Coping With Postpartum Depression (PPD)

A Note To Those With No Diagnosis

If you think you might have PPD, you must discuss it with a healthcare provider. The strategies on this website cannot be substituted for the treatment of a qualified medical professional.

If you’ve never dealt with a mood disorder, you may not know how to locate a good therapist and/or clinician. Start by talking to your obstetrician, who can probably refer you to another care provider well versed in postpartum mood disorders. Don’t worry about shocking your obstetrician—he or she has most likely heard it all before. PRCT can also provide the names of area physicians and therapists who deal with postpartum issues.

Strategies for PPD Moms

· Follow your doctor’s and/or therapist’s instructions. Don’t discontinue your medication or therapy without a professional’s assessment. Just because you feel good doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready to fly solo. Relapses DO occur, so don’t let your guard down too soon.

· Read, read, read. Learn about depression, and PPD. You can locate some good book titles on our Resources page. By learning about the biochemical roots and management of your disorder, you can take charge of PPD—not the other way around.

· Connect with other PPD moms. Other women have been where you are, and it helps to know you’re not alone.

· Take very good care of yourself. You can’t substitute therapy or medication for a healthy body, mind, and spirit. Take others up on offers to baby-sit. Exercise—even if it’s only walking around the block. Focus on nutritious and enjoyable food. Get enough sleep! Nurture your spirit, through worship or meditation. Let your partner know when you need time for yourself. It may be a cliché, but it’s true: In order to provide the best care for your children, you must first care for yourself.

· Watch the alcohol and both prescription and non-prescription drugs. We are not here to make judgments regarding recreational drinking or drug use, but moderation or even abstinence may be key to your recovery. When you’re feeling bad, you may tend to use mood-altering substances to lift your mood, only to find yourself feeling even worse. It’s also possible to abuse prescription drugs—e.g., Valium, Xanax, Klonopin--especially if they help you relax or sleep. If you feel like you’re relying too much on a prescription drug, talk with your doctor.

· Create your own support system. Not everyone will understand PPD, so share information and feelings with those you love and trust. Designate your partner, friends, and/or family members as lifelines to reach for when you’re feeling low. These people cannot take the place of qualified treatment providers, but they can provide reassurance on a day-to-day basis.

· Watch for PPD after subsequent pregnancies. If you have experienced PPD once, it may likely return after subsequent pregnancies. Remain mindful of people and resources you can turn to if your disorder flares again.

For Family and Friends: How To Help

· If someone you love has been diagnosed with PPD, you may be wondering how you can help. Assure her that she is still as capable and lovable as she was before PPD set in, and that she can count on and confide in you.

· Remind her that PPD is an illness, just like diabetes or high blood pressure. She is no more responsible for PPD than she would be for other chronic diseases that are hormonally or genetically linked. Like diabetes or high blood pressure, she can control this illness though proper treatment and self-care.

· If she makes unusual but reasonable requests (e.g., “Don’t leave me alone with the baby”), accommodate her as best as you can. She will eventually need to face the situations she fears, but should do so under the supervision of a care provider.

· Watch for the following symptoms: withdrawal, irritability, crying spells, loss or extreme increase in appetite, neglectful hygiene, or delusional behavior and/or hallucinations. PPD can become very serious, and these symptoms may require immediate evaluation by a medical professional. Hallucinations and delusions may be a sign of Postpartum Psychosis, a dangerous state requiring prompt hospitalization.

· Encourage her to talk it out whenever necessary. Assure her that her troubles are not a burden, and that you are dedicated to her recovery.

· Give her a break—through baby-sitting, running errands, or taking over household chores. As a mother, she focuses on everyone else’s well-being. Help her to focus on her own.

· Finally, assure her that she will get better. PPD moms do move beyond this disorder to the healthy lives they fully deserve.

Questions? Please contact us e-mail at info@texaspostpartum.org.

Postpartum Resource Center Of Texas, Inc. is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

The information on this site is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical or psychological condition. You should consult your doctor for individual advice regarding your own situation.

Copyright ©2003 by Postpartum Resource Center of Texas, Inc. All rights reserved. You may reproduce materials available at this site for your own personal use and for non-commercial distribution. All copies must include the above copyright notice.

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