#7 of Overcoming Challenges Series
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This article is not intended, in any way, to represent medical advice. For medical advice, always contact your physician or call 911 for a medical emergency.
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Today, I welcome a friend and fellow blogger, Beth Elkassih, to talk to you about her experience with Surviving Postpartum Depression. In her words, “This Too Shall Pass.”
Her story is both interesting and enlightening. For those of us who did not experience postpartum depression, this is definitely a topic we need to be informed about. It will be our opportunity to assist our family members and friends with, if the need arises.
For those of you who lived with postpartum depression, you will appreciate this insightful article.
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Surviving Postpartum Depression
By Beth Elkassih, Author
@ Made You Smile Back
First, I want to thank Louise Pistole for inviting me to be a guest blogger on her popular blog, Discover Your Joy – Splashes of Joy to Inspire You. As a PPD (post-partum depression) survivor, I strongly believe in both speaking up and writing about PPD to help raise awareness for new mothers and for mothers currently suffering the throes of this somewhat unfamiliar condition. I take pride to do my part in removing the stigma of mental illness.
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Cheers for motherhood! I clearly remember those precious times when I first became a Mother and caring for my first daughter. I was in total bliss, and yes, I didn’t get a lot of sleep, but it wasn’t for the usual ‘baby up crying routine’… No, I spent many a day in the early months of just ‘watching with love and care’ when my daughter was sleeping. I was in heaven.
In fact, I was one of those ‘mothers’ who just couldn’t understand why anyone could ever feel any type of sadness when caring for these ‘bundles of love and joy’! And sure, I recognized being tired, being sleep-deprived from time and time and indeed experienced the ‘baby blues’, but isn’t this the norm? Little did I know, I had no idea what I was talking about and would soon come face to face with a full-blown case of acute Postpartum Depression with my 3rd child!
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For further reading, “5 Common Myths About The Mental Health Of New Moms”
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For those of you reading this who are mothers already or are mothers-to-be and never experienced this condition, let me share with you some of the highlights that most mothers are too ashamed to tell…
With the birth of my 3rd daughter via C-Section and major complications, I found myself in the hospital for 2 weeks after the delivery. Unbeknown to me, PPD kicked in rather quickly while in recovery at the hospital. The first symptoms were ‘vivid color enhancements’ of everything I observed.
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Here are some of the symptoms of PPD you may not be aware of…
* Becoming irritated easily and becoming somewhat ‘paranoid’ of what everyone is saying.
* Being obsessive to the point of even writing every minute detail of everything you feel is important.
* Not only heightened sense of colors but also of ‘hearing’ or sound.
* Not sleeping… intentionally.
* Being detached and distant to your loved ones, especially your baby.
* Acute PPD can also show up with hearing ‘voices’ and the worse care scenario can be of ‘hallucinating’ and not being in touch with reality. This is the most serious of PPD known as Postpartum Psychosis.
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I’ll never forget the day my husband came home and saw me on the couch in a stupor of sadness. He had had enough. “Why don’t you just snap out of it!”, he says to me. And with blinding tears streaming down my face, all I could say was “Don’t you think if I could, I would?! Do you think I really want to feel this bad?!”
Fortunately, my younger sister and best friend figured out that I needed help; I needed professional help. In which I did receive, from a loving, caring Psychiatrist. I was provided treatment which consisted of 24-hour observational care for 3 days on an out-patient basis, given proper medication and went to counseling every week for six months.
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You may also want to read, “Why Do So Many New Moms Get Postpartum Depression?”
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Yes, I came out the other side and I want to emphasize to all reading…’this too shall pass’ for those who find themselves suffering. You just need to ‘reach out’ and tell someone you trust and if they don’t listen, then FIND SOMEONE ELSE to reach out to. Learn the symptoms. Be prepared and by all means, discuss with your doctor BEFORE the birth of your baby.
And for those of you who may know of someone going through this, show up. Don’t just offer your help, actually help. Reach out to them. Show up, do some cleaning, do some cooking, do some childcare. And if you have to, DRIVE them to their doctor and be their advocate. Be there and be present.
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There is no greater love than the love of a mother and a child. This never changes and there is hope on the other side.
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For additional information, please check out this blog ‘Just Want To Be Happy’ to learn how you can become your own best ‘advocate’ in getting the self-care you deserve to have.
And, to read more of Beth’s posts, this link will take you to the home page of her blog. https://madeyousmileback.com
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This article is not intended, in any way, to represent medical advice. For medical advice, always contact your physician or call 911 for a medical emergency.
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Thank you, Beth, for sharing your abundance of knowledge on Surviving Postpartum Depression. It is real and we are all better prepared to recognize the symptoms and offer our assistance.
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By the way – Did you know that you can have JOY delivered right to your inbox?
Easy peasy. Just sign up below for my monthly newsletters.
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Other posts in the Overcoming Challenges Series
How to Heal From Trauma
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5 Tips for Loving and Supporting Your Spouse’s Mental Health
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Special Needs Kids Just Want Love
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How to Stay Positive While Co-Parenting
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Finding my Way from Misery to Success
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How do Miracles Happen? The Bone That Disap
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Very informative post. I will need to come back when I will.be a mom. I heard my mom saying lots of this, I am sharing with her this post right now. Thank you Louise and Beth, you both are amazing!
Nilakshi, thank you for your kind words and thanks for sharing with Mom!
Overthinking seems to be one of the root cause of depression. This stems from rumination (or ruination) and makes suffers believe they feel helpless and defeated. I think the best way to cure depression is to eliminate this issue. Some great ways to cure depression are taking up a new hobby, writing/blogging, going to the gym, meditation, and interacting with those who can relate to you and/or empathize what you are going through. Great blog post.
Thank you for sharing your suggestions.
I went through this when I had my son. Only I didn’t know what it was on time. It was overwhelming and frustrating at the same time. Especially when no one knows you are going through depression, even yourself.
Cheers to all mothers, especially this struggling with postpartum depression. Believe me, it will pass.
Great article! It is indeed that PPD is a very sensitive situation on our lives as a woman. That’s why I always do my best to emphatize with my friends who just gave birth.
http://www.lifemaghealth.com
Great article. I always tell people, when they have problems, that this too shall pass. So, I totally agree with your thoughts. Thanks.
Really great tips on how to overcome depression. Many women suffer from this and this article will really help! Thanks for sharing!
Great article. Will save for later when my daughters will kids.
Love this. It’s my second time going through it now and it doesn’t get easier.
Thanks for sharing this and being honest. I’m not a mom yet, but this is helpful!
It is something to, at least, be aware of so you’re not distraught it if happens to you.