 |  |  |  |  |
| Moms Supporting Moms 919-454-6946 |
| © 2007 Moms Supporting Moms. All Rights Reserved. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| Hope --- Encouragement --- Information |
| Personal Stories of Recovery from PPMD |
This page is dedicated to sharing women’s personal experiences of recovery. It is our hope that
the stories will inspire mothers to seek help if they are suffering from any of the symptoms of
postpartum mood disorders. It is also our intent to provide the greatest gift you can receive
when going through this—hope—by reading what others have gone through and knowing you
are not alone.
If you have recovered from ante partum or postpartum depression or anxiety and would like to
share your story here, please contact Anne at awimer@nc.rr.com.
(*These stories may not be used, copied, or reproduced in any form without the permission of
the contributor. Please contact the group at awimer@nc.rr.com to request permission.)
I experienced postpartum depression and anxiety after the births of each of my three
children. They are now 7, 5 and 1.
My first experience with postpartum depression was in a way the worst one because I didn’t
know what was going on with me. I cried constantly, was anxious all the time, couldn’t eat,
and scared to go out because the baby might cry but also scared to be alone at home. I
basically felt that life as I used to know it was over. Time stood still. After about two months
my OB encouraged me to try an anti-depressant and seek therapy. The combination of the
medication and therapy worked beautifully and I was feeling much better by the time my son
was 4 months old.
After my daughter was born I thought that I would be OK and that because I wasn’t a brand
new mother anymore, I probably wouldn’t experience the depression and anxiety again. I was
OK for a week after her birth and then the symptoms that had been so devastating began
again. I immediately contacted my OB and started on medication right away. I felt better
within two weeks and was so grateful for therapy and modern pharmaceuticals!
When my third child was born I expected that I would experience the symptoms of postpartum
depression and anxiety again. I was right but I didn’t realize just how bad it would be. I could
feel the extreme anxiety within 24 hours after birth. I immediately started medication and
hoped that I would feel better in a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, I was wrong. I spiraled
very quickly into a major depression laced with blinding anxiety. Because I wasn’t eating or
sleeping I was unable to care for my newborn. After consulting with my psychiatrist I opted to
participate in an outpatient program at a local psychiatric hospital. Within a couple of month’
s time I felt like myself again. I even had a “post” postpartum depression party to celebrate
and to honor all of the people who helped me and my family!
My recovery is complete now and looking back on that journey is sometimes difficult, but it
has also given me a lot to be thankful and hopeful for. I would encourage anyone suffering
from postpartum depression and anxiety to speak with a doctor or healthcare professional as
soon as possible, accept as much help and support from others as you can, and most
importantly know that YOU WILL GET BETTER!
-H.K.
Soon after the birth of my son, I knew something was wrong with me. Almost immediately, I
had trouble sleeping, and I felt extremely anxious all the time. By the time he was five days
old, I wanted to crawl out of my own skin; my nerves felt raw. I couldn't fall asleep, or if I did,
I couldn't sleep for long. I also couldn’t eat. I forced down every bite of food, and I spent
most of my time crying. I worried constantly and felt like my life was spinning out of control.
Normal tasks seemed insurmountable, and nothing that I used to enjoy gave me any pleasure.
I called my OB and told him how I was feeling at the end of that first week. He prescribed
medication to help me sleep and to control the anxiety; he also reassured me that I was not
going crazy and that lots of other mothers go through similar experiences when suffering from
postpartum depression and anxiety. He encouraged me to use all the support from family and
friends that was offered until I recovered. I also saw a therapist during this time, and she gave
me hope, helped me to find tools to help myself get better, and made me believe that I would
go on from this experience to be a good mother. A psychiatrist monitored my medications
until I was well.
Finding a medication to control my anxiety and starting to sleep better was key to my
recovery. I knew that I was getting better the day I heard a new song on the radio and
enjoyed it. Later the same day I laughed at something my older son did, and suddenly the
world seemed so much brighter after weeks of darkness. I had good days mixed with some
bad after that, but I did my best to stay focused on the fact that I was getting better and
enjoying my life again.
After recovering from PPMD, I learned that many women (an estimated 10-15% of new
mothers) experience the same symptoms I did, or variations of them (some more severe,
some less so). One of the most important facts I learned from my experience, and that I try to
pass on to other new mothers suffering from PPMD, is that the sooner you receive treatment,
the quicker the recovery time. Please don’t hesitate to tell your doctor or another health
professional if you are suffering from any of the symptoms of postpartum depression or
anxiety, because there are many forms of help available.
-A.W.
the stories will inspire mothers to seek help if they are suffering from any of the symptoms of
postpartum mood disorders. It is also our intent to provide the greatest gift you can receive
when going through this—hope—by reading what others have gone through and knowing you
are not alone.
If you have recovered from ante partum or postpartum depression or anxiety and would like to
share your story here, please contact Anne at awimer@nc.rr.com.
(*These stories may not be used, copied, or reproduced in any form without the permission of
the contributor. Please contact the group at awimer@nc.rr.com to request permission.)
I experienced postpartum depression and anxiety after the births of each of my three
children. They are now 7, 5 and 1.
My first experience with postpartum depression was in a way the worst one because I didn’t
know what was going on with me. I cried constantly, was anxious all the time, couldn’t eat,
and scared to go out because the baby might cry but also scared to be alone at home. I
basically felt that life as I used to know it was over. Time stood still. After about two months
my OB encouraged me to try an anti-depressant and seek therapy. The combination of the
medication and therapy worked beautifully and I was feeling much better by the time my son
was 4 months old.
After my daughter was born I thought that I would be OK and that because I wasn’t a brand
new mother anymore, I probably wouldn’t experience the depression and anxiety again. I was
OK for a week after her birth and then the symptoms that had been so devastating began
again. I immediately contacted my OB and started on medication right away. I felt better
within two weeks and was so grateful for therapy and modern pharmaceuticals!
When my third child was born I expected that I would experience the symptoms of postpartum
depression and anxiety again. I was right but I didn’t realize just how bad it would be. I could
feel the extreme anxiety within 24 hours after birth. I immediately started medication and
hoped that I would feel better in a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, I was wrong. I spiraled
very quickly into a major depression laced with blinding anxiety. Because I wasn’t eating or
sleeping I was unable to care for my newborn. After consulting with my psychiatrist I opted to
participate in an outpatient program at a local psychiatric hospital. Within a couple of month’
s time I felt like myself again. I even had a “post” postpartum depression party to celebrate
and to honor all of the people who helped me and my family!
My recovery is complete now and looking back on that journey is sometimes difficult, but it
has also given me a lot to be thankful and hopeful for. I would encourage anyone suffering
from postpartum depression and anxiety to speak with a doctor or healthcare professional as
soon as possible, accept as much help and support from others as you can, and most
importantly know that YOU WILL GET BETTER!
-H.K.
Soon after the birth of my son, I knew something was wrong with me. Almost immediately, I
had trouble sleeping, and I felt extremely anxious all the time. By the time he was five days
old, I wanted to crawl out of my own skin; my nerves felt raw. I couldn't fall asleep, or if I did,
I couldn't sleep for long. I also couldn’t eat. I forced down every bite of food, and I spent
most of my time crying. I worried constantly and felt like my life was spinning out of control.
Normal tasks seemed insurmountable, and nothing that I used to enjoy gave me any pleasure.
I called my OB and told him how I was feeling at the end of that first week. He prescribed
medication to help me sleep and to control the anxiety; he also reassured me that I was not
going crazy and that lots of other mothers go through similar experiences when suffering from
postpartum depression and anxiety. He encouraged me to use all the support from family and
friends that was offered until I recovered. I also saw a therapist during this time, and she gave
me hope, helped me to find tools to help myself get better, and made me believe that I would
go on from this experience to be a good mother. A psychiatrist monitored my medications
until I was well.
Finding a medication to control my anxiety and starting to sleep better was key to my
recovery. I knew that I was getting better the day I heard a new song on the radio and
enjoyed it. Later the same day I laughed at something my older son did, and suddenly the
world seemed so much brighter after weeks of darkness. I had good days mixed with some
bad after that, but I did my best to stay focused on the fact that I was getting better and
enjoying my life again.
After recovering from PPMD, I learned that many women (an estimated 10-15% of new
mothers) experience the same symptoms I did, or variations of them (some more severe,
some less so). One of the most important facts I learned from my experience, and that I try to
pass on to other new mothers suffering from PPMD, is that the sooner you receive treatment,
the quicker the recovery time. Please don’t hesitate to tell your doctor or another health
professional if you are suffering from any of the symptoms of postpartum depression or
anxiety, because there are many forms of help available.
-A.W.
A Project of the Center for Perinatal Emotional Wellness, Inc.