Have any of you mommies ever dealt with post partum depression before?? if so - how did you know you had it?
im just no sure if what im feeling is normal and most mommies with older kids welcoming a new baby feel the same or if im just exhausted... so i figured id ask.
3 comments:
Jess, I don't believe I ever had postpartum depression but I do remember that many day after the twins were born my goal was just to get through the day without sitting down and just crying... I did this a couple of times, but hey I was not getting any sleep, my body was trying to recover and also produce enough milk for two babies and on top of that I had a very busy 22 month old boy who wanted all of my attention. Hopefully other mothers will give you better advise but just remember your body physically and mentally is trying to accomplished many things at once. You are amazing! Let me tell you it does get better and little easier each month.
I had post partum depression with Lili really bad. The one thing that helped me was journaling. I journaled every thought and feeling I had and a lot of it I didn't even want Artene reading. I felt like something was wrong with me at first. But the more I wrote, the more I learned it wasn't me talking, it was my crazy hormones. If you want to talk more about it, let me know and I can help. Educating women about PPD is something I'm really working towards.
I was prone to depression my whole life. It became clinically diagnosed depression after I had Ray. It manifested as PPD but I now know it is something I will struggle with for the rest of my life. I didn't get help until Wendy was a week old.
Seriously, Jessie. Talk to your doctor. Talk to your kids pediatrician. Talk to someone who can help you. There are a lot of things we can do to help ourselves with depression but you need to have more people on your side, rooting for you, helping you. I take medication and go to therapy. It took me some time to suck of my pride and forget about what others might think of me. Because I only get one shot at mommy-ing my kids and if I blow it then that's it. I can't re-do it.
Of course, writing in your journal helps. And so does keeping your spiritual-self in check and about a million other things you don't have time for as a new mom. But sometimes when you are so depressed you can't even get yourself to read your scriptures or say a prayer... then that makes you feel even more depressed!
Depression has nothing to do with your abilities as a mother or your standing with God or your level of testimony.
Sorry so lengthy. I feel really passionately about this! I get tired of the attitude, "Try as hard as you can to never, ever take medication" that a lot of people have, especially in the church.
Get what you need. Heavenly Father gave us medicine to help us. Depression is not something that you can always pray away.
I could go on and on about this. Get in touch with me anytime! I'm a medicated, therapy attending, mommy of two!
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