Treatment without meds?

gy86

Hi everyone,

I've lurked around on this board somewhat because I've always kind of had these feelings of sadness and regret around having my daughter.  I never considered PPD since immediately after delivery I felt fine.  Natural birth, no complications, breastfeeding successfully, etc.  Maybe it's just the combined effect of 5 1/2 months of not ever getting a full night's sleep, or realizing that I won't ever get a break for the next 18 years, but I struggle daily with maintaining positive thoughts about motherhood.

I'm 25 with a college degree and a meaningful career (so it's not like I'm a teen mom on welfare) but I constantly worry about not being able to give my daughter things like a two-parent household, or more of my time, or when she's older a better state in which to attend public school, and all sorts of other things.

As a single mom I know the statistics are NOT in our favor when it comes to things like our financial security, her likelihood to wind up in jail or umarried & pregnant herself, develop emotional/behavioral issues, and so on.  And I knew these things during my pregnancy yet I chose to keep her. 

Though her father and I are on good terms, our daughter lives with me full time and I do 95% of the daycare drop-offs, baby care, laundry, doctor's appts, etc.  And I know it's just going to get more stressful and demanding the older she gets, when she'll need real meals instead of a boob in her mouth or afterschool activities & homework help as opposed to some toys on a tummy time mat.

Most of the people on here seem to have experienced sucess via some medication or another.  My question is, how many of you were able to successfully combat PPD or other depression/anxiety through counseling/support groups alone? 

Spenjamins

You are being too hard on yourself. My mom was a single mom who had me when she was 19. We did nit have money but I was always nurtured and loved. And turned out great. Sure you can combat ppd without meds so etimes but you owe it to yourself and your child to seek out a good medical evaluation and appropriate treatment. It would be the same if you had any other illness. It needs to be treated.

FutureMrsWittig

Your daughter has a much better chance at a wonderful life with a mom who is happy.  If she came to you in 25 years and told you she was feeling this way, what would you advise her to do?

Support groups and counseling are great things.  And if you think you are simply overwhelmed that may be all you need.  But if you're battling true PPD, a chemical imbalance in your brain, medication is something worth considering.

bunnybiter

For people whom have had depression/anxiety before, there's a point where you know counseling/support isn't going to do it alone. And unfortunately, most of the time you don't know where that line is (the first time) until you've not only crossed it but have dove head-first into the deep end. Just keep that in the back of your mind while you work on what's best for you. There is also nothing wrong with being on medication, just as you would for any other medical issue.

With that being said, I, for a long time, didn't want to be on medication. Your doctor should give you the option, since in the end it is your option. I have gone the counseling route for past depression/anxiety. It didn't work for me. For the most part I felt it was a waste of time, recapping the unhappy parts of my life and how terrible I felt didn't make me feel any better, only worse. Then again, there are numerous approaches to therapy and perhaps I just never found the one that worked for me.

 That's not to say that every bout of depression I've experienced I handled with medication. There have been times that I just "got better." Granted it took a lot of work on my part, and time I can't give up now that I have a child. But that is why I made the choice I did. So do whatever will work for you. As a PP said, your baby will have a better life with a happy mommy.