Questions about PPD

jennyandty

 I have had issues off and on feeling like I don't love DS enough.  After he was born I didn't feel bonded with him right away.  I felt like I had made a huge mistake and I didn't know how to take care of him.  I continued to feel like this for the first few months off and on.  Everyone would tell me how lucky I was and to enjoy every minute.  I felt like I was dying inside and sucked at the one thing (being a mom) that I thought I would be really good at.  There were days - lots of days were I was fine.  But there were other days were I felt like I couldn't go on.

There has been a lot of stress in my life lately.  I lost my grandma and DH lost his job, we are probably going to lose our house in addition to some other family and health stuff going on.  I have been feeling really overwhelmed and kind of numb (emotionally) sometimes.  Sometimes I feel like I don't want to take care of DS.  Like I just want someone else to take him for a few hours.  I don't really get a break.  DH doesn't get home until about 7:30 and DS goes to bed a 8.  I do take good care of him and love him.  But sometimes I feel like I am not a good enough mom for him.  I just feel like there is something wrong with me.  I really want to talk to someone but I don't want to go on meds.  Here are my questions:  Can you treat PPD/depression without meds - just counseling?   Do you think I need to talk to someone or is this normal?  If anyone else is from Canada do you know who I should talk to?

Thanks so much for any help you can give me. 

KonaCooper

Hi. I have been in your position. And the best thing you can do for yourself and the baby is to seek professional help. You may not need meds, but try to keep an open mind if your doctor felt that right now a medication might be in your best interest. Try to find a psychologist who specializes in post partum, and remember that all the help and support you can get right now is important. Seeking help will make you stronger and the love you have for your baby will only grow stronger as well. And getting breaks is really important, it really helped me during my post partum. Even if you can get an hour to go outside, get some fresh air and take time for you! You deserve it. Hang in there, it does get easier.

CollieJade

I, personally, am in the "drugs are good, mmmmkay..." category.  If you research PPD (or depressive mood disorders in general), most research says that it is best treated with medication AND counseling. I think there are definitely people who can just be helped with counseling and not have to take meds, but I think the meds were a big help for me.  They just balanced me out enough to where I actually had the energy and motivation to do the mental work in therapy. 

PPD is a very hormonally dependent illness...and sometimes the meds just help the hormonal aspect enough to where you can be balanced enough to change the mental aspect of the depression, kwim?  I'm a believer in a lot of alternative health care too, so maybe look into things like acupuncture, vitamins, etc if you aren't comfortable taking meds.