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How did you know it was time to seek help?

livinrealitylivinreality member
in Postpartum Depression

After sitting down with DH this weekend, I know that I am borderline depression.  However I am not really wanting to start meds so I am thinking about working on some nonmedicated life changes (exercising, getting out of the house, talking to DH and Mom everyday) but how long was it before you decided that you needed additional help?  Do you have any other suggestions of things that have helped?

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Re: How did you know it was time to seek help?

  • TommysGirl56TommysGirl56 member

    Talking to the doctor helped me.  I was started on medication, also.  However, even if you do not want medication, I think it would still be a good idea to talk to a professional...and I would start with your doctor.  They can refer you to someone for additional counseling, and also lay out your other options.  I have an appointment with a psychologist for later this month, but I needed the referral from my doctor for the appointment.

    As far as when I sought help, the first thing I did was go to the doctor.  I went after my mom suggested it to me when I told her I was worried that having a baby was a mistake.  I was overwhelmed with work, a house that needs work, and the baby.  Now, with the doctor's guidance, I am on medication, had labwork done that showed I needed additional vitamin supplements, and doing daily exercise.  There is a chance that your depression is a result of a hormonal imbalance or vitamin defficiency, and again, you would need to speak with a doctor to find out.  These types of problems would likely need to be treated with medications.  But tell your doctor you would like to avoid medication with possible, and hopefully they could suggest more natural options for you, no matter what the underlying issues are.

    The things you want to do definitely sound like a good start.  Good luck to you!

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  • kyfirewifekyfirewife member
    My mom sat me down & told me I needed to see my doctor.

    She said she'd seen signs of PPD pretty much since DD was born, and that it was getting worse, and worse, and worse. I was about 8 wks PP at that point.

    Honestly, I would go ahead & schedule an appt with your Ob. They should be able to help you figure out if life changes / counselling will help, or if it's truly due to a chemical imbalance, if you need medication or not.
    My Ob was very clear with me that if he didn't think mine was truly due to a chemical imbalance, he would not put me on meds without sending me to a counsellor first.
    Ends up all of my symptoms are clearly the result of a chemical imbalance, and he put me on Lexapro, and I noticed a difference within a few days. It's made a world of difference.
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  • oct11bride03oct11bride03
    My depression was pretty severe, but I knew it was time to seek help when I still hadn't bonded with my daughter, when I had a mild panic attack at the thought of being alone with her and when I had passive thoughts of suicide. Meds and therapy have helped tremendously, but my case was pretty severe. Since starting the meds and therapy I think getting out of the house every day is important - it makes you feel more human. Once I was feeling a little better I would make plans even just to go to the bank so I was getting out. I wish you tons of luck.
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  • amber_tynanamber_tynan member

    3 days after giving birth I was crying uncontrollably and began having anxiety attacks and thoughts of being worthless.  I was in a constant cycle of feeling like everything was going wrong and I couldn't fix it and feeling like things would get worse and never change and there was nothing I could do about it.  B was losing weight because I wasn't producing milk so I felt like I was starving him and (to this day) felt like I was losing him.  I knew I needed help because I would dread the evenings when it felt like I was going crazy and disconnecting from the world and a feeling of guilt/impending doom would wash over me. 

    A week after having B I called my midwife and she referred me to a nurse practitioner psychologist who specializes in women's issues.  She tried to fit me in that day (Friday) but I had to wait until Monday.  I really didn't think I could make it through the weekend, but I did and getting help was the best thing I could have done for me and my family.

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  • Basil27Basil27 member
    imageTommysGirl56:

    Talking to the doctor helped me.? I was started on medication, also.? However, even if you do not want medication, I think it would still be a good idea to talk to a professional...and I would start with your doctor.? They can refer you to someone for additional counseling, and also lay out your other options.? I have an appointment with a psychologist for later this month, but I needed the referral from my doctor for the appointment.

    As far as when I sought help, the first thing I did was go to the doctor.? I went after my mom suggested it to me when I told her I was worried that having a baby was a mistake.? I was overwhelmed with work, a house that needs work, and the baby.? Now, with?the doctor's?guidance, I am on medication, had labwork done that showed I needed additional vitamin supplements, and doing daily exercise.? There is a chance that your depression is a result of a hormonal imbalance or vitamin defficiency, and again, you would need to speak with a doctor to find out.? These types of problems would likely need to be treated with medications.? But tell your doctor you would like to avoid medication with possible, and hopefully they could suggest more natural options for you, no matter what the underlying issues are.

    The things you want to do definitely sound like a good start.? Good luck to you!

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  • meshlmeshl

    Ya, like everyone else said, talk to your dr.  You really shouldn't try and go it alone.  They will understand you not wanting to take meds but, as someone else said, there could be other things wrong medically that can be contributing. 

    It took me about 4-6 weeks after DD's birth to realize that I needed help.  I had no clue that detachment was a sign.  I wasn't really sad, just thinking that DD was a mistake and what the hell had I gotten myself in to.  It was the most horrible feeling ever.  I had other things going on with my family that surfaced after DD was born so I was dealing with so much.  I was always afraid to have my DH leave for work because I was home alone with her, even though she was a good baby and it wasn't a big deal to take care of her alone.  Looking back after being on meds for a couple months, I realize really what a mess I was. 

    Good luck to you.  I hope you are able to get better without taking meds, as you would like, but please, if you really need them, please reconsider!  This should be a great time in your life (and it is for me now) and you shouldn't be suffering.

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