Depression - Deltona,FL

First of all, consider this a HUGE HUG. I totally and completely understand how awful depression can be. You don't feel like you will ever get better. I've been there!! You must, must, must, make an appointment to talk to your doctor right away. Do it now. Get off the computer and pick up the phone. Let him/her know EVERYTHING. They will get you some help! Some people have to go through months of trying to figure out the right medication or combination of medications that help the most, so get this started now. I was very lucky. I found meds that helped me within days. I had to increase my dosage twice, but the actual meds worked great.
I also go through times when I feel like things are going so well that I can stop taking my meds. DON"T DO IT. It never works, and will just make you that much more depressed because then you remember how awful you feel without your pills.
Your doctor can help you find a therapist/councilor/psychiatrist in your area too. Mine got me started on meds immediately and gave me a card of a therapist in my area. I am so so so much better now!
Good luck and get moving! You can feel like you again!!

7 moms found this helpful

Please take the medication and seek counseling...This happened to me and meds, support group and counseling made a world of difference. Take back your life so you can enjoy your family and all that you've been blessed with.

5 moms found this helpful

See a therapist. Maybe one that specializes in post partum issues. Even if it is not post partum, having a new baby can be very exhausting and is a big life change and you may need some help in adjusting to this. I am sorry you are feeling this way and I hope you can find someone to work with you and help you to feel better. Don't be hard on yourself, you are on the right track in seeking help.

5 moms found this helpful

Depression is a mental illness. Post partum depression is a common issue, and it is not unheard of to have the depression show up before the birth. See a psychiatrist. Just go. Make the appointment today, and if you can't get it done, ask your husband to make the appointment. Just go. There is help, and sometimes you just cannot do it all by yourself.

M.

4 moms found this helpful

Dear N. --

It's really OK that you thought you could get over it by yourself.
You thought it was a matter of will power.
You can forgive yourself for that faulty reasoning.
Clearly you weren't aware that depression
is due to a chemical imbalance in the brain
and that there are meds these days
that can correct the imbalance effectively.

Correcting the imbalance won't change the circumstances of your life.
Being able to think clearly without being affected by the imbalance
will make you far more able to deal with the circumstances of your life.

I hope you'll be able to reconnect with your husband's patience
and love for you. Perhaps if you show him the responses here
it may help him understand what has been going on with you.

I haven't read any of them yet but am guessing they might be helpful
for getting him to reconsider how he can be emotionally supportive
to you as you begin this new phase of your life,
taking control of your life with the help of psychotropic drugs.

Your daughter deserves to have a competent confident mom.
And you deserve to be a "together" capable woman.
==============================
OK. I have just read all the other answers.
I thought it would be worth stressing . . . .
the use of psychotropic drugs is a trial+error situation.
Some drugs work for some people and not for others.
Some combinations of drugs work for some people and not for others.
PLEASE allow your doctor and/or psychiatrist to try various
combinations until you and she have found the right combination for you.
Don't give up if you don't feel improvement right away.
Give yourself at least a few weeks.
Also, of course, let the doctor(s) know if you are still breast-feeding.
That's a consideration in which drugs they may prescribe.
PLEASE have your husband read these responses.
And give your little girl a hug for me.

3 moms found this helpful

Martha (below) has given great advice.

Yes, please go see a psychiatrist. The hormones of pregnancy can wreak havoc on your mental state. Some people give birth and live happily ever after. Others give birth and feel like they're going to snap.

Take a deep breath - it is NOT your fault.

Psychiatrists deal with this sort of thing all the time. Think about it - nearly every patient they see has some sort of mental/emotional issue so you will not seem "crazy" to them; you'll seem "normal". Inquire about therapy or counseling as having another way to look at your issues. A therapist will be an impartial party who is trained to help people like you change your perspective, learn various techniques to help you deal with your issues, and be a partner in your return to good health.

If you broke your arm you wouldn't just sit at home waiting for it to heal. If you were having a heart attack you wouldn't try to take an aspirin and hope it went away. Depression is a medical issue where chemicals in your brain are either: being flooded in too large of a quantity, not enough are being produced, are going to the wrong receptors, or are binding improperly to the receptors. Medicine can help get things going in the right direction in the brain.

Unfortunately the stigma surrounding depression still exists despite the fact that more people suffer silently than you ever realize. You are not alone and help is available. Good luck to you and hope you are feeling better soon!

3 moms found this helpful

You sound so sad. Please talk to your Dr. again and take the medication. Depression is a PHYSICAL condition, not something you can "get over" yourself. Something is chemically off-center in your brain right now, probably due to your recent childbirth. If you had high blood pressure or diabetes, you'd take the medication you need. this is no different. If someone else in the family was sick, you'd want them to take their meds. You owe it to yourself and your family, but YOU have to take the first step. It will get SO much better in a very short time. Good luck.

3 moms found this helpful

I've battled depression since adolescence, but it gets much much worse during pregnancy and post-partum. Please do see a psychiatrist. I know of a couple of great ones in Brandon and Lakeland. If you're in either one of these cities, message me and I'll get you their contact information. You will also want to find a good therapist to talk to. It really does help to talk through all of the lonely and sad feelings with someone who is removed from the situation. Good luck to you, and feel free to contact me if you want to.

3 moms found this helpful

Hi N.! I went through the same thing after the birth of my first child. Well, mine was more anxiety..but it was still something that I just couldn't get a handle on. I put off talking to anyone about it b/c I was nursing, and didn't want to take meds while nursing. Once I finally weaned her, I talked to my obgyn about it...and he totally wiped away any shame I had, saying it is an illness, and you should have no more shame taking meds to help with depression or anxiety, as you would taking meds to get over an infection. I went on the meds for about a year, and they helped sooo much! I felt so much more centered and organized, and just on top of life again. I am not sure if you tried the meds, or not...but if not, try them..and if did and you still feel down, try a different one. I was able to get off of them, and was fine until recently when my anxiety kicked back in. My kids had a lot of health issues this last year, which I managed through fine...but somehow the pressure of Christmas (which I love), made it too much. I am planning to talk to my dr about going back on something, and also making an appointment with a therapist. This time around I am taking fast action, because I know there is no need to suffer. It is better for you, and your kids and hubby if you take care of yourself!! Best of luck...and don't feel isolated..there are a lot of people who are going through the same thing!!

3 moms found this helpful

Did you try the medication? Are you taking it?
I think you should go back to your doctor and discuss it with her.
Let her make sure the dosage is still correct and get on the meds! I believe it will help you. There's no need to suffer like this, N.. Best of luck to you!

2 moms found this helpful

it sounds like depression, but i thought i was depressed and it turns out i have hypothyroidism and a vitamin D deficiency. I finally got it figured out after 9 months. i was on antidepressants for 4 months and just felt like yucky on them. Both of the problems i mentioned can have depression like symptoms

Depression is an emotional state that can result from psychological factors and/or biochemical factors - the mind and body influence one another since they are just different leveles of one integrated system. Psychiatric drugs don't heal depression, they may just temporarily mask the symptoms without addressing the causes - and can further disturb the biochemical systems in the body making the underlying imbalance even worse and thereby fostering dependency or addiction. Natural medicine approaches that work with diet and nutrition and hormones, herbs and energy therapies, meditation and yoga, counseling and group support, etc., can help restore hormonal balance and healthier psychological patterns. Pregnancy throws hormones out of balance and is a common trigger for depression (mainly post-partum depression). I'd suggest you seek out safe natural therapies rather than hazardous psychiatric treatments even if it costs you more out of pocket - it will save you in the long run.

Hi,
This is so common-all that you need is the correct food- having a baby takes so much out of your body that if you don't replace it then this is how you feel- really, and I am so sorry no one told you, and that you had to go thro this, when it was not necessary.
Please rush to Weston Price. com, and go to the book store and get Nourshing Traditions and eat real food- you will feel better very quickly.
You are not missing some drug- what a farce to tell moms this, and then put them on drugs for what is a nutritional problem.
If you are missing minerals, and the proper food then what you are describing is EXACTLY how you feel.
Get the correct good food, and get you life back, and enjoy that new baby of yours.
best, k

i'm sorry you feel this way, but i wanted to comment on what you said about no one can take it all these months. that not true. your husband is suppose to be there for good times and bad, and sometimes the bad times outway the good for a while. i have a mood disorder (sigh amoung other things) and my husband is forever patient. i get confused sometimes and he patiently tells me where i am and who he is etc. you shouldnt feel like you are alone in this

p.s. After posting my response, I just saw your response below. I hope that you seek out a counselor as well - they are much better at addressing issues quickly via conversation (meds take time) - if you can get your husband to attend just ONE session, he may learn a lot about what you are going through and it may help him be understanding and supportive. Wishing you all the best.
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It sure sounds like depression to me. I urge you to please seek out a counselor and a psychiatrist. This is what they treat for a living - they will be able to help you. It sounds like you are just so unhappy - I really feel for you and hope that for the sake of your own health and happiness and that of your family's that you seek out whatever resources you can. This is TREATABLE and you can be happy again. If your insurance doesn't cover counseling and psychiatry, there are community resources available. Please ask your doctor for intormation on these. Best wishes to you!

thanks everybody for you support,i will go to see a psychiatrist as soon as i can ,my husband is not interested in what i m going through he is just tired of me,my mariage is taking one last chance,he told me that.i m confused and so depressed,i hardly talk with him,i m felling like its al my fault,he dont want to undertand my situation we went through many problems since i got pregnant.thanks again,wish me good luck

N.,

This is an illness, it is not your fault, and you can get better! You are doing a wonderful thing by reaching out to other people--keep doing that until you feel better. Every human being who deals with this disease does so in their own way. I have used "talk therapy", diet, exercise and accupuncture. I also addressed my health--it turns out I am hypothyroid and that contributed to my postpartum depression. But depression in and of itself is a disease, and I know medications have helped many people to get past the worst of it and put a support system in place.

The main thing is to start getting that support system put together. I had to get my husband educated, get my doctors on board with my disease and how I wanted to approach it, make time to eat well, exercise and see friends and I had to adjust my attitude (no more perfectionism--it's just as destructive as alcoholism!).

I didn't do that in a day, but I started by talking to people and doing one thing to make myself feel better in a real way. That gave me the hope and energy to move to the next thing. But your husband needs to know that depression is a disease, and like viruses (which range from colds to pneumonia), it comes in many forms and strengths. Sometimes it lasts a long time and people need support to get well.

Hang in there! I'm so glad you're reaching out--keep it up until you feel better. You can do it.