Postpartum Depression..There is Life After....: June 2009

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Postpartum Depression, Real but still stigmatized

As I read this article it took me back to something my mother and I talked about when I was dealing with postpartum depression. Since I had my baby at 39 years old, and this was my first child, at first did not know what was wrong. My mom had told me a story about her cousin, this is going back 30 or so years ago, and she told me that her cousin had to be put on medication after the birth of her child. However, back then postpartum depression was not really discussed. Plus there was such a stigma of being on medication, her cousin took the medication for a few days and then threw them down the toilet.

My mother had thought that since most women were having babies as young as 19 when I was born that maybe they did not know what they were going through or experiencing since they did not understand their bodies as well at such a young age. My mother seemed to think that since I was older, I was more in tune with my body and knowing that things were not right. It still took four months for my diagnoses, but I fought each day to tell myself I would get through it.

For those reading this and thinking that PPD is not real, let me tell you that it is very real. I believe, that for me, taking medication saved my sanity, my life and got me through what could have been worse. It got so bad for me before the medication, I truly thought I would lose my mind and have to be put in the hospital. That is also why I wrote my story, to let others know this is real, it can happen, and you will get through it with help.

Again, speak to your doctor if things "just do not seem right."

Taken from www.psychcentral.com

Postpartum Depression: Real but still stigmatized

By John M Grohol PsyD April 21, 2009

For decades, thousands of people in dozens of organizations have fought tirelessly to reduce the stigmatization and ignorance associated with mental health issues and mental disorders. Mental illness is not something you can just “get over,” nor is it an invention of the pharmaceutical companies (although I’m sure there are some who believe that).
Even within this dedicated group of people who are all fighting for the same things — recognition that mental illness is just as real as physical illness — they is within-group stigmatization. Some mental disorders get the short shrift, or are thought to be less “real” or serious than other disorders. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), for instance, only lobbies and advocates for what it considers to be biologically-based mental disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. They have historically had far less interest in other disorders, such as anxiety or personality disorders.
This saddens me. And it saddens me even further to see people knock something like postpartum depression, a very real mental disorder that affects thousands of mothers every year who have just given birth to their child, and then feel overwhelmed with depression. They often are unable to do even basic child care for their newborn baby, and feel hopeless, despondent, and listless, without motivation or energy.
Moms are in need of being taken seriously, of having their concerns heard. You’d think nobody would be against mothers seeking to get proper diagnosis, treatment and care for something that is at the very core of having a healthy family.
But you’d be wrong.
Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey introduced the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act in the Senate to try and reduce the stigmatization that goes on around postpartum depression, increasing funding for education and screening programs to catch more mothers in need. But one senator — an obstetrician no less — doesn’t like “disease-specific” legislation, and has used a senatorial hold to stop the legislation from moving forward, according to Katherine Stone’s entry over at Postpartum Progress:
Senator Menendez indicated that much of the strong opposition to this bill continues to come from Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma who refuses to pass any of what he calls “disease-specific” legislation. Here’s the part that absolutely kills me: Dr. Coburn specializes in family medicine and obstetrics. Dr. Coburn has personally delivered more than 4,000 babies, according to his bio.
Thanks Dr. Coburn! What a great way to show your forward-thinking efforts, at the very same time the e-patient movement is gaining steam and people are looking to replace the old paternalistic doctor who “always knows best” with empowered, educated patients who work as true partners with their doctors.
And why is this legislation so controversial? I have no idea. The legislation under consideration would increase federal efforts to combat postpartum depression by:
Encouraging Health and Human Services (HHS) to coordinate and continue research to expand the understanding of the causes of, and find treatments for, postpartum conditions.
Encouraging a National Public Awareness Campaign, to be administered by HHS, to increase awareness and knowledge of postpartum depression and psychosis.
Requiring the Secretary of HHS to conduct a study on the benefits of screening for postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis.
Creating a grant program to public or nonprofit private entities to deliver or enhance outpatient, inpatient and home-based health and support services, including case management and comprehensive treatment services for individuals with or at risk for postpartum conditions. Activities may also include providing education about postpartum conditions to new mothers and their families, including symptoms, methods of coping with the illness, and treatment resources, in order to promote earlier diagnosis and treatment.
It is estimated that postpartum depression (PPD) affects from 10 to 20 percent of new mothers. In the United States, there may be as many as 800,000 new cases of postpartum conditions each year. The cause of PPD isn’t known but changes in hormone levels, a difficult pregnancy or birth, and a family history of depression are considered possible factors.
Sounds good to me. But Philip Dawdy over at Furious Seasons remains skeptical:
Here’s the thing that makes my scratch my head, however: women have given birth for many thousands of years and many have experienced “baby blues,” until recently without mental health screenings or psych meds of any kind and without a bunch of arm waving about post-partum depression (the advocacy on this issue is a phenomenon of the last decade). Broadly speaking, the lack of such supposed benefits does not seem to have harmed society a bit, although there are obviously individual exceptions.
With that same logic, Philip could be scratching his head about a lot of disorders where, prior to their “invention,” people seemed to get along just fine in society — attention deficit disorder (ADHD), PTSD, panic attacks, autism, Asperger’s syndrome, etc. It’s no surprise to anyone who’s studied women’s history to understand how repressed their voices have been in society until the past few decades. So is it any wonder that history isn’t filled with their accounts of grappling with postpartum depression? A woman would be an outcast from their own family for admitting such a thing even 50 years ago. Even possibly disowned or institutionalized. It just wasn’t said or discussed much.
Perhaps the saddest thing of all, though, is that people — in this day and age of instant connectivity and all of the wonders the Internet has brought us — are still against basic, simple things like education and information about these concerns. “What? You want us to spend money educating future moms on postpartum depression!??! Ridiculous!” I just don’t get it.
Postpartum depression is real, it affects thousands of lives every year, and is one of those quiet disorders that have flown under the radar for far too long, while mothers lived in quiet desperation that someone would listen to them and believe them when they said they were depressed after just giving birth. To be listened to, to be understood, to be heard. That’s all these mothers ask.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Generic Drugs vs. Brand name

http://www.self.com/health/2009/06/dangers-of-generic-drugs

Great article I read in Self Magazine. I have to say that once I read the article it brought up many questions for myself as well. I remember feeling really tired when I was taking generic medications. I too went to several doctors to see what was wrong with me. It never occurred to me that it could be because I was taking a generic form of my anti-depressant for my postpartum depression. No doctors found out that there was anything wrong with me or why I was feeling so tired.

There was a time that I complained about being so tired that I was switched to a different medication. I did start to feel better. Today I still suffer from mild anxiety, which is more towards my menstrual cycle. I did go back on a new medication a few months ago. Again I started feeling really tired. After reading this article I asked my therapist if this could be true.

Not only am I getting a generic brand of my prescription, but when you switch to another pharmacy you are also getting a generic brand from a different manufacturer. I just put the pieces together: Could my lack of energy and fatigue been caused by a generic form of my medication along with the fact that I switched to a new pharmacy and that in turn has another manufacturer?

My therapist's advice is to see what happens in the next month. If I still feel really tired, which I was not feeling before, I should go back to the original pharmacy to get back to the old manufacturer. But does that make the Generic Brand better than if I had the Brand name? I do not know at this point, but it is something that I am going to consider and in the future ask any doctor about the differences, regardless of what it is.

Again, if you have any questions, ask your doctor as they will be able to advise you correctly.

view blogs in real time at www.alphainventions.com and www.condron.us

Friday, June 26, 2009

How to build a social support network

This article can be found on http://www.postpartum.net/ I know when I first gave birth it was my first child and I sometimes felt so alone and inadequate that I was not sure if I was "doing it right." I tried to get involved with other new moms so that I would be able to make friends and get out of the house. I joined a Gymboree program, as you can join with a newborn, my son was 8 weeks old. We not only were there for our babies, but we were there as moms too. We were able to talk about things and it made things better knowing that we all had some of the same thoughts and concerns. I took my son to Gymboree until at least a year and a half. In that time we went through tummy time, crawling, first time eating, and through it all we were there for one another. I still have some friends today that I made three years ago.

I was nervous at times as I did not know that I was going through postpartum depression. There were times that I was anxious, but through it all I still took him so that I would be part of a group of moms and know that I was not in it alone. I even booked my therapy appointments around the Gymboree time so that I made it a point to go. So if you need to build a support system, here is a great article.

How You Can Build Your Own Social Support Network
by Carolyn White, RN, BSN
Adapted, in part, from Peter Clarke and Susan H. Evans’s Surviving Modern Medicine:How to Get the Best from Doctors,Family, and Friends, 1998,
Chapter 3 “Seeking Social Support”(ordering instructions for their book can befound at the conclusion of this essay)

Please Note: This essay is meant as a preventative strategy for pregnant mothers, or those new mothers who are not depressed. If you are experiencing postpartum depression we urge you to reach out for professional advice and seek a support group in your area. Depressed mothers might find the following advice helpful, but they also might be too stressed to follow the advice offered.
Need Help? Access the PSI Social Support Network
INTRODUCTION
As a new mother, you may find yourself in a situation in which you feel completely unprepared, despite attending baby care classes, regular prenatal appointments and reading all the best books on pregnancy and parenting.
Mothers of newborn children often express sentiments such as these: “I didn’t know motherhood would be like this,” or “Nobody told me I’d feel this way.”
Isolation and performance anxiety (”am I doing this right?”) are common complaints, as well as fatigue, stress and loss of freedom (concerns linked to social support and assistance). Recognizing the need for social support and knowing how to obtain it are key to creating a healthy start for yourself as a new mother and for your family.
SOCIAL SUPPORT AS PROTECTION
Health and life expectancy are somewhat dependent on the quality of social relationships. Scholars at the University of Michigan reviewed a wealth of research on this topic, concluding that there is a link between social support and wellness. The value of emotional sustenance gains credibility, though, from demonstrations of how human warmth, even from strangers, reduces medical complications. In one example, physicians in the United States and Guatemala conducted controlled experiments in hospitals where cramped conditions prevented family from accompanying mothers in labor. In some cases, the mothers received support from a lay woman, in addition to the usual attention from medical staff. The lay woman calmed the mothers by talking with them, rubbing their backs, holding their hands or simply standing by as a friendly companion. Other women were left without such social support, but received the usual medical care from staff.
Mothers who were given unexpected social support, from a stranger, experienced fewer problems than those who received just the routine care.
Among mothers with uncomplicated births, length of labor from admission until delivery was cut in half. Mothers who were provided a companion were most alert after delivery; they stroked, smiled at and talked to their babies more. These results show that even a temporary, fragile social contact can bring positive outcomes for health; in this instance, for mothers and their newborns. Small wonder that the embrace of kith and kin might shield many from illness.
HOW TO BUILD SOCIAL SUPPORT
Considering the postpartum weeks and months as a time of major stress due to the complexity of physical and emotional adjustments, it would seem appropriate to assess one’s network of support and define ways to develop and enhance it for this time period and beyond. But, how does one go about this?
Below are five steps that will aid you in the process of developing a healthier network: taking stock of social support, naming names for social support, asking for help, persevering in support and keeping reciprocity in mind.
STEP 1.TAKING STOCK OF SOCIAL SUPPORT: A SURVEY
Think about these five different dimensions of support: emotional support, social network support, self-esteem support, tangible support and informational support. Below, each type of support is illustrated with sample statements that can help you assess the availability of that aspect of support in your life.
Types of Social Support
A. Emotional Support
I have close relationships that provide me with a sense of emotional security and well-being.I feel a strong emotional bond with at least one other person.
B. Social Network Support
There are people who enjoy the same social activities I do.
I feel part of a group of people who share my attitudes and beliefs.
C. Esteem Support
I have relationships where my competence and skills are recognized.
There are people who admire my talents and abilities.
D. Tangible Support
There are people I can depend on to help me if I really need it.
There are people I can count on in an emergency.
E. Informational Support
There is someone I could talk to about important decisions in my life.
There is a trustworthy person I could turn to for advice if I were having problems.
These types of support rank differently in importance, depending on your life style, existing support system, and perceived level of stress. Lets’ examine some varying points of view:
Say you rely heavily on accomplishments to reinforce your sense of self-worth, esteem support would be especially gratifying and important to you. This type of support can be lacking for a new mother at home, especially if you are used to working outside the home where your daily accomplishments are obvious and rewarded accordingly. Your new role of motherhood, and its accompanying tasks, will probably prevent you from accomplishing much that is recognizable, leaving you vulnerable to feelings of inadequacy or even failure. You may benefit from contact with people who can admire your abilities as a mother.
One aspect of early parenting that receives little recognition is the fact that having a baby changes relationships. New mothers have little time and energy for anyone but baby. If you are used to a certain level of intimacy with your partner prior to the birth, you both may be experiencing the shock of emotional isolation which can be devastating in the early weeks postpartum. The availability of tangible “hands-on” support, i.e. from parents or in-laws, is a priceless gift as it can provide respite for you, as new parents, allowing you time for each other. A supportive partner who will take over infant care periodically, allowing you time away from the baby, to get together with close friends, paves the way for needed emotional support.
Often you may feel daunted by the multiple decisions involved in day-to-day care of your vulnerable offspring, a being who is completely dependent on you for survival. Access to baby care experts, i.e. a lactation specialist or postnatal educator, or an experienced mother who can mentor you along can provide needed informational support. Confidence does grow and is facilitated by having trustworthy people to reach out to or fall back on when you need them.
The types of support you need will depend on your unique situation but remember, as a new mother, even if you are feeling joyous about the new addition to your life, you are experiencing a major life change and it is crucial that you have adequate social support.
EVALUATE YOUR LEVEL OF SUPPORT
Think of your current situation and try responding to the statements in each area of support above, using the answer “agree,” “disagree,” or “not sure.”
The entries can be used to describe the situation you are in, and, importantly, you can also use this exercise in a more diagnostic fashion if you ask yourself: “Do I need more support?” You might discover when examining network support, for example, that you don’t have many ties to other people with babies or young children. Or, perhaps you do have ties, but you are finding that you do not share similar attitudes and beliefs about parenting, so that these links are not feeling supportive. You may feel the need for the companionship and reassurance of other mothers with similar values. On the other hand, you may discover that you have few links with others in terms of hobbies and social activities. This could be an area you wish to develop in order to nurture the aspects of your personality that go beyond mothering.If you have decided you do need more support, then you are ready to identify people who can help.
STEP 2.NAMING NAMES FOR SOCIAL SUPPORT: AN EXERCISE
Most people have potential support systems in families, friends, interest groups, and often coworkers. To figure out the circumstances you face, take a sheet of paper and turn it sideways. Write the five types of support at the top (”emotional,” “network,” “esteem,” etc.). On the left side of the page, list these three regions of life: (1) home and extended family; (2) friendships, acquaintances, your specific interest groups, and other affiliations; and (3) workplace. Draw vertical and horizontal lines to create fifteen boxes, a grid into which you can enter an inventory of your social support network.
Start by putting the names of people into the boxes. Who can you ask for different kinds of help? Who is likely to provide help spontaneously? Think through daily routines and familiar places of visitation. Recall companions from the gym, job site, place of worship, childbirth education classes, etc. Some names will belong in more than one box. Some boxes probably will remain empty.
If you have some blank squares in your grid, consider if they represent areas of need for you and think about possibilities you haven’t considered or people who can help you figure out how to meet that need.
Completing this exercise may call for deep reflection and some detective work. Many writers have observed a loss of community in American society, where a sense of neighborhood has yielded to residential habitats (apartment blocks, condominiums, housing tracts) of mutual strangers who commute to different centers of work, shopping, and recreation. Many locations for informal public life have disappeared. This anonymity can be another source of stress for a new mother at home with her baby. The phrase “everyone is busy with their own lives” is a frequent observation by those in need of, or desiring, social support.
STEP 3.ASKING FOR HELP: ACTION PLAN
Asking for support takes courage on anyone’s part. Your own experiences may have convinced you that support from some people is more potential than real. Do not become disheartened. There are reasons why many mothers are reluctant to ask for support, and why others hold back from giving it. Asking, of course, risks embarrassment; admitting that you need assistance can jeopardize self-esteem. Feelings of shame are especially inhibiting if you are blaming yourself for being in need of support. Asking will come more easily, though, if you concentrate on just one potential helper at first, and a single thing that you want.
Choose someone, if you can, who is unaware of other social supports you may have, who will not retreat behind the “bystander effect”; people are known to be less likely to give help when they see others who might step in. Ask your target for a modest favor - simple advice, a single phone call of encouragement at a critical time, or one errand. By limiting your first step, you practice the foot-in-the-door strategy; gaining a small favor at first nurtures larger commitments when you need them later. Even more important, your success at reaching out in this early trial will embolden you to make other requests.
People may neglect to offer support unless you clearly invite their attention. Equally often, seeing people in distress can leave others feeling helpless; Do I know what to do, or will I only make the situation worse? Would-be helpers are often immobilized by their own lack of confidence or experience. As a new mother, you will benefit by having a ready list of things you need help with for those who volunteer the ambiguous, “let me know if you need anything,” or friends who ask “what can I do?”
It is OK to tell people what you need and how to provide it. Ronnie Kaye, in her book Spinning Straw into Gold, argues that the person in need has permission to be honest and open about feelings and to put his or her needs first without feeling guilty. Though not a new mother when writing her book she offers this guidance for anyone in a compromising situation: “when I thought of the difficult time that lay ahead, I took action immediately. One by one, I called all my relatives, aunts, uncles, cousins, as well as my immediate family. “I’m going through a difficult time,” I said, “and need your help. I am frightened and I feel alone. What I need most of all is a phone call once a week. When you call, I would like you to tell me…” Not a day went by without at least one phone call from someone in my family. Even though the reality of my situation hadn’t changed, those phone calls made me feel much more secure. I had learned that the best way to get what I needed was to ask for it. Once my family knew exactly what I wanted, they were only too happy to oblige.”
Kaye had arranged for emotional support. If you are a new mother who is depressed you may need similar reassurance. Requests might also go out for network support ” I want to continue aerobics with you, sew quilt’s together, start a play group,” or whatever. Securing esteem support often means meeting a co-worker or boss and asking him or her to recognize parts of the job you do especially well and to help you continue that level of performance during a period of diminished energy, as is often the case when a new mother returns to work. Or, meeting with other mothers you respect and asking for their positive input on your parenting choices or coping strategies can help you recognize your effectiveness as a mother.
In quest of a stronger social network, some general rules apply. Naturally, you will prefer contact with others who are supportive, can calm you down, celebrate your minor achievements, participate in diversions, affirm your beliefs regarding parenting choices, or encourage your determination to succeed. Seek companions who show respect for the difficulties you face, who resist labeling these circumstances as a catastrophe or, alternatively, resist minimizing them.
Your urge for ties should also acknowledge the special value of social support from people who are not kin. New mothers benefit greatly from meeting regularly with others whose experiences are similar. For example, a breast feeding mom will enjoy and learn from groups such as Le Leche League. A mother experiencing postpartum emotional adjustment problems will realize she is not alone by attending a local postpartum support group.
STEP 4.PERSERVERING: YOUR SUPPORT ACTION PLAN IS ONGOING
The necessity for support may be long lasting. For example, recovery from birth, especially a c-section, takes longer than commonly appreciated. AND adjusting to motherhood does not happen overnight. Effective social support is not a topical ointment and a Band-Aid, nor is it a quick fix. The goal is to assist you over time. Although the particular social support system you are creating now may not be adequate ten years from now, hopefully your awareness of the necessity for social support and the on-going task of creating it to meet your changing needs, is a skill you will find useful your entire life.
STEP 5.KEEPING RECIPROCITY IN MIND: REASSURANCE
Interpersonal relationships normally involve a “give and take” between people. Everyone understands this principle when the resources are tangible: money, ride-sharing, and the like. Companionship and emotional support are resources too, though imbalances in their exchange sometimes are more difficult to reconcile. Remember, people generally derive satisfaction by delivering acts of kindness and support to others. So don’t overlook the comforts that extending social support can bring. By asking for help, you may be, inadvertantly, helping others in return. On the other hand, once you have been in need you will welcome the chance to pay back favors extended, even if in small ways. Within your support network there will be opportunities for you to help others when you are more able.
Giving and receiving assistance and empathic acceptance helps sustain people’s lives. As we all know, positive and meaningful relationships lead not only to happiness but to optimal physical and mental health.
CONCLUSION
Make time and energy now to reach out to the support system you already have in place or to begin building and enhancing your support network. By taking one small step at a time you can create a little victory for yourself everyday. Getting what you need enhances your ability to give to your baby. You and your whole family will be off to a healthier start.
This essay has been adapted from Chapter 3 of the following book. If you would like to read more or order this book, please click on the title below.
SURVIVING MODERN MEDICINE: HOW TO GET THE BEST FROM DOCTORS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS, by Peter Clarke and Susan Evans, 1998. (Click Here to Read More or Order)
Need Help? Access the PSI Social Support Network

view updated blogs in real time on www.alphainventions.com and www.condron.us

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Postpartum Depression..There is life after...

My first article was published on www.ezinearticles.com Check it out!

http://ezinearticles.com/?id=2491117

Postpartum Depression – There is Life After
By Beth Benoliel

Baby Blues, Postpartum Depression or Postpartum Psychosis?

After my baby was born, whenever I cried or felt sad everyone just kept telling me that I had the baby blues or that it was my hormones still out of sorts. I had insomnia; I couldn’t eat; I was anxious and nervous all the time. I suffered panic attacks, I would cry all the time for no reason. Then eventually I thought I was going to lose my mind and hurt my baby. I was living in fear.
Postpartum Depression is so much more than what people think depression is. This illness takes on many different forms and each woman has different thoughts and feelings associated with their postpartum illness. When you talk to women out there on their experience with PPD some just feel a sense of not wanting to be around their baby and not take care of the child. Other women just note that they could not stop crying. Some felt sad, lonely and had mood swings. Others had thoughts of hurting themselves or their baby. We need to be aware that postpartum depression can have one or many symptoms and any one of them cannot be overlooked.

The differences between baby blues, postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis.
Most say that the “baby blues” comes a few days after delivery and is a mild form of anxiety and sadness. It will go away on its own within a few weeks with no treatment necessary. Some symptoms of the baby blues are: irritability sadness and crying loneliness feeling overwhelmed or anxious mood swings lack of energy and fatigue

What is the difference from the baby blues and postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression will not go away by itself. If your baby blues lasts longer than two weeks and you have the the following symptoms (along with the ones listed for the baby blues) you may now have postpartum depression: Thoughts of hurting the baby Thoughts of hurting yourself Not having any interest in the baby Insomnia Hard time eating

Postpartum Psychosis: Seeing things that aren’t there Feeling confused Having rapid mood swings Trying to hurt yourself or your baby Hallucinations

Postpartum Depression only occurs in about 10% of women and it is not really talked about that often. It is hard to recognize at first because most people will tell you that the feelings you are experiencing are normal and you just have “the baby blues.” If your feelings continue to get worse as time goes on and you are not feeling better, you must seek out medical attention and talk to your doctor. Postpartum depression can get worse if it is not dealt with.

Postpartum Psychosis is rarely talked about because women are ashamed of the feelings that they are experiencing. Postpartum psychosis only occurs in 1-3 of every 1000 mothers. If you think that you are experiencing postpartum psychosis, please seek out medical attention immediately. Some tragic stories of postpartum psychosis end in suicide of the mother and possibly the baby. Women were too ashamed of the overall feelings that they were experiencing and did not want to seek out the help that they needed.

There are so many places to turn to if you are experiencing any irrational thoughts or feelings, please reach out. Of the the best places to start is your doctor. You can also seek out help through Postpartum International or any other health facility in your area. Your doctor can surely guide you in the right direction for medications and therapy. This is an illness that will get better with time. You may need to have a combination of medication and therapy, but do not be ashamed to talk about the feelings that you are experiencing. Once you start talking, people will start listening. You will start feeling better!

I recount my various stages of going through and being diagnosed with postpartum depression. PPD shows itself in many different forms. I had insomnia, depression, anxiety, panic attacks and eventually thought that I would lose my mind and hurt my child. I am a survivor and want to spread the word that if you are going through postpartum depression you too can make it through. I went on medication and went to therapy and within a year I was back to myself. There are so many things we deal with as a new parent and being a new mother, but postpartum depression is not on the list of things a woman would expect. Hope this can help anyone who does not know what could be wrong. Talk to you doctor if you think you may be experiencing any symptoms.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beth_Benoliel

Diabetes Doubles the chances for Postpartum Depression

With all the other research being doing on why women get postpartum depression, this may help determine if you are at risk for getting PPD after your child is born. I think the more we educate ourselves on this topic, the more we can recognize the symptoms to get help quicker. Again talk to your doctor if you have questions or concerns.

Article taken from www.Reuters.com

Diabetes doubles chances of postpartum depression
Tue Feb 24, 2009By Julie Steenhuysen

CHICAGO (Reuters) – Pregnant women and new moms with diabetes are nearly twice as likely as other women to become depressed, putting both mother and baby at risk, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.
“Postpartum depression is a very serious illness that affects between 10 and 12 percent of mothers every year. It may have long-term negative impacts on the women it affects, but also on their children and families,” said Katy Backes Kozhimannil of Harvard Medical School in Boston, whose study appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Other research has shown that people with diabetes have a higher risk of becoming depressed.
“Ours is really the first study that looks at this connection in the context of pregnancy, delivery and motherhood,” Kozhimannil said in a telephone interview.

For the study, the researchers examined medical claims data from more than 11,000 pregnant women enrolled in New Jersey’s Medicaid program from July 2004 to September 2006. The data covered six months before to one year after the women gave birth.
“What our study found is pregnant women and new mothers with diabetes have nearly double the chance of experiencing postpartum depression compared with those without diabetes,” she said.

This link remained consistent across all types of diabetes, including in women with gestational diabetes, which develops during pregnancy.
“I think the most important finding is the revelation of a new risk factor for postpartum depression,” Kozhimannil said.

Knowing this may give doctors a better shot at identifying women at risk for postpartum depression, which often is under-diagnosed and under-treated.
If not addressed, women with postpartum depression can become so despondent they attempt suicide, and some harm or neglect their newborns. Previous bouts of depression, a lack of social support, low self-esteem and a stressful pregnancy all increase the likelihood of postpartum depression.

“It’s important to target support efforts toward women at high risk,” Kozhimannil said. “The good news is both depression and diabetes are treatable illnesses.

Follow blogs updated in realtime at www.alphainventions.com and www.condron.us

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Wade Bowen for PSI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM_CtGsT2Tg

This is the slide show from Wade Bowen's concert benefitting Postpartum Support International on Nov. 2, 2008 in Waco, TX. "Turn on the Lights."

Love this video. Thanks for all that you do Wade Bowen.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Monday, June 22, 2009

Please help spread the word on postpartum depression

I received this letter from Jen yesterday about her sister-in-law. This only makes me more determined to help spread the word of postpartum depression so that is does not take any more lives. After my recovery I could go back in time and remember my anguish so vividly, I had to do something. I wrote my story to let women know that they are not alone. Please, please, please talk to your doctor. My symptoms kept getting worse until I knew I could not handle it on my own any longer. Everyone around me, including my husband, told me that I was going to be fine. I fought for 4 months alone, I needed help. Please help spread the word. Postpartum depression can hit anyone at anytime, even if not expected. Thanks Jen for sharing your story with me.
Received June 21, 2009
Hi Beth,
My name is Jen and I am the creator of another postpartum awareness group. Please forgive me if you are already a member or if you have seen this group but I am trying to get the word out there about the group that I am so passionate about.Recently my sister-in-law committed suicide after suffering from postpartum psychosis. She had just have her first child, a daughter Elena. She took her own life exactly 3 week after giving birth. She went to the hospital a week before she took her life and told them that she was suicidal. She did not receive the medical treatment she needed. She never had any history mental illness prior to he postpartum. She convinced everyone she was getting better and that is when it happened.Her name was Jennifer. Me, her sister Heather and one of her best friends Heather are trying to start a non-profit organization to spread awareness and to change the medical system to teach them that postpartum is not to be taken lightly and it is in fact a series condition. If you are will to help us with any information you have or even offer us your support that would be wonderful. We are trying to spread the word and I saw you are writing a book and I think that is fantastic. Our group is going very well so far and perhaps we could join forces. Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

First time Dads!

http://www.first30days.com/being-a-new-dad/articles/youre-the-dad-now.html
For father's day I thought I would post something for the new dads out there. Click the link and you will find useful information for the first 30 days of your baby's life. So whether you are a first time dad this year, you have celebrated Father's Day before, Have a great day with your children!

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Saturday, June 20, 2009

Postpartum Depression and Teen Moms

I found this article on www.nydailynews.com and what I was trying to find was if there was any relationship between teenagers and postpartum depression. Since previous blog posts I have tried to see if PPD effects first time mothers, I wanted to see if there may be a higher risk as a teenage mother. I did not really find any evidence to say that it does hit teenagers more than anyone else. So, whether you are a teenager, a mother for the first time or the third time, posptartum depression can hit. Again, be on the lookout for any symptoms and talk to you doctor. If help is needed, please ask for it so you symptoms do not get worse.

Postpartum depression may be next battle for teen moms
BY KATIE CHARLES
Wednesday, June 25th 2008, 12:58 PM
Braganti for News

Dr. Michael Brodman, head of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive medicine at Mount Sinai, implores doctors to be sensitive to PPD’s symptoms.The specialist: Dr. Michael Brodman on postpartum depression

A gynecologist for 26 years, Brodman provides care to new moms and conducts research on the new subspecialty of urogynecology (female urinary-tract health) as well as the HPV vaccine trials.

The big story: Last week, Britney Spears’ 17-year old sister gave birth to a girl named Maddie, and the country was shocked to learn of an alleged pregnancy pact among girls in a Massachusetts high school. Rearing babies isn’t the only difficulty young mothers face. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teen moms have a higher than usual risk of developing postpartum depression (PPD). Brodman offers advice – for all new moms – on preventing and treating the problem.
Who’s at risk: Postpartum depression is a variety of clinical depression that occurs within six months of giving birth; it is a mood disorder characterized by feelings like sadness, loss, anger and frustration that interfere with the new mother’s everyday life. Between 12% and 20% of mothers experience it to some degree.
Doctors have only recognized PPD as a separate condition requiring careful medical attention in the past 10 years. “The old idea was that some people couldn’t cope,” says Brodman, and that their problems immediately after pregnancy were a sign of “weakness or complaining.” But thanks to research over the past decade, “that old dogma is really out the window,” says Brodman.
Women who suffer from general depression have a higher risk, and women who have already had PPD are more likely to get it after another pregnancy. The problem can appear after any pregnancy, explains Brodman, “on your first or kid no. 3.” A recent study by the CDC suggests that postpartum depression may be more likely to strike teenagers, smokers, women with less than 12 years of schooling, Medicaid patients, the victims of physical abuse and women under financial stress during pregnancy.
Public awareness of PPD has exploded over the past five years. In 2005, Tom Cruise famously criticized Brooke Shields for taking the prescription medication Paxil to combat her depression; his words created a huge backlash. Brodman disagrees with him entirely, but says the media firestorm had a silver lining: “Tom Cruise did us a service in a way: He brought a lot of attention to postpartum.”
Signs and symptoms: The warning signs include exhaustion, irritability, inability to cope, sadness, feelings of hopelessness, lack of pleasure, fear and crying. These symptoms overlap with the signs of nonpregnancy-related depression, but take an especially vicious form in the stress-packed time after giving birth, Brodman explains. “It rolls into a bigger problem because the person can start to take less care of the baby, and even have trouble thinking.”The worst cases of PPD are placed in a different category and called postpartum psychosis. “You can be paranoid or delusional,” says Brodman. “You feel like you are going to harm yourself or the baby.” This condition calls for immediate psychiatric intervention.
Traditional treatment: The first step in diagnosis is for doctors to spend time talking with the patients to figure out exactly what is wrong; they should also look at the new moms’ potential support systems. “Sometimes people need some help at home, sometimes they need to be in therapy to figure out their problems,” says Brodman, and “if it’s bad, they may need antidepressants like Prozac, Lexipro, Zoloft and Paxil.”
PPD can last for a few days or a few months. If patients go on medication, they usually take it for three to six months.
Brodman recommends that patients look at information on the Web from the U.S. Health and Human Services Department (www.womenshealth.gov). It includes a link to the site for Postpartum Support International (www.postpartum.net), an organization dedicated to assisting new moms and their families.
Research breakthroughs:
Doctors are making major advances on two fronts: Understanding PPD and treating it. In one current study, researchers are examining the brain with MrIs.
“If we can identify a region in the brain that lights up during postpartum, that both helps with diagnosis and proves that postpartum is a chemical problem, not a psychological problem,” says Brodman.
In the future, doctors hope to use this research to identify the chemicals or metabolic problems that cause postpartum depression.
Questions for your doctor: “The first thing I always tell patients is that postpartum is not an inadequacy on your part, and it’s not that you aren’t a good mom,” says Brodman. Because one of the keys to working through PPD is removing some of the stresses that are weighing the mother down, ask: “Do you have any resources available for helping me?” It can be expensive to find someone to help out around the house or provide additional child care – and doctors know of groups and government agencies that can help you meet these costs.
“People are paying more attention, and jumping on this problem early,” says Brodman. “and now we’re not seeing as many of the severe cases as we used to.”
What you can do:
Rest. It’s basic advice, but many moms ignore it. There’s no way of getting around it, and Brodman states simply: “You need downtime, when you’re not responsible for child care.”
Get some help around the house. You might not be able to pay someone to help you around the house, but you may find somebody in your life to help you – husband, sister, brother, mother, next-door neighbor. You want to prevent the overwhelmed feeling that has moms saying, “I can’t leave the house.”
Have a go-to person and a backup team. It most cases, the go-to person is the husband or another family member. Brodman recommends that single moms map out a strategy: “You have to create that infrastructure for yourself – if you can, before delivery day.”
Get exercise and eat right. Working out and eating a healthy diet can go a long way. “If somebody’s exercising, they’re doing their bod and their brain some good, because they’re getting a break from the baby,” says Brodman.

find up to date blog posts on www.alphainventions.com/ or www.condron.us/

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Postpartum International Annual Conference

I just received this from Postpartum International..

Dear PSI Friends,

You can now register by mail or fax. Attached is the conference brochure and registration form. Please send registration forms to PAC/LAC, 5530 Corbin Ave. Suite 323, Tarzana, CA 91356 or by fax at 818.708.2950. We hope to see you there for this informative and inspiring conference.

August 4-7, 2009
Community Partnerships in Addressing Perinatal Mood Disorders: Clinical and Integrative Perspectives
Postpartum Support International & Perinatal Mental Health Task Force of LA County

Aug 4 and 5: Pre-conference Training, Certificate Course in Perinatal Mood &Anxiety Disorders
Aug 6 and 7: Main Conference Presentations, Panels, and Breakouts
Thursday, Aug 6: Annual Banquet with Silent Auction and Entertainment. Tickets can be purchased separately.

Here is the link for online registration, information, and link to hotel:
http://psi.eventbrite.com/

Who Should Attend
Doctors, Nurses, and other Medical Providers, Social Workers, Mental Health Professionals, Community Service Providers, Childbirth Professionals, Public Health Professionals, Policy Advocates, Government Representatives, and Community Members concerned about increasing education and integrated access to informed resources and support for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

Sponsors
Postpartum Support International (PSI) is the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to helping women suffering from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including postpartum depression, the most common complication of childbirth.

The Perinatal Mental Health Task Force of LA County is a network of public and private agencies and organizations, community leaders, consumers, and health care providers dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of pregnant and post-partum women, their children, and their families through the effective prevention and treatment of perinatal mood disorders.

Conference Location: The California Endowment -1000 N. Alameda St - Los Angeles, CA 90012
Hotel Accommodations: The Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles will offer a special rate of $145/night to conference attendees.

If you would like to donate to the silent auction, we are looking for items greater than $100 in value. If you can donate, please write or call Linda Klempner at lklempner@verizon.net or (201) 692-9496 (EDT).

First time moms at risk for postpartum depression?

I have been wondering if my postpartum depression had anything to do with the fact that I was a first-time mother and had no clue what to expect. Yes, I was so tired from lack of sleep I thought I would fall over any minute, but was it normal to have insomnia and think that I was going to die any second from the way my whole body ached all over? I worried about my baby all the time, but don’t all mothers worry about their babies? Yes, from feedback so far on my blogging women have told me that they have had multiple children and have had postpartum depression with each one. So, my question is: Could there really be a link to postpartum depression and first time mothers? I would love to hear from you all out there. Thanks for the feedback.
This article was taken from http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/12/05/health/webmd/main2232642.shtmlNew

Moms’ Psychiatric Risks
There’s new evidence that giving birth for the first time can lead to psychiatric problems. Dr. Emily Senay explains the findings of a study that took a look at first-time moms and dads.
(WebMD) First-time mothers have a higher risk for postpartum depression than other new moms, and their risk is greatest during their first three months of parenthood, a Danish study shows.

Compared with women who had given birth 11 to 12 months earlier, first-time mothers were found to have seven times the risk of psychiatric-related hospital admissions during the first 10 to 19 days of their baby’s life. The increase in risk remained throughout the first three months after childbirth, regardless of the age of the mother. Postpartum risk appeared to decrease with subsequent pregnancies, researcher Trine Munk-Olsen, MSc, tells WebMD.

Munk-Olsen and colleagues analyzed the medical histories of close to 2.4 million Danish citizens registered in a national health database. Their findings are published in the Dec. 6 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.
“This study confirms that the timing of postpartum risk is very precise,” she says. “The first month after giving birth is definitely the most dangerous time for postpartum mental disorders, but the risk remains for several months after.”

Between 1973 and 2005, just over 630,000 women and 547,000 men in Denmark became parents for the first time. During the same period a total of 1,171 women ad 658 men were admitted to psychiatric hospitals during their first year of parenthood.
Several smaller studies have suggested that postpartum depression occurs among new dads as well as new moms. But the Danish findings do not support this.

Within the first three month after becoming parents, roughly 1 in 1,000 women and 1 in 3,000 men in the Danish population studied experienced severe mental disorders that required hospitalization or outpatient psychiatric treatment.

“Unlike motherhood, fatherhood was not associated with any increased risk of hospital admission or outpatient [psychiatric] contact,” the researchers note.
As many as one in seven new mothers in the U.S. experience some degree of postpartum depression, according to government figures. Though earlier studies also suggested that first-time moms have the highest risk for mental health problems, the Danish population study is by far the largest to examine the issue and the first large-scale postpartum depression trial to be conducted in two decades.

The findings should serve as a wake-up call to public health officials in the U.S. who have largely ignored postpartum depression in the past, says a University of Pittsburgh postpartum researcher who co-wrote an editorial accompanying the study.

“Knowing what we do about the risks of postpartum depression, we must recognize our responsibility to address this illness through improved research and greater access to care and services,” Katherine L. Wisner, M.D., M.S., says in a news release from the University of Pittsburgh.

Wisner and colleagues Dorothy K.Y. Sit, M.D., and Christina Chambers Ph.D., MPH, called for the implementation of universal postpartum mental health screening, to be conducted between two and 12 weeks after childbirth. They also called for the rapid treatment of women with postpartum depression, which can benefit the new mom, her baby, and the entire family.
“Any form of screening program has to be combined with effective treatments,” Sit tells WebMD. “Physicians, providers, and patients need to be informed about the different treatment options and the importance of providing treatment quickly.”

Mothers-to-be should be made aware of the risks and the symptoms of postpartum depression, Sit says. Some symptoms — such as poor concentration, extreme tiredness, sleep disturbances, and changes in appetite — are common among new parents, even if they aren’t depressed.

But other symptoms — such as persistent anxiety or irrational fears, recurrent thoughts of dying or preoccupation with death, and thoughts of harming yourself or your baby — should never be ignored. “Maternal depression exacts a heavy toll on women and the health and well-being of their children,” Sits and colleagues wrote.

SOURCES: Munk-Olsen, T. The Journal of the American Medical Association, Dec. 6, 2006; Vol. 296: pp. 2582-2590. Trine Munk-Olsen, MSc, researcher, National Center for Register-Based Research, University of Aarhus, Denmark. Dorothy K.Y. Sit, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Katherine L. Wisner, M.D., M.S., professor of psychiatry and obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. AHRQ Postpartum Depression Prevalence, Screening Accuracy and Screening Outcomes report, Nov. 9, 2006. News release, University of Pittsburgh.

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Do men suffer from postpartum depression too?

As I read up on male postpartum depression I wonder too if that is something else I did not know about when I was pregnant. Again, as stated in this article, all the father could find was “how to guides.” That is how I felt as a first time mother as well. All the books I had read told me “what to expect” or “how to” but none of them told me how tired I would feel, possibly overwhelmed, or maybe even suffer from postpartum depression. I had no idea postpartum depression could hit me in the way that it did. So, if as a woman I did not know that postpartum depression could take over my life, just wonder how the men feel when they are hit with it.
With that note, I would love to hear from the men out there and know about your experiences!

Dads Suffer Postpartum Depression, Too
June 10, 2009 06:00 PM
by Cara McDonough

Mothers are often warned about depression following the birth of a new baby, but what about fathers? Is male postpartum depression actually on the rise? Fathers May Have a Hard Time Adjusting to BabyWhen Nick Duerden’s daughter was born, joy wasn’t his first emotion.
Instead, he wandered down the hospital hallway, burst into tears and realized he had “one overriding sensation: that I was entirely unprepared for this, and that I had no idea what would happen next.”
Duerden talks about his experience with “paternal postnatal depression” in the Daily Telegraph, and also in his book, “The Reluctant Fathers’ Club,” but it’s a subject untouched by most men. He writes that when his girlfriend was pregnant, he “scoured” bookshops for memoirs that were “frank about fatherhood.” But all he found were “‘How To…’ guides often filled with jokes about beer and breast milk.”Learn more about depression and anxiety, including risk factors, symptoms and treatment options, with the findingDulcinea Web Guide to Anxiety and Depression.Lately, however, a few good choices have surfaced, writes Duerden, including Ben George’s “The Book of Dads,” and “Tales From the Dad Side: Misadventures in Fatherhood” by Steve Doocy. Duerden believes the books are overdue, and there’s a real need for such information. He cited statistics from Britain’s Parentline Plus, a 24/7 parental help phone line, that just 16 percent of their calls came from men, showing that men usually don’t look for help, but just deal with problems themselves.
But is postpartum depression for men real? Yes, says a study cited by CNN in October 2008. According to the article, every day, 1,000 new dads become depressed in the United States. Some studies say the number could be as high as 3,000.
Will Courtenay, a psychotherapist and founder of PostpartumMen.com (formerly Saddaddy.com), a site for men experiencing postpartum depression, hears from many men experiencing severe signs of depression. “They can’t stand to be around their baby…they can’t stand the smell or the sound of their child screaming,” he said to CNN.
He said shifting male hormones may play a role, and that the signs of full-fledged depression can include a feeling of worthlessness, sadness and a lack of interest in hobbies or sex.
In an April interview with Newsweek, Courtenay said that a big factor in the condition is whether a man’s partner is depressed. “Half of all men whose partners have postpartum depression are depressed themselves,” Courtenay said.

please visit www.alphainventions.com or www.condron.us to visit blogs in realtime.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Vitamin D3 and the benefits.

My mom called me yesterday and said that her blood work came back that she was really lacking vitamin D. Her doctor is actually calling in a prescription for a supplement at her pharmacy. I have read about Vitamin D3 deficiency and I also worry that I may be lacking as I do avoid the sun, although I live in Florida! I am tired all the time even though I have started on a vitamin regime. I have read many articles about being in the sunlight for 15 minutes a day with NO sunscreen. So, I must now add that to my daily routine, getting out in the sunshine! Vitamin D3 also helps with depression, so as I stated before let’s get out into the sunshine and take a walk to start feeling better!

Practical PractitionerBy: Pamela Egan, FNP-C CDE
With all the medical advances in the 20 th century, Vitamin D3 deficiency is still an epidemic. Fifteen to twenty minutes of sunshine each day, in the nude, helps your body manufacture about 10,000 to 15,000 iu’s of vitamin D3 per day. The problem is that most people avoid the sun these days due to fears of skin cancer. Just think about plants and what happens to them when they avoid the sun. They wither & die.

Did you know that vitamin D3 deficiency can result in Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Depression, Psoriasis, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Kidney Stones, Osteoporosis, & Neuro-degenerative disease including Alzheimer’s Disease. Eventually, Vitamin D deficiency may even lead to Cancer (especially breast, prostate, and colon cancers). Vitamin D3 is believed to play a role in controlling the immune system (possibly reducing one’s risk of cancer and autoimmune diseases), increasing neuro-muscular function and decreasing falls, improving mood, protecting the brain against toxic chemicals, and potentially reducing pain.
Vitamin D3 is both a vitamin and a hormone. It acts as a vitamin when it binds with calcium for proper absorption. Humans cannot digest calcium without adequate amounts of Vitamin D3.
The most common reasons for Vitamin D3 deficiency in the United States relates to lack of exposure to sunlight and infrequent consumption of cold water fish such as wild salmon, mackerel & sardines.

A standard blood chemistry panel will provide your doctor with your levels of vitamin D3. The test is called 25(OH)D. The existing guidelines state that a deficiency is anything below 50nmol/l, but recent studies show that 80 nmol/l is needed to keep healthy bones and enable vitamin D to perform its other roles in the body.

Foods have been supplemented with Vitamin D, but this has not resulted in an overall increase in Vitamin D levels. This is likely because food and supplement manufacturers rely on an inexpensive form of synthetic Vitamin D called “ergocalciferol”- a form of Vitamin D2.
If you have bone loss or osteoporosis, spend 20 minutes daily in the sunshine with 40% of your skin surface exposed. Morning sun is best; Don’t allow your skin to burn. Tanning Beds do not provide Vitamin D3.

Eat foods high in Vitamin D3 including Cod liver oil, fortified milk, salmon, mackerel, & sardines, egg yolks, beef liver. If you take Vitamin D supplements make sure it is Vitamin D3 and not D2. Take Vitamin D3 supplements with food. I usually recommend Vitamin D3 2000iu-5000iu/ day depending on lab levels.

Pamela Egan, MN, FNP-C, CDE is a board certified Adult & Family Nurse Practitioner, Certified Diabetes Educator, & Clinical Specialist in Mental Health. She can be reached at 845-4111 or by email at info@pamelaegan.com.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Postpartum strikes dads too.

http://www.fox8.com/lifestyle/parenting/sns-health-dads-postpartum-depression,0,82275.story
Dana Scarton
March 16, 2009
The birth of John Hyman's first child didn't fill him with the joy he might have hoped for. Far from treasuring every minute with his son, the Rockville, Md., college writing instructor reacted by teaching more courses just to get himself out of the house."I didn't know what my role was there," recalls Hyman, 52. His wife, by contrast, bonded instantly with their son, Jake, now a teenager. "Betsy fell in love. It was primal," he says. "I didn't have that experience. I thought I was broken."Hyman wasn't broken. He was depressed. Long recognized as a problem afflicting some new mothers, postpartum depression can also grip men -- though mental health professionals acknowledge that until recently they largely overlooked that fact. Male postpartum depression took a step out of obscurity this year when, in May, it was for the first time the subject of a workshop at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association.Ten percent of new fathers and 14 percent of new mothers are affected by depression, says psychologist James F. Paulson, assistant professor of pediatrics at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Va. His team arrived at these numbers in 2006 after reviewing data collected from 5,089 two-parent families with babies aged 9 months. Still, most men and their partners fail to recognize postpartum depression when it arises. The symptoms are similar in both sexes, but the causes may be different. Hormonal changes can contribute to a woman's suffering, experts suspect, whereas sudden and unexpected lifestyle changes are thought to trigger a father's depression. "After the baby is born, there's a change in family structure," says Thomas Newmark, chief of psychiatry at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, N.J., and organizer of the APA workshop. "There might be pressure to take care of the child economically. The man may not get the attention from his wife that he was used to. And, of course, his sleep is affected."Depressed new dads, like depressed men in general, are more likely than women to display destructive behaviors, including increased use of alcohol or drugs, shows of anger, engagement in conflicts, and risk-taking such as reckless driving or extramarital sex. Some, like Hyman, elect to work longer hours. Other signs: a depressed or sad mood, loss of interest or pleasure, weight gain or loss, oversleeping or trouble sleeping, restlessness, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, impaired concentration, and thoughts of suicide or death.Postpartum depression can begin within days or weeks of delivery and last for a year or more. In both genders, it can be treated with therapy, medication, or a combination, although women often refuse antidepressants when they are nursing for fear of exposing their child through breast milk.If untreated, a father's postpartum depression can be harmful to the child as well as to both parents. Children born into such families receive less attention from the depressed parent and are at increased risk for developing physical and emotional problems, Paulson says. In an upcoming study in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, he concludes that depressed fathers and depressed mothers read less to their babies and that depression in the dad, but not in the mom, significantly reduces a child's language development by age 2. Depression in the father is also thought to increase the likelihood that his children will act out or behave destructively. (Depression in the mother, by contrast, is associated with decreased overall health in the child, learning problems, and a greater risk for developing depression.)A partner's involvement is usually critical to identifying depression in a new father. "Often times, it will be the wife who is first to notice," says Berkeley, Calif., psychotherapist Will Courtenay, who specializes in men's health. "She'll say, 'He just hasn't been himself lately.'" Vigilance is most called for when one's partner has been previously depressed. Having a history of depression or mental illness puts a father at greater risk of postpartum depression, as does having a spouse with postpartum depression.Hyman, who didn't undergo treatment, experienced a turning point two months after his son's birth, when his wife placed the squirming infant on his chest and father and son fell asleep. "When I came to, I looked down and just collapsed into tears," he says. "I knew then that he was a part of me."(c) 2008 U.S. News & World Report DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
Copyright © 2009, Tribune Media Services

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder

I just found out a dear friend of mine suffered her first really bad panic attack. Since she never had one before she did not know what was happening. I am posting this as I know that panic attacks are so hard to understand and we never really know what brings them on.

I remember my first panic attack was when I was in college. I had no idea what was going on. I was in a class and all of a sudden I felt sweaty and cold at the same time, my heart started beating really fast and I felt like I would pass out. I ran out of the class and said I had to go. Obviously I was very embarrassed. Back then panic attacks were not really talked about. They lasted on and off for months. I would start to drive to college and have to turn around because I did not know what was wrong with me. I would be driving home and my hands would go numb and I would run into the house. It was not until years later I realized that was what I was suffering.

When I had postpartum depression I was getting my panic attacks very bad. I tried to understand them, but never knew when they would come. With each one that I had I would tell myself, "this is it! this is not a panic attack today, but today I am having the heart attack!" Well, I went and got physicals, stress tests, sonograms of my heart, I was fine! Panic, that is what I had.

In the moment they are very frightening, but if we try to understand them, it helps get us through the moment. Hope the information helps.

Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder
Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Taken from www.helpguide.org

A panic attack is a sudden surge of overwhelming anxiety and fear. Your heart pounds and you can’t breathe. You feel dizzy and sick to your stomach. You may even feel like you’re dying or going crazy. Left untreated, panic attacks can lead to panic disorder and other problems. They may even cause you to withdraw from normal activities. But panic is treatable – and the sooner you seek help, the better. With treatment, you can reduce or eliminate the symptoms of panic and regain control of your life.

In This Article:
Understanding panic attacks
Signs and symptoms of a panic attack
Signs and symptoms of panic disorder
Agoraphobia
Causes of panic disorder
Treatment
Medication
Self-help tips
Related links for panic disorder
Print Authors

Understanding panic attacks
Paula’s story
Paula had her first panic attack 6 months ago. She was in her office preparing for an important work presentation when, suddenly, she felt an intense wave of fear. Then the room started spinning and she felt like she was going to throw up. Her whole body was shaking, she couldn’t catch her breath, and her heart was pounding out of her chest. She gripped her desk until the episode passed, but it left her deeply shaken.
Paula had her next panic attack three weeks later, and since then, they’ve been occurring with increasing frequency. She never knows when or where she’ll suffer an attack, but she’s afraid of having one in public. Consequently, she’s been staying home after work, rather than going out with friends. She also refuses to ride the elevator up to her 12th floor office out of fear of being trapped if she has another panic attack.
In many cases, panic attacks strike out of the blue, without any warning. Often, there is no clear reason for the attack. They may even occur when you’re relaxed or asleep.
A panic attack may be a one-time occurrence, but many people experience repeat episodes. Recurrent panic attacks are often triggered by a specific situation, such as crossing a bridge or speaking in public – especially if that situation has caused a panic attack before. Usually, the panic-inducing situation is one in which you feel endangered and unable to escape.
You may experience one or more panic attacks, yet be otherwise perfectly happy and healthy. Or your panic attacks may occur as part of another disorder, such as panic disorder, social phobia, or depression. Regardless of the cause, panic attacks are treatable. There are many effective treatments and coping strategies you can use to deal with the symptoms.
Signs and symptoms of a panic attack
Panic attacks often strike when you’re away from home, but they can happen anywhere and at any time. You may have one while you’re in a store shopping, walking down the street, driving in your car, or sitting on the couch at home.
The signs and symptoms of a panic attack develop abruptly and usually reach their peak within 10 minutes. Most panic attacks end within 20 to 30 minutes, and they rarely last more than an hour.
A full-blown panic attack includes a combination of the following signs and symptoms:
Shortness of breath or hyperventilation
Heart palpitations or a racing heart
Chest pain or discomfort
Trembling or shaking
Choking feeling
Feeling unreal or detached from your surroundings
Sweating
Nausea or upset stomach
Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or faint
Numbness or tingling sensations
Hot or cold flashes
Fear of dying, losing control, or going crazy
Is it a heart attack or a panic attack?
Most of the symptoms of a panic attack are physical, and many times these symptoms are so severe that people think they’re having a heart attack. In fact, many people suffering from panic attacks make repeated trips to the doctor or the emergency room in an attempt to get treatment for what they believe is a life-threatening medical problem. While it’s important to rule out possible medical causes of symptoms such as chest pain, heart palpitations, or difficulty breathing, it’s often panic that is overlooked as a potential cause – not the other way around.
Signs and symptoms of panic disorder
Many people experience panic attacks without further episodes or complications. There is little reason to worry if you’ve had just one or two panic attacks. However, some people who’ve experienced panic attacks go on to develop panic disorder. Panic disorder is characterized by repeated panic attacks, combined with major changes in behavior or persistent anxiety over having further attacks.
Signs and symptoms of panic disorder
You may be suffering from panic disorder if you:
Experience frequent, unexpected panic attacks that aren’t tied to a specific situation.
Worry a lot about having another panic attack.
Are behaving differently because of the panic attacks, such as avoiding places where you’ve previously panicked.
While a single panic attack may only last a few minutes, the effects of the experience can leave a lasting imprint. If you have panic disorder, the recurrent panic attacks take an emotional toll. The memory of the intense fear and terror that you felt during the attacks can negatively impact your self-confidence and cause serious disruption to your everyday life. Eventually, this leads to the following panic disorder symptoms:
Anticipatory anxiety – Instead of feeling relaxed and like yourself in between panic attacks, you feel anxious and tense. This anxiety stems from a fear of having future panic attacks. This “fear of fear” is present most of the time, and can be extremely disabling.
Phobic avoidance – You begin to avoid certain situations or environments. This avoidance may be based on the belief that the situation you’re avoiding caused a previous panic attack. Or you may avoid places where escape would be difficult or help would be unavailable if you had a panic attack. Taken to its extreme, phobic avoidance becomes agoraphobia.
Panic disorder with agoraphobia
Agoraphobia was traditionally thought to involve a fear of public places and open spaces. However, it is now believed that agoraphobia develops as a complication of panic attacks. With agoraphobia, you’re afraid of having a panic attack in a situation where escape would be difficult or embarrassing. You may also be afraid of having a panic attack where you wouldn’t be able to get help.
Because of these fears, you start avoiding more and more situations. For example, you might begin to avoid crowded places such as shopping malls or sports arenas. You might also avoid cars, airplanes, subways, and other forms of travel. In more severe cases, you might only feel safe at home.
Situations or activities you may avoid if you have agoraphobia:
Being far away from home
Going anywhere without the company of a "safe" person
Physical exertion (because of the belief that it could trigger a panic attack)
Going to places where escape is not readily available (e.g. restaurants, theaters, stores, public transportation)
Driving
Places where it would be embarrassing to have a panic attack, such as a social gathering
Eating or drinking anything that could possibly provoke panic (such as alcohol, caffeine, or certain foods or medications)
Adapted from American Academy of Family Physicians
Although agoraphobia can develop at any point, it usually appears within a year of your first recurrent panic attacks.
Causes of panic attacks and panic disorder
Although the exact causes of panic attacks and panic disorder are unclear, the tendency to have panic attacks runs in families. There also appears to be a connection with major life transitions such as graduating from college and entering the workplace, getting married, and having a baby. Severe stress, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, or job loss can also trigger a panic attack.
Panic attacks can also be caused by medical conditions and other physical causes. If you’re suffering from symptoms of panic, it’s important to see a doctor to rule out the following possibilties:
Mitral valve prolapse, a minor cardiac problem that occurs when one of the heart’s valves doesn't close correctly.
Hyperthyroidism
Hypoglycemia
Stimulant use (amphetamines, cocaine, caffeine)
Medication withdrawal
Treatment for panic attacks and panic disorder
Panic attacks and panic disorder are treatable conditions. generally treated with cognitive behavioral therapy, medication, or a combination of the two.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is generally viewed as the most effective form of treatment for panic attacks, panic disorder, and agoraphobia. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on the thinking patterns and behaviors that are sustaining or triggering the panic attacks. It helps you look at your fears in a more realistic light.
For example, if you had a panic attack while driving, what is the worst thing that would really happen? While you might have to pull over to the side of the road, you are not likely to crash your car or have a heart attack. Once your learn that nothing truly disastrous is going to happen, the experience of panic becomes less terrifying.
Exposure therapy for panic attacks and panic disorder
In exposure therapy for panic disorder, you are exposed to the physical sensations of panic in a safe and controlled environment, giving you the opportunity to learn healthier ways of coping. You may be asked to hyperventilate, shake your head from side to side, or hold your breath. These different exercises cause sensations similar to the symptoms of panic. With each exposure, you become less afraid of these internal bodily sensations and feel a greater sense of control over your panic.
If you have agoraphobia, exposure to the situations you fear and avoid is also included in treatment. As in exposure therapy for specific phobias, you face the feared situation until the panic begins to go away. Through this experience, you learn that the situation isn’t harmful and that you have control over your emotions.
Overcoming panic: Exploring effective therapies
If you’re suffering from panic disorder, therapy can teach you how to prevent and cope with panic attacks. Even a short course of treatment can help! Many people experience a drastic reduction in symptoms within 6 to 12 treatment sessions.
To learn more, read Therapy for Anxiety Disorders
Medication treatment for panic attacks and panic disorder
In severe cases, medication can be used to control or reduce some of they symptoms of panic disorder. However, medication should not be the only treatment pursued. Medication is most effective when combined with other treatments, such as therapy and lifestyle changes, that address the underlying causes of panic disorder.
The medications used for panic attacks and panic disorder include:
Antidepressants are sometimes used in the treatment of panic attacks and panic disorder. However, it takes several weeks before they begin to work, so you have to take them continuously – not just during a panic attack.
Benzodiazepines are anti-anxiety drugs that act very quickly (usually within 30 minutes to an hour). Taking them during a panic attack provides rapid relief of symptoms. However, benzodiazepines are highly addictive and have serious withdrawal symptoms, so they should be used with caution.
For an in-depth look at the medications used for panic disorder, and the pros and cons of taking them, read Anxiety Medication: What You Need to Know About Drugs for Anxiety.
Self-help tips for panic attacks and panic disorder
When it comes to panic attacks, professional treatment and therapy can make a big difference. But there are many things you can do to help yourself, too:
Learn about panic. Simply knowing more about panic can go a long way towards relieving your distress. So read up on anxiety, panic disorder, and the fight-or-flight response experienced during a panic attack. You’ll learn that the sensations and feelings you have when you panic are normal and that you aren’t going crazy.
Avoid smoking and caffeine. Smoking and caffeine can provoke panic attacks in people who are susceptible. As a result, it’s wise to avoid cigarettes, coffee, and other caffeinated beverages. Also be careful with medications that contain stimulants, such as diet pills and non-drowsy cold medications.
Learn how to control your breathing. Hyperventilation brings on many sensations (such as lightheadedness and tightness of the chest) that occur during a panic attack. Deep breathing, on the other hand, can relieve the symptoms of panic. By learning to control your breathing, you develop a coping skill that you can use to calm yourself down when you begin to feel anxious. If you know how to control your breathing, you are also less likely to create the very sensations that you are afraid of.
Practice relaxation techniques. When practiced regularly, activities such as yoga, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation strengthen the body’s relaxation response – the opposite of the stress response involved in anxiety and panic. And not only do these relaxation practices promote relaxation, but they also increase feelings of joy and equanimity. So make time for them in your daily routine.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Today I write from the heart....

Today I am deciding to write from the heart as my son turns 3 years old today. Where has the time gone? I remember when he was born and everyone told me to enjoy him as it would go so fast and I would not remember him being so tiny, I thought that they were crazy to say that. However, it is so true. I look at the hundreds of pictures that I have taken of him and when I see him so tiny I think, "I cannot remember him being so small."

I go back and ask myself was it because of my postpartum depression or is this just normal?

So as I reflect over the last three years I know that I am back to being myself. When he was born I remember being so nervous and anxious. I did not know that I had ppd for four months, I held my son so tight because I knew that he would be there for me, he would help me get through this. We got through! Through all the anxiety, panic attacks, fears, insomnia, etc., we made it. Although I can think back and be in the moment and remember the fears, my son is a healthy, happy and loving child. Do I think he remembers those first few months, no. I think he will always remember a very caring and loving mother. I never let him suffer for one moment. That is why I sought out help. I could never let him be effected by my not being well.

So if you are a new mother and think that you have any signs of postpartum depression, you can make it through. Please talk to others, see your doctor and get the help that you need. You will get through it. I know, I did! I am posting a paragraph from my book and it sums it all up:

"....I still look back at the hundreds of pictures that I have taken over this
year and I know with looking at each one of them if I was either having a good
day or a bad day. Although I remember what was going on in my mind, Bradley
does not. He smiles in each picture and even if I had disturbing thoughts, he
never felt them. His smile says it all. His happiness meant everything to me and
that is why I fought to get back to being the person that I know that I am. The
more recent pictures that I have taken and I look at now, I know that I am truly
happy. My smile says it all."
Quote from Book..My Baby's Smile. My Journey and Recovery Through Postpartum Depression.
http://www.booklocker.com/books/3938.html

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Postpartum Depression or Postpartum Thyroiditis

I never even thought that my thyroid could be effected by giving birth. In fact after I stopped taking medication for my postpartum depression, I was still so tired I still thought that something was really wrong with me. I did actually go seek out testing from an endocronologist. Even though my thyroid was in normal limits, they did find that I did have nodules on my thyroid that were then biopsied. They are now checked once a year. So if you are experiencing some of the symptoms below…seek out medical attention to rule this out.
SYMPTOMS
What is postpartum thyroiditis?Thyroiditis is a general term that refers to “inflammation of the thyroid gland” (see Thyroiditis Brochure); thus, postpartum thyroiditis is thyroiditis that occurs in women after the delivery of a baby. Thyroiditis can cause both thyrotoxicosis (high thyroid hormone levels in the blood) and hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone levels in the blood). In postpartum thyroiditis, thyrotoxicosis occurs first followed by hypothyroidism.
2CAUSES
What causes postpartum thyroiditis?The exact cause is not known but it is believed to be an autoimmune disease very similar to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. In fact, these two disorders cannot be distinguished from one another on pathology specimens. As in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, postpartum thyroiditis is associated with the development of anti-thyroid (anti-thyroid peroxidase, anti-thyroglobulin) antibodies. Women with positive antithyroid antibodies are at a much higher risk of developing postpartum thyroiditis than women who do not have have positive antibodies. It is believed that women who develop postpartum thyroiditis have an underlying asymptomatic autoimmune thyroiditis that flares in the postpartum period when there are fluctuations in immune function.
How common is postpartum thyroiditis?In the United Status, postpartum thyroiditis occurs in approximately 5- 10% of women. The incidence can be greater in certain high-risk populations (see below).
Who is at risk for developing postpartum thyroiditis? Any woman with:
Autoimmune disorders (such as Type 1, or juvenile onset, Diabetes Mellitus)Positive anti-thyroid antibodies (risk correlates with antibody levels, the higher the antibody the higher the risk)History of previous thyroid dysfunctionHistory of previous postpartum thyroiditis (20% of women will have recurrence of thyroiditis with subsequent pregnancies)Family history of thyroid dysfunction
3DIAGNOSISWhat is the clinical course of postpartum thyroiditis?The classic description of postpartum thyroiditis includes thyrotoxicosis followed by hypothyroidism. Not all women demonstrate evidence of going through both phases; approximately 1/3 of patients will manifest both phases, while 1/3 of patients will have only a thyrotoxic or hypothyroid phase. The thyrotoxic phase occurs 1-4 months after delivery of a child, lasts for 1-3 months and is associated with symptoms including anxiety, insomnia, palpitations (fast heart rate), fatigue, weight loss, and irritability. Since these symptoms are often attributed to being postpartum and the stress of having a new baby, the thyrotoxic phase of post-partum thyroiditis is often missed. It is much more common for women to present in the hypothyroid phase, which typically occurs 4- 8 months after delivery and may last up to 9 –12 months. Typical symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, constipation, dry skin, depression and poor exercise tolerance. Most women will have return of their thyroid function to normal within 12-18 months of the onset of symptoms. However, approximately 20% of those that go into a hypothyroid phase will remain hypothyroid.
4TREATMENTHow is postpartum thyroiditis treated?Treatment depends on the phase of thyroiditis and degree of symptoms that patients exhibit. Women presenting with thyrotoxicosis may be treated with beta blockers to decrease palpitations and reduce shakes and tremors. As symptoms improve, the medication is tapered off since the thyrotoxic phase is transient. Antithyroid medications (see Hyperthyroid brochure) are not used for the thyrotoxic phase since the thyroid is not overactive.
The hypothyroid phase is often treated with thyroid hormone replacement (see Thyroid Hormone Therapy brochure). If the hypothyroidism is mild, and the patient has few, if any, symptoms, no therapy may be necessary. If thyroid hormone therapy is begun, treatment should be continued for approximately 6-12 months and then tapered to see if thyroid hormone is required permanently. It is always important to try to discontinue thyroid hormone after postpartum thyroiditis, since 80% of patients will regain normal thyroid function and not require chronic therapy.
Postpartum Thyroiditis Brochure for Saving and Printing (PDF File, 48KB)http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochures/Postpartum_Thyroiditis_brochure.pdf

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Perinatal anxiety

This article was taken from www.news-medical.net I too had these fears but I just thought that all new moms and moms-to-be had these thoughts as well. I never asked any other moms if they experienced these types of thoughts because I thought that it was normal. Is it normal? I would love to hear from you and know if, you ever had these thoughts and worries when you were pregnant and then after you had your baby? Thanks for the feedback!

Perinatal anxiety - the hidden disorder25. February 2009 22:16
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You've probably heard of postpartum depression - a common problem after pregnancy, suffered by about one in seven new mothers.
But did you know there is a much more common form of distress that can also be harmful for pregnant women, parents and newborns?
Perinatal anxiety - unhealthy distress experienced during or soon after pregnancy - is the subject of a major new study being conducted by psychologists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Florida State University.
"We call perinatal anxiety the hidden disorder," said Jonathan Abramowitz, Ph.D., co-principal investigator for the study, associate professor of psychology and director of the Anxiety Disorders Clinic in UNC's College of Arts and Sciences. Abramowitz is also a research associate professor in the UNC School of Medicine's psychiatry department.
"This is not new, but it's not been discussed or studied very much, even though it's a lot more common than postpartum depression," Abramowitz said.
Symptoms of perinatal anxiety may include general uncontrollable worries during pregnancy or the early stages of parenthood. First-time parents encounter many unknowns which can make them fearful, Abramowitz said. "They may think: is the baby going to be healthy? Is the baby normal? Am I going to be a good parent?"
"About 60 to 70 percent of new mothers and fathers have these kinds of thoughts," he said. "It's normal to think these things, dismiss them and move on. But when you can't control your thoughts, or they interfere with your sleep, your health or your ability to care for your baby, then you may need help."
In some cases, such anxiety results in panic attacks. In the most serious cases, parents may become obsessed with senseless, intrusive negative thoughts which they can't seem to control no matter how hard they try, Abramowitz said. "They may begin to worry about all kinds of things: What if the baby dies during sleep? What if I lose control and harm or molest the baby? What if I do something terrible to the baby? Worse, they may feel scared and confused about what these thoughts mean - fearful that they will act on these obsessional thoughts."
Abramowitz, an expert on anxiety disorders, has been studying perinatal anxiety since 2001. First he identified symptoms and explored how to predict if new parents were susceptible to the condition.
Now he and colleagues are trying to determine if first-time parents experiencing significant anxiety can be helped by cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). This form of psychological treatment is effective in treating other forms of anxiety, including panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder.
"Cognitive behavior therapy involves helping patients learn strategies to change maladaptive thinking and acting patterns that contribute to anxiety and obsessions," Abramowitz said.
All participants in the six-week study will receive helpful childbirth counseling as part of free weekly prenatal classes. Half of the participants will receive elements of CBT as well. Those who complete the study will also receive a modest fee at the end.
First-time pregnant women over the age of 18, and their partners, can learn more and complete a screening questionnaire online at www.babyprepstudy.com.
The Anxiety Disorder Clinic is part of UNC's psychology department. In addition to engaging in studies, the department's clinics provide low-cost therapy services to adults and children on a sliding-fee scale. They can be reached at (919) 962-6906.

My Baby's Smile. My Journey and Recovery Through Postpartum Depression