1. Postpartum
depression isn’t even real. It's something other moms make up who can't handle
their kids.
2. I just
need to suck it up. Life’s hard sometimes.
3. My
time’s too valuable to spend at the doctor’s office for something I don’t even
believe exists. (Besides, if I'm getting
2 hours off without kids, I'm going to the salon, not the doctor.)
4. I’m just having a
tough few weeks. Things will get better. (Say
this over and over again, for months.)
5. It’s just my
hormones. I’m sure they’ll balance out again soon. (Say this over and over again, for months.)
6. It’s just my work
schedule. I’ll settle into a routine again soon. (Say this over and over again, for months.)
7. I’m still
functional and interactive. It can’t be that bad.
8. Women have worked
hard and raised kids for thousands of years without anti-depressants.
9. A few moody
months won’t kill anybody. It’s not affecting my family too much.
10. People will think I have bad coping skills.
11. None of my friends take anti-depressants. (Yeah right – just like none of my friends
have fed their kids Cheerios for three meals in one day.)
12. I just
have a lot going on. It's normal to feel tired, unmotivated, and anxious. I'll
be back to my old self again soon.
13. Antidepressants
will prevent my body from regulating its own happiness in the future, and I'll
never be happy again without medication.
14. Plenty
of women in third world countries are raising kids without washing machines,
dishwashers, and antidepressants.
15. I'm going to make having kids look bad. People
already think moms with young kids are crazy!
16. I just
need to cut out coffee, eat less sugar, read this advice book, join a moms
group, dab these three essential oils behind my ears seven times a day, demand
more "me" time, re-allocate grocery money to those magic
green-or-pink smoothies, start a new personal hobby, wake up early to enjoy
nature, exercise 30 minutes every evening, and eat three square meals a day
with two healthy snacks, no carbs, no dairy, no processed foods…
When I
finally called my obgyn to talk about post-partum depression, I cried on the
phone with the receptionist. When I finally met with my doctor, it was very
simple and straightforward.
She spent
20 minutes listening to my concerns, asking follow-up questions, and reassuring
me that it wasn’t normal to feel this way; my symptoms indicated postpartum
depression.
I left
with recommendations for good counselors, if desired, and a prescription for Zoloft
(Sertraline is the generic. It’s $10 for a 30-day supply at Walmart
pharmacies.)
My
doctor said I probably wouldn't feel improvement from the Zoloft for at least a
week. But it made an immediate difference: the world slowed down, normal
interactions lost their intensity, and I could make calmer, more deliberate decisions.
For me, depression isn't sadness or
a cloudy day. It's a sunny day, so bright, with rays so intense and piercing
that I can't escape.
Every
woman experiences pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum life differently. These
are not easy seasons!
If
you're experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety, a simple doctor’s visit
could bring much-needed relief.
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