaescapescottsdale.com

Start with your OB. He/she should be able to either recommend a counselor or psych doctor or prescribe a low-dose anti-depressant. Do not be embarrassed or ashamed or swayed by the prejudices of other people when it comes to medication. If you had pneumonia, you'd take antibiotics. Depression is a real medical condition... meds may not "fix" it, but they can give you a foundation and keep you well enough to function and get through it.

People who don't "believe" in depression or medication have probably never suffered from this illness. Natural remedies may help some people, but not if your depression is severe, chemically based. This perpetuates the stigma against getting help - if only these people were stronger or took the right herbs and vitamins, they could just "pull themselves out of it." Not true. Not believing in something doesn't make it not exist. Not believing in meds doesn't mean they don't work.

This is a serious medical condition and needs to be taken seriously. When you are depressed, everyone around you suffers, especially your kids. Take care of yourself, so you can be the best mom to your kids!

I had the same issue and it didn't turn around until I dramatically increased my intake of Omega 3 fatty acids. I am a dietetics student and we learned that these fats play an important role in brain function. Good sources are fish like salmon, walnuts, flax seeds, and pumpkin seeds. Also now there are some fortified foods like Silk's Soymilk plus DHA. I think Horizon makes a cow's milk with added DHA (just another term for Omega 3). I eat an ounce of walnuts everyday and it keeps me on track. I call it my version of prozac! Best wishes to you.

Others have given you some good advice about how to proceed medically. I would also recommend that you join your local MOPS group (mothers of preschoolers). MOPS is a Christian organization to support mothers such as yourself. They meet at local churches and help you to build relationships with other moms that you can talk to and hopefully find support and encouragement from.

if you are on the minni pill or errin make sure it's not that. I was on that birth control and I didn't realize I was depressed until one day it hit me and then my husband asked me what was the matter and what was in my diet and that was the only thing I could think of. SO I got off of that right then and made sure to plan something to do every day and it worked. I hope this helps