To those who have had Postpartum Depression how did you cope?
481034
It's a long road.  Sleep deprivation is the worst part because it can make depression and mood swings worse.\n\nHopefully you have the support of the baby's father and / or family and friends.\n\nBe sure to see a counselor or religious figure (priest /clergyman/pastor/monk) to discuss any issues that may be holding you back from making real progress.\n\nI knew it was going to be OK when I started to take some time for myself and I wanted to be around the baby and was happy to see her and not just feel tired and cranky with the baby.\n\nI highly recommend hitting the gym.  Really work out as hard as you can.  It really helps to focus.  Sound body = sound mind thing.\n\nBe sure you are eating well, it can be hard when you are depressed, also make sure you are getting plenty of vitamins.\n\nIf you feel that you really haven;t improved then visit your doctor or health care professional to reevaluate what medication you are taking.  They may have to change it or tweak the dosage a bit to make it better for you.\n\nThe worse part about PPD is that people don't take it seriously and they tell you stupid platitudes like "you'll be OK" "the depression won't last forever", etc.  When you are in the middle of it sometimes it is the last thing you want to hear.\n\nTry to take care of you, only then will you be able to effectively manage taking care of your baby.  Don't cut out the things you like to do, recruit someone to help you get the time you need to be yourself again.\n\nI hope that you get better and you do find that road to recovery.  If you need someone to talk to who has been there (twice, I have 4 kids now) then please email me.  Good luck!  My prayers are with you :-D
870203
i am being raised by a single mother too. my mom is severely depressed and doesnt talk to me like at all. im not home alot so it makes it easier on me but i dont really know what to do for her. we have been through a lot together and i am all that she has left. it is really hard.
624080
its sad to hear all ur problems, but there is always a solution for every thing. though what you said sounds like constant depression but usually close to each menstural cycle it is normal to feel down and just to look at negative points of life.\n for short time you can elevate your mood with relaxing and enjoying yourself with simple and cheap ways. some thing like a nice choclate with tea(earl grey,is my favorite for this times) realy helps me a lot.beside that you can stop thinking about the world for some hours and enjoy your self with may be a nice bubble bath , or something which you usualy dont do much and will not cost much too.you can light on some candles and put nice relaxing music with headfones so it will shut the sounds of neighbors lye down on your bed and close your eyes ,and try relaxing yourself part by part of your body. starting from your toes contract them and relax them and move up to your leg muscles , thighs, till you reach your head,take nice deep breaths and only concentrate on your body parts you are relaxing. when your whole body is relax try to count backward from 20 to one in your mind and try to imagine each number in your mind.and go to sleep. \n\nfor long term solution you should sit and see what are real problems and what are looking like problems.\nthough the neighborhood you explained doesnt sound nice at all but always try to look at the positive point of things, atleast you have a home to live in, and you sleep in your bed not in the street,bad things can happen to any one , but till you would be able to save up some money to move to a better place, its good to have a shelther rather than nothing.\nsame goes for your job, so many people would be happy to have your job and will not mind any hardship.try to see if you can get a better job but dont leave this one with the hope of something which doesnt exist. the main problem of yours which might be also having effect on your performance at work is your depression. which you can try solving it .\n\nwork on interior of your home. its not neccesory to have expensive things , its just how you arrange them. try to get some plants ,or flowers and keep them on your window in your bathroom and in your kitchen, taking care of plants is very effective and relaxing,\nfor praying it helps me alot too, cause god is the only one who doesnt leave us at all. but you dont need to go to church to pray, you can pray any where, cause he is every where.and he hears every thing we say. \nif you realy tried all this and it didnt helped you try to get advise from a physician.\nmean while avoid foods which are having phenyl alanine, as it increases depression, things like milk and turkey meat are rich in it. instead try things elevating the mood like cocoa, choclate and coke. my best wishes for you.
343647
With a psychaitrist and medication. Medication was like a miracle. Within a few weeks I was happy and content and could deal with anything and especially the cause of my depression.\nIt's really hard to get over this alone. The problem is that your mind is playing tricks on you, and you have unbalanced chemistry in your brain. Medication helps balance that out. \nThe medicine that they have today is incredibly good, and works really well.
24847
Yes when I was preganant at age 19yrs., awhile ago. I was so depressed, everyday for a snack I ate a box of chicken & biscuit crackers and downed a gallon of milk, in less than an hour. Needless to say I was 300lbs by the end and had to do a whole lot of dancing to work it off. It was worth it though.
952622
What a great question!  You have a way with words as you describe the situation that you're facing so well.  I couldn't have done it better myself.\n\nI'm 26 yrs old and have been diagnosed with BPII/BPD and have have major substance abuse problems.\n\nI can completely relate as I've been struggling with the same issue with my father and I appreciate you sharing this with us.  \n\nIt's difficult to have other people see you while you're dysphoric and at your weakest.  This is a time where you expect compassion and when you're parents don't only fail your expectations, but go completely against them, it can be very hurtful.\n\nWhen things blew up with me, I got my a$$ handed to me by my folkes, because my behavior was simply wearing them out.  With the drugs, the police, the hospital visits, I was becomming a huge source of stress and anxiety for them.  They never took the time to understand.  That made things a lot worse for me, I was sad to be in the house, but didn't have any where else to go at the time.\n\nI knew I needed help and I didn't want to be complacent, so I reserached treatment options myself, they wouldn't lift a finger.  The dynamic in the house was as if everyone was walking on eggshells.  It was very uncomfortable.  I was very hurt that I couldn't get the support I needed and built a very strong resentment towards them, I was ready to write them off.\n\nThe emotional pain and quality of living was getting worse, so I had to do something.  I reconnected with my Psychiatrist, got my meds straitened out and began attending Pyschotherapy, support groups and getting support from people outside my family.  For the last three months, I've worked really hard in regaining stregth and my sense of self and it's done wonders for me.\n\nJust recently, my father was talking to me about his best friends daughter, who is suffering with mental disorders and receiving therapy.  He went on to say, that she was extremely needy and fucI(ed in the head - which was his way of taking a shot at me, as he is fully aware I'm going through the same thing.  Next, he talked about quitting smoking and I told him about Zyban, he said that his mind is strong enough to quit addiction without meds - ohhhhh another shot to your son who is in recovery, taking meds no less.   A few months ago, I would have left the room in a fit or put him in his place right then and there.  \n\nSince I leveled my moods out and get support outside the house, I was feeling really good about myself and sat there calm and collected.  I thought about how I was going to respond, I know that he's old school, he didn't grow up in the information age, he thinks psychiatry is a pseudo science and associates looks at it with the stereotypical stigma attached to it.  I also thought that this was his house and I'm not going to lash out and cause any trouble.  That was the last thing I needed amongst the scheme of things.\n\nI responded quite calmly, "Why do you think she's needy?  Do you think she's faking it or that she's using it as an excuse for attention?"  He didn't respond with any logical type of answer and changed the subject, but I stuck with it.  Then I asked him, "I'm under intensive psychotherapy right now and take meds and it's helped me a great deal.  Do you think I'm needy as well?"  He said no, he actually said he noticed a difference in my behaviors and he was proud of me and knew that I was working hard to get better.\n\nI think he feels really guilty inside for going off on me.  I think deep down inside he was scared and didn't know how to deal with me.  I think my parents paniced and saw flaws in me that live inside them and their natural defense mechanism is to take it out on me.  It's the age old habit of self loathing.\n\n I'm still not over it and he knows that and I can see it in his eyes that he was sorry about what he&
440132
how you cope i will never now
1127061
Just reading your question you sound like a wonderful person..first you gave up a good job but your priority was your baby (who you love more than life itself) and your husband is happy with you and your kids love you..couple of questions?..has it been very long since you had your baby?..could you be suffering from post-partum depression?..Could you just be depressed?..Please talk with your doctor about your concerns..So much about our lives today are busy and as women we are caregivers. We ignore our needs. Your feelings   and thoughts may be a chemical imbalance in your brain (you have no control of) often just talking with a mental health clinician can help you pinpoint why you have those feelings and how to re-direct them or change your focus..Be happy (I know how simple this sounds) Sometimes the money becomes the focus and it doesn't let you see how important your family and your life is..I wish you the very best.. Let this new move be a new start for you and your family..sounds exciting but busy...
896776
I have 3 children by myself,I have severe depression due to the death of my daughter and 20 years of domestic violence [I don't have that anymore]\nMy youngest is 1 and I get up in the night with her.\nI'm also learning to drive,studying law,decorating my house which I just moved into and selling on ebay in my spare time.\nI have no parents or close help.\nYou have to just get on with it,everyone else does.\nI'd love to be able to go on the sick,but I ain't got time to.\nIt's called being a grown up,everyone has anxiety,gets tired and stressed but the difference is most of us don't have time to even get to the doctors let alone moan about it all.\nGet tough.\n\nbtw I did sort myself out,I had 6 months of counselling,and anxiety can be part of depression.\nThe doctor can't cure your ignorance or self pity though.\n\nAnd if you are struggling that much why post a question about wether or not should you have another baby ???
883271
How old are your children, I know I felt that way when I had post partum depression....maybe you should talk to your doctor.
883049
Funny, I just did that today. I have had a harsh couple of weeks...my uncle died, my kitten died of heart disease, my car died, and I just found out that my parents both have skin cancer, and that their dog (that i grew up with) has cancer and needs to be put down soon.\n\nAt this point, I've given up trying. I'm all cried out.
461716
Hi,\nI had the same worries as you during my pregnancies, I asked at the hospital and was given various leaflets, most of them contained the following paragraph, suggesting there is a link between previous depressive episodes and post natal depression.\n   The first time I did experience post natal depression but because I was prepared for it I had spoken with the doctor and health visitor and I had quite a lot of support to help me cope.\nThe second time, I was not affected much at all.   I'm sure if you plan and prepare for all eventualities you will be fine.\n\nPostnatal depression is common; it has been estimated to affect 13% of women in the first year following the birth of their child (70,000 women annually in the UK)2.\nRisk Factors There are numerous risk factors, which include:\n\nPast history of depression / postnatal depression \nPoor social support \nLack of a confiding relationship \nUnemployment of partner \nAdverse life events eg bereavement \nPoor relationship with own mother \nPresentation
90349
I don't know about coping if it's beyond human indurance but I used relaxation tapes during my lunch breaks for three years (I would not quit my job) while trying to change the cause of the pressure through the personnel office. \nAfter work, I went to Yoga classes which also helped me to reduce the stress.\nAnd, of course, I relieved myself of the pressure by talking to friends and loved ones who offered their support.\nThat which doesn't kill you makes you strong. However, if you can change jobs, do it. Life is too short to be in this kind of pain.
476490
I know how hard it is to be depressed because of a drunk driving situation because my uncle died in a car crash on the way home one night from a drunk driver. My aunt has coped with depression and we gave her the advice to try new things like go to a casino if you dont like to gamble and get out and meet new people and make some friends and people who make you feel good and so far it has worked even if you are 35+ years old you can still have friends and have fun my other uncle is 55 and is enjoing life to the fullest just being around friends (people who care and make you feel good).\n\nHope this Helps!!! Sorry about your wreck
443881
what do you do as a job? i found that i had to change my attitude in a lot of different areas of my life. i don't know exactly what i'd suggest for you since i'm not sure what type of work you do. are you religious at all? that is something i got away from and i found myself sinking deeper and deeper into anger and despair. have you talked to your doctor about it? i have had to stay on an antidepressant. my family has a history of depression. sometimes we just have chemicals in our brains that are out of whack. it is hard to deal with life if your brain isn't working properly. i have made myself always look on the bright side. i dont' know you, but as a starter, you can be happy that you have a roof over your head and at least some type of employment. i honestly know how you feel. please don't consider killing yourself. i don't know how many times i made passive/aggressive attempts to harm myself. i was wreckless and i did not care at all. it's an awful feeling. i really suggest you talk to a doctor. psychological sickness is the same as physical sickness. some people do not understand that. there are methods to heal yourself. please talk to someone. i'll say a prayer for you.
98246
i cried for my aunt recently.\nher husband past away last year and she is going through a very rough time in her life-she is a second mom to me and it causes me great pain to see her hurting.
190318
I can totally relate. My wife went through breast cancer surgery and then chemo last year. So far so good - but the stress never stops. It's tough being a caregiver and I can relate to your feeling tired and dragged out.\n\nHang in there.