Postpartum Depression/Anxiety. Please Help!?
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There are other people like you! This happens a lot and there is help. You've mentioned that you take medication, so I assume you are seeing a doctor and telling him or her ALL of your symptoms. Your doctor is your closest ally. If it has been a little while since you've had an appointment and your symptoms have gotten worse, make another appointment.
Also, talk-therapy is very effective in treating all types of depression including postpartum depression. When you are seeing your doctor, ask for a referral to a good therapist. It could make a big difference in your recovery.
Until you are able to see your doctor, I found this hotline where you can talk to people who understand postpartum depression:
Toll-free, 24-hour-a-day, 7-days-a-week Postpartum Depression Hotline – 1.866.ENH.MOMS (364-6667). The hotline instantly connects callers to a trained mental healthcare professional who will provide immediate help by making an assessment and guiding women to resources tailored to their individual needs.
I have anxiety and panic attacks and take Klonopin too, they make me drowsy but not to where I can function.
I am also on Prozac. When the Prozac gets into my system, I completely eliminate the Klonopin.
I would go to your doctor, and see if they can switch you to Xanax, which doesnt stay in your system as long as well as an antidepressant.
If they wont switch you to Xanax, maybe they can cut the dose of Klonopin back. Mine have a slit in the middle and lots of times, when I need a little extra, I will break them in half.
Treatment
Treatment and recovery time vary, depending on the severity of your depression and your individual needs.
Baby blues
The baby blues usually fade on their own within a few days to weeks. In the meantime, get as much rest as you can. Accept help from family and friends. Connect with other new moms. If you have an underactive thyroid, your doctor may prescribe thyroid medication.
Postpartum depression
Postpartum depression is often treated with counseling and medication.
* Counseling. It may help to talk through your concerns with a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health professional. Through counseling, you can find better ways to cope with your feelings, solve problems and set realistic goals.
* Antidepressants. Antidepressants are a proven treatment for postpartum depression. If you're breast-feeding, it's important to know that any medication you take will enter your breast milk. Some antidepressants can be used during breast-feeding with little risk to your baby. But several antidepressants raise concerns for the baby, and various others have not been adequately tested to fully assess the risk. Work with your doctor to weigh the potential risks and benefits as you choose the treatment that's right for you.
* Hormone therapy. Estrogen replacement may help counteract the rapid drop in estrogen that accompanies childbirth. However, estrogen therapy after childbirth may decrease milk production and increase the risk of developing blood clots in the leg or lungs. As with antidepressants, weigh the potential risks and benefits of hormone therapy with your doctor.
With appropriate treatment, postpartum depression usually goes away within a few months. Some women have lingering symptoms for months or years.
Postpartum psychosis
Postpartum psychosis requires immediate treatment — often in the hospital. When your safety is assured, treatment may begin with antidepressants or hormone therapy. Other options may include:
* Antipsychotic agents. These medications are typically used to treat psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia. But they can also treat the psychosis that may accompany extreme cases of depression.
* Lithium. This mood stabilizer — generally used to treat bipolar disorder — can help balance mood swings. It's not recommended for women who are breast-feeding, however.
* Electroconvulsive therapy. This therapy applies a small amount of electrical current to your brain to produce brain waves similar to those that occur during a seizure. The chemical changes triggered by the electrical currents can reduce the symptoms of depression — especially when other treatments have failed or when you need immediate results.
Self-care
If you have postpartum depression, taking good care of yourself can help speed your recovery.
* Make healthy lifestyle choices. Rest as much as you can. Exercise regularly. Try daily walks with your baby. Eat healthy foods — plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Avoid alcohol.
* Set realistic expectations. Don't pressure yourself to do everything. Scale back your expectations for the perfect household. Do what you can and leave the rest. Ask for help when you need it.
* Make time for yourself. If you feel like the world is coming down around you, take some time for yourself. Get dressed, leave the house and visit a friend or run an errand. Or schedule some time alone with your partner.
* Avoid isolation. Talk with your partner, family and friends about how you're feeling. Ask other mothers about their experiences. Ask your doctor about local support groups for new moms or women with postpartum depression.
Remember, the best way to take care of your baby is to take care of yourself.
I had the same after the birth of my last child it got so bad i wouldn't go near her because i was afraid of hurting her:( Child and family got me hooked up with overnight caregivers and daytime until the depression meds started to work, took 7 weeks...this happens to so many, please talk to your doctor tell him or her the anxiety meds just arent working you really want to try something better to come out of this, i wish you the best of luck and happier days...
You need to see your doctor hun tell him axactly what you said here. They should be able to get you on something hat doesn't make you drowsy! Please talk to your doctor tomorrow! hugs!
I have had anxiety and depression for years also. I stopped meds when I was pregnant. my daughter is almost 5 months and for a few months now I feel like I can't do anything right! I'm very sensitive! I have been having bouts of rage too. Not toward my daughter, I know she is safe. I get angry at myself. My friends say it could be postpardum. I'm gonna see my doctor. Klonopine can be addictive, and makes you numb I hated that.
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