Depression 9 months postpartum?

juliejb

I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this, because all of a sudden I am feeling awful. ?It's been going on for weeks now and I have an appointment to speak to my doctor about it. ?Fatigue, anger, hopelessness, withdrawing from normal activities, avoiding friends and family, etc. I'm not suicidal or anything, just feeling pretty miserable.

Anyway, I tried to speak to my husband about it and he said "I just don't believe you" and it really hurt my feelings. ? He thinks I just need to "get out more" but I have no desire to do so. ?Honestly, it takes every bit of energy to get out of bed in the morning when I hear the baby wake up. ?

?I have struggled with depression in the past, but since LO has arrived, I've been nothing but elated. ?My life finally felt complete. ?I'm angry at myself for letting this happen. ?I feel guilty that this is happening to me and I need to regain control. ?I feel like such a bad mommy right now. ?

juliejb

Thanks for all the responses

BlairWaldorf

You should absolutely, 100% talk to your doctor about this.  PPD can onset at any point during the first year - mine was sooner, but I was a good 4 months in before I recognized it & 7 months postpartum when it hit its peak.

 Everything you're describing sounds like depression - & whether or not it's tied to postpartum is irrelevant because you deserve to feel better.  You deserve better for yourself.  & with a history of depression, you're a prime candidate for PPD.

I'm sorry about your husband - truly.  Smack him in the ballsack over that comment.  I know for my husband, it was hard for him to believe at the time because I wasn't crying all the time & I wasn't moping around.  It took him going to some therapy appointments with me to see how deep-rooted it all was.

Hang in there.  & definitely talk to your doctor.

ked77

Yes, talk to your doctor. I was diagnosed at 10 months, started meds & therapy and feel a lot better.  I had a hard time recognizing it, as did my husband because I wasn't sad & crying, I was angry, annoyed, and irritated all of the time.  Talk to your doctor and find some resources/info for your husband to read so he can start to understand and be supportive.

tri047

First, people don't post super often on this board, so be patient with the responses.

Second, totally normal!  My PPD starting creeping in around 6-7 months PPD. 

dusk42

Ditto pp.  Onset can be anytime up to a year after pregnancy OR weaning.  And obviously "regular" depression can come on at any time.  Mine started around 4 months pp and peaked around 6 months, which is when I started on meds.  I had no energy, no motivation, irritable.  Zoloft + Wellbutrin was the right combo for me (plus counseling).  DH is now starting at least counseling because he is having similar symptoms (fathers can get Postnatal Depression due to the stress, lack of sleep, life changes, etc.).  Your husband needs to man up and support you.

ajh872003

I was diagnosed with ppd when my daughter was 2 1/2 years old! I just thounght that the way I felt was "normal" I was a single mother at 19 and lost my mother to cancer at 20... It was hard but I could find a way to make it through every day, so in my mind I was just fine... UNTIL... I lost my job and had to have my sister drive in town from 45 min away because I couldn't even move I was afraid to look at my daughter in fear that she would think I was a horrible mother for feeling so disgusted with myself. I instatnly called my doctor and was brought in for a screening. Then left the office to go and pick up my medication! I had my sister stay with me for a few days so I knew that I could hold down the house and help me a lil bit. Then I asked her to leave... She was a lil mad at me but I told her that she has helped sooo much and I got the help I needed... I got a call from her every hour just to check on me... I love family and am now having my 2 child... I'm afraid that I will have ppd again but this time I know what is "normal" and what isn't... I hope that everything starts looking up for you!

Briellabella

First, I wish I could just give you a great big hug, because I know what it feels like to be in your shoes and I know how alone you must feel sometimes. But you shouldn't! So many of us are going or have gone through PPD, whether immediately after giving birth or quite a bit afterwards.

I am just changed in my life in such a short period of time (had baby, lost job, moved out-of-state, etc...) that I just fell into a black hole almost, and it's a scary, isolating feeling. It's even harder when you know you have a family to take care of and yet you need someone to take care of YOU.

My hubby wasn't very supportive of me either - I don't think he knows how to be. And the hardest part, for me anyway, was finding the courage to ask for help. I was so afraid that if I told anyone how I was feeling that they would judge me or worse - take away my kids. Crazy, I know.

There is help out there, mama. Just reach out and grab it. Tell your doctor how you feel and if hubby isn't being supportive, use every other resource you have until you start feeling like yourself again.