depressed?

Question

i gave birth 2 weeks ago and feel terribly blue. I feel like the world makes no sense and i cant stop thinking about dying and that i have realised i will one day as will my parents and its becoming obssesive. I feel like nothing makes sense and that there is no real point in life when we end up dead with nothing anyway.

i love my baby so much and she is keeping me smiling.

any ideas whats going on or whats happening or can anyone relate to this problem?

Answer 1

Hi, it sounds like you have post-partum depression, which is an extremely common condition which can be treated. You need to talk to a professional right away and can get help!//Don't worry, you can get better!!
From Women's Health Online: "Depression after pregnancy is called postpartum depression or peripartum depression. After pregnancy, hormonal changes in a woman's body may trigger symptoms of depression. During pregnancy, the amount of two female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, in a woman's body increases greatly. In the first 24 hours after childbirth, the amount of these hormones rapidly drops back down to their normal non-pregnant levels. Researchers think the fast change in hormone levels may lead to depression, just as smaller changes in hormones can affect a woman's moods before she gets her menstrual period.

Occasionally, levels of thyroid hormones may also drop after giving birth. The thyroid is a small gland in the neck that helps to regulate your metabolism (how your body uses and stores energy from food). Low thyroid levels can cause symptoms of depression including depressed mood, decreased interest in things, irritability, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, sleep problems, and weight gain. A simple blood test can tell if this condition is causing a woman's depression. If so, thyroid medicine can be prescribed by a doctor.

Other factors that may contribute to postpartum depression include:

* Feeling tired after delivery, broken sleep patterns, and not enough rest often keeps a new mother from regaining her full strength for weeks.
* Feeling overwhelmed with a new, or another, baby to take care of and doubting your ability to be a good mother.
* Feeling stress from changes in work and home routines. Sometimes, women think they have to be "super mom" or perfect, which is not realistic and can add stress.
* Having feelings of loss — loss of identity of who you are, or were, before having the baby, loss of control, loss of your pre-pregnancy figure, and feeling less attractive.
* Having less free time and less control over time. Having to stay home indoors for longer periods of time and having less time to spend with the your partner and loved ones.

What are symptoms of depression?

Any of these symptoms during and after pregnancy that last longer than two weeks are signs of depression:

* Feeling restless or irritable
* Feeling sad, hopeless, and overwhelmed
* Crying a lot
* Having no energy or motivation
* Eating too little or too much
* Sleeping too little or too much
* Trouble focusing, remembering, or making decisions
* Feeling worthless and guilty
* Loss of interest or pleasure in activities
* Withdrawal from friends and family
* Having headaches, chest pains, heart palpitations (the heart beating fast and feeling like it is skipping beats), or hyperventilation (fast and shallow breathing)

After pregnancy, signs of depression may also include being afraid of hurting the baby or oneself and not having any interest in the baby.
What is the difference between “baby blues,”postpartum depression, and postpartum psychosis?

The baby blues can happen in the days right after childbirth and normally go away within a few days to a week. A new mother can have sudden mood swings, sadness, crying spells, loss of appetite, sleeping problems, and feel irritable, restless, anxious, and lonely. Symptoms are not severe and treatment isn’t needed. But there are things you can do to feel better. Nap when the baby does. Ask for help from your spouse, family members, and friends. Join a support group of new moms or talk with other moms.

Postpartum depression can happen anytime within the first year after childbirth. A woman may have a number of symptoms such as sadness, lack of energy, trouble concentrating, anxiety, and feelings of guilt and worthlessness. The difference between postpartum depression and the baby blues is that postpartum depression often affects a woman’s well-being and keeps her from functioning well for a longer period of time. Postpartum depression needs to be treated by a doctor. Counseling, support groups, and medicines are things that can help.

Postpartum psychosis is rare. It occurs in 1 or 2 out of every 1000 births and usually begins in the first 6 weeks postpartum. Women who have bipolar disorder or another psychiatric problem called schizoaffective disorder have a higher risk for developing postpartum psychosis. Symptoms may include delusions, hallucinations, sleep disturbances, and obsessive thoughts about the baby. A woman may have rapid mood swings, from depression to irritability to euphoria.
What steps can I take if I have symptoms of depression during pregnancy or after childbirth?

Some women don’t tell anyone about their symptoms because they feel embarrassed, ashamed, or guilty about feeling depressed when they are supposed to be happy. They worry that they will be viewed as unfit parents. Perinatal depression can happen to any woman. It does not mean you are a bad or “not together” mom. You and your baby don’t have to suffer. There is help.

There are different types of individual and group “talk therapies” that can help a woman with perinatal depression feel better and do better as a mom and as a person. Limited research suggests that many women with perinatal depression improve when treated with anti-depressant medicine. Your doctor can help you learn more about these options and decide which approach is best for you and your baby. The next section contains more detailed information about available treatments.

Speak to your doctor or midwife if you are having symptoms of depression while you are pregnant or after you deliver your baby. Your doctor or midwife can give you a questionnaire to test for depression and can also refer you to a mental health professional who specializes in treating depression."

Answer 2

You just have produce a new LIFE!, Virtually a miracle, although you were able to live your life?, happy?, without preoccupations? perhaps, you just don't which to realize that you are more important for someone else once more, as you were Important for your own parent when you born?, remember?????, the world it's nothing for you without that baby, think that you life have just begun, and you will live, just because you do have a new Beautiful responsibility that God gave you, and that responsibility, can show you the side of life that you have never experience before, by been your self even more responsible that ever cherishing God miracle of Birth, and is all yours. God bless you and your Baby, in Jesus name. Amen. Baptism. think is God asking you something, the baby needs to be Baptized!

Answer 3

postpartom (spelling? Sorry for my lack of spelling ability) depression. There are books on it. I suggest you go to your local library and find a book about it. I cant say I have expreienced it but I hope this helped. Just keep smiling and thrust yourself into caring for the baby more than you already do. Hope you feel better soon! =]

Answer 4

I wish I could give you a cure all solution to make you feel better right now but maybe this link will help you:

http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/postpartum.htm

If you want a chat hit me up on email, you may every well need a friend. :)

Answer 5

You may have post-partum depression, and should see your doctor immediately! This won't last forever.

Answer 6

You may want to read this article http://www.healthadel.com/articles/9/1/Depression-Treatments/Page1.html i found will be useful also has info on different treatments.

Answer 7

IT'S POST PARTUM. JUST REMEMBER THAT BABY IS COUNTING ON YOU TO BE THERE TO SEE HER GROW UP. TRY TAKING SOME NATURAL HERBS LIKE ST. JOHN'S WART. THAT MAY HELP. TAKE CARE!

Answer 8

EMERGENCY...get to your Doctor...NOW !!!! It is a HUGE hormone imbalance that can cause bad things !!!