Post Partum Depression - Green Bay, WI

J.,

I would stay on the meds. Cut them in 1/2. Im on 20mg and I cut them in 1/2. Im on Lexapro. I had really bad PPD, I was put in the hospital for 10 days. It was horriable. Good luck let me know how you are doing.

Hi J.-

I'm right there with you. My son was born in August 2005 and I still very much need to be on my medication. I had thought I would be better by now. Out of frustration that I still seemed to need the meds, I started seeing a counselor and Pychiatrist this last summer. I can't say that things are great now, but they are helping me more than I was with only my regular MD. Please hang in there and know that you are not alone. E-mail me if you would like.

J.,
As a mother and a counselor who used to do private practice specificly for PPD, I have got to applaud everyone here, but particularly Amy L. Listen to her points! Do not try to self wean off the meds, and do not be ashamed to stay on them. The stigma against mental health in this country is a tragedy. I couldn't have said the whole "insulin" thing better myself. There's no shame in it. Think about everything that you have been through, and give yourself time to heal. A professional can definately help. You will feel like yourself again someday. Exercise is a natural endorphin lifter, so along with Dr. counseled meds, and possibly some couseling to help you feel more in control, light appropriate exercise can really help, and you can do it in a fun way that incorporates your son so you are still together. I have lots of reading material on this subject if you have more questions. Just remember,you are not alone, and you can ask for help, no one expects you to handle this on your own. Good luck
S.

I could probably write a book on this subject, but I will try to keep it short....
1) don't wean off of it unless your doctor recommended it and only under doctor supervision. some of the antidepressants can have horrible withdrawl symptoms.

2)Did you do any therapy? Because medications won't fix it alone..... I would recommend seeing a good therapist and I highly, highly recommend Dr. Simmons at Partners in Psychology and Psychiatry in St. Louis Park. You can google them and find the website.

3)As someone else stated this is a hard time of the year in MN. I struggle to get through the winter months and also use a lamp (prescribed by my Psychiatrist) to help get extra sunlight.

4)It may not go away and it may, but it might take a little longer. I have wished and tried to be off medications, but I have found out that I can't. But don't be embarrased or ashamed or any of that stuff. It is a disease and you need to treat it that way. Would you stop taking your insulin if you were diabetic?? No, you wouldn't or you would get horribly ill and/or die........the same applies for depression, even if it is only PPD.

If you ever need more info or just want to talk...feel free to email me :)

Dear J.,
I'm so glad you are talking about this. Yes, you will feel normal again! Some times the best thing you can do is something you probably don't feel like doing and that is work out. I know you're probably tired and feel like going back to bed but figure out a workout that feels good to you. I do Yoga and it helps tremendously. So much so that the minute I feel edgy I take deep breaths and stretch and do a couple of poses.
Get out of the house and do things with your friends. When the negative thought enter your mind then take a walk or run around the house. It sounds nutty but moving your body around will help with the depression.
One other thing, see a Cranial Sacral Therapist. It sounds really strange when you learn what it is about (Google it) but it relieved my depression. I have a friend who suffers from depression and she took up jogging and it really helped. Best of luck, L. B

Please do not wean yourself without consulting a doctor. It is not recommended for anti-depressants. You may need to stay on it longer and/or combine it with some therapy.

Contact me if you want someone to talk to about it.

It's been four years, and I can still remember the moment a realized I didn't feel anything for my son. It was about a week after he was born. I was immediatly put on anti-depressants and sent to a wonderful therapist. I don't think I would have made it without her. I just wanted to run away so bad, but I stayed.

I think I was on antidepressants for two years, until I took myself off them(with my doctor knowing(though my psychiatrist didn't really agree with me because of a the side-effect of getting off effexor is rebound depression--and she didn't believe that I just had to get on something to get me past that phase...luckily, my family practice doctor was willing to listen to my concerns.)because I felt they were doing more harm than good.

I had a history of depression, and had been off medication for two years before the PPD hit. I needed more help than just pills to work through the feelings and thoughts it caused..if you havne't seen a psychologist or psychotherapist, it might be worth a shot.

Being on anti-depressants doesn't mean that you are not "normal", just means that you recognize that you need a little help--which is a good thing. Being on medication isn't a bad thing. Getting off it before you should is not worth the pain or stress. Listen to your body and your emotions. If its telling you you're not ready--don't set yourself back.

Maybe you're not on the right medication. How do you feel when you're taking it?

Just my thoughts. After I started seeing a therapist and got on the right medication, I felt better after a couple months--but for the first year or so it was rough, and even after I felt everything was right--I had to stay on the medication because if I tried to stop, the feelings would come back. (I had my son in 2003, and I stopped taking the medicaine in 2005)

Hope this helps a little. There's hope, it'll get better. You're not alone.

C.

I have had post partum depression after my 3rd child. I found out that it was my hormones. It takes awhile for them to get back on track, but I don’t know how long. I think its important to talk to your doctor and find out how to get off the medicine without feeling this way and see if the doctor can check your hormone levels. The hormone are always changing, so you might not be able to tell if this will help you. The first part of your cycle has more estrogen in it and the last half has more progesterone than the first half. The one that make you feel better is the estrogen. Taking care of yourself is very important at this time. Exercise build of the endorphins in the brain to help anyone to cope better. Eating right and on a schedule is important too. It help your body keep a balance. Seeing a funny movie that makes you laugh help the chemicals in the brain. You need to take care of you and allow yourself time to get well. I don’t remember how long it took me but I know it was awhile. I didn’t like the feeling and couldn’t wait to feel good again. Please take care of yourself you are very important to your son.

Little about me

I have three children 20, 18, and 14, been married 25 years.

I did this to myself with the seizure meds I was taking. I started to feel better so I weaned myself off of them and ended up having a seizure and huge depression/anxiety issues.

You feel better after a while on the medicine.. because it's the medicine working for you.. not necessarily that you've gotten better.

Things are getting worse again because you are weaning yourself off before it's time.

Something like this should only be done with strict supervision from you Dr.!

Please take this seriously and go back on your meds. When you get really depressed it's hard to get out of bed, let alone take care of a 1 year old.

I think you'll feel better once you start taking your medicine again. I've been there, and I know it sucks to have to take pills everyday. Or be classified as "depressed".

Hi J.,

As a mother of ten, I've had ppd a few times. I never went on prescription anti-depressants; but have utilized natural supplements like St. John's Wart, Gingko Biloba, any Ginseng which have helped a lot. Plus making sure I either got out for a 30-60 minute walk daily or hit the treadmill. My worst time of depression was going through peri-menopausal stuff and emotions were just barely under the surface...overflowing easily. My Nurse Practitioner recommended upping the St. John's Wart to three times a day...I haven't succeeded to that level yet; but between treadmilling 60 minutes a day and increasing it some...I've overcome such emotionalism which would also include ease in being irritable too.

So, try the natural stuff. They work without side-affects. In fact I know of a TN supplier whose St. John's Wart includes the enzymes to make sure your body digests it profitably.

Glad you're seeking help and do know...such is common to many women.

B. in Eau Claire, WI

Have you seen a therapist along with the meds? It is also important to talk with a professional when you have depression or often once you quit taking the meds the depression will come right back. Being a mom is a huge change and lots of work. You may be holding things inside that you need to talk about with someone. Also, you may just need to keep taking your meds a bit longer. My suggestion is to talk with someone so that they can help you work through the many stresses you may be dealing with.

This is avery difficult time of year in MN due to the lack of sunshine which could also impact your ability to wean off the medicine. Stay on the meds and talk with your health care provider. You will feel "Normal" again. You have gone through a lot of changes in the past year and your normal may look different than before your son was born, equally happy, but different.

First and foremost I want you to know that I have been down the road of PPD that ended in the psych ward on Christmas Eve 2004. Did your Dr. request that you start weaning off the meds or is that something you decided on your own? What ultimately got me through the long, dark road of PPD was medication, a support group, talking one on one with a therapist and moving back to Michigan to live with my parents. Different medications work for different people and that includes natural and holistic approaches. And FYI, if you decide to be on birth control, do NOT choose Depo Prevera while on the anti-depressant Paxil. The drug combination can lead to suicidal tendancies and psychotic episodes. 7 months after my son was born during a check-up a Dr. noticed that I was on both of these. And didn't give me my update shot for the Depo. It was a month later (with the help of the circumstances surrounding my son's father) that I tried to commit suicide.

I wish you the best of luck. No one understands PPD unless they have been through it. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, you will get through this.

Hi there,
I know what you are going thorugh because I went through the same thing. I strongly urge you to talk with a counselor and look int seeing if you have clinical depression. I too was diagnosed with PPD after my daughter was born but once I was done with talk therapy I still did not feel right so I after some more research we found that I really had clinical depression not just PPD. It could mean you will have to be on an anti depressent for longer but if you are still not feeling right then you may have more than just PPD.

Hang in there and don't worry if you need to stay on the medication longer, you will know. I found that making sure I had time for me and time with friends and time having fun with my husband all happened away from baby was helpful in regaining myself after life with a new first time baby. Mom's in person support groups are good too. MOPS a christian moms group was very important to me. In Minnesota, with long dark days of fall winter, some sunshine helps too....any chance to take a 3-4 day trip someplace warm is a good idea too. Don't hestate to seek help if you need it, churches have open doors and good programs for all. Think positive thoughts and count your blessings and call your girlfriends...lots of things will help as can medication. Lavender is a natural antidepressent, just smelling it or rubbing it on your skin can lift your spirtits!

i was on anti-deprssants for 3 years after my son was born.. i finally went off them almost a year ago.. my son was born sep 4th 2002.. hes father didnt want anything to do with him.. and was trying so hard to do everything on my own.. which did a number on me.. and the boyfriend at the time didnt help any.. so i have been caught up on my bills and had my life going well.. and felt great i talked to my dr and he weined me off slowly.. now i have a wonderfull boyfriend and my kids are great.. once in while i find myself depressed for a few days but you gotta think happy not bad thots.. good luck and if you need to talk my email is ____@____.com