How do you fight post partem depression, or just stress in general?

Question

have two kids 10months apart any advice?

I work all day, it hasnt been nice weather, i am an only parent, no one to share kids with, he didnt want to be a family, only other family will not watch kids.. all alone

Answer 1

yes, stop thinking about how you feel and enjoy your kids! take them for walks, play toys, go visit friends, go to the mall, just stay busy, eat right, get alot of exercise! and keep a positive outlook, be happy for all your blessings, the glass is half full, not half empty.

Answer 2

Well there is always psychotherapy or medication; however, this can be expensive and, in the case of medication, have negative side effects.

What I would suggest is trying is to change your outlook, yes cliché, but give it a try. Watch or listen to some great speeches, find a support group, develop a new hobby. In other words, don't keep doing the same ol' things, try something new! We only get one shot as life, may as well make it a good one.

Answer 3

Post partum is a hormon imbalance. English doctors treat it with an estrogen patch. American doctors treat it with antidepressants.

With children that close together no wonder you would get stressed out. Check around your area and see if any of the churches have a Mother's Day Out program. They will babysit for mom so they can have a day "off" from the kids...

Or get a group of mom's together and trade babysitting with them....

Answer 4

I find two things help me. One, don't forget to take time for yourself. Maybe once a week (if you have family nearby to babysit, or if you have enough money for a sitter) or at least once a month. And get away for a few hours. Go on a hike, go to the beach, go see a movie (by yourself), go get your nails done, just walk around the mall for hours. Anything you want to do just for you.

Also, exercise helped me a lot.

I combined "my time" with exercising. I go surfing at least once, if not 2, 3, or 4 times a week. It's great to be out in the water, focused on the rhythm of the ocean, at peace with myself and nature. And I'm getting a great workout and having fun too.

You just need to find your "surfing." :)

Answer 5

Exercise and/or breathing. The deep breathing, meditation type. The circulation helps with energy a bit too. Obviously, finding the time is a challenge. How old they are on activities you can do with them as far as exercise.
Time helps, along with restful sleep. Be patient with yourself and the little ones. One day at a time.
I think remembering that it doesn't last forever helps. Think of how to best enjoy this ever-changing innocent time .

Answer 6

WOW you must have been taking lessons from me. My kids are 10 3/4 months apart. If you feel you have postpartem depression you need to see your doc and get this treated. Do not let it go as it could just get worse. See your doc and let him/her help you with your problems.

Answer 7

First I just want to let you know that you are not alone in the way you feel, in fact up to 80% of postpartum women suffer from postpartum depression. It’s also important to know that although ‘Postpartum depression’ and ‘Stress’ are different, both can produce mental or physiological reactions that may lead to illness, however both conditions are considered to be treatable. But before treatment can begin you will need to undergo a medical evaluation. Postpartum depression is a form of clinical depression. It is a state of intense sadness, unhappiness or despair that has advanced to the point of being disruptive to an individual's social functioning and/or activities of daily living whereas mental stress is triggered by heightened states of anxiety or alarming experiences which may be caused by financial instability or unemployment, lifestyle changes, pain, heavy workloads, life events (birth, deaths, marriage, divorce) depression, relationships, physical demands, family stress or early life exposure to child abuse (which can permanently alter an individuals stress response).

Stress Management:
Stress can be managed by using certain techniques intended to help you cope effectively. Some techniques of stress management may help you to control stress in the face of high demands that involve:
1. Time management - learning to set limits by saying "No" to some demands that others make.
2. Autogenic training - a relaxation technique.
3. Conflict resolution - a process of attempting to resolve a dispute or a conflict.
4. Physical exercise - is clinically known to reduce stress.
5. Progressive muscle relaxation - a technique of in which you can reduce anxiety by learning how to relax the muscular tension.

Nutrition:
Nutrition is a factor in postpartum depression. Aspartame, the chemical found in artificial sugar (Equal, Sweet ‘N’ Low etc.) has been linked to causing abnormal serotonin production in the brain. Serotonin is believed to play an important role in the regulation of anger, aggression, body temperature, mood, sleep, vomiting, sexuality, and appetite. Low levels of serotonin may be associated with several disorders, namely increase in aggressive and angry behaviors, clinical depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, bipolar disorder and other anxiety disorders. To combat this, it’s important to eat plenty of vegetables and fruit as well as mushrooms which contain measures of serotonin.

Hydration: One of the most important roles in any diet (especially for pregnant and nursing mothers) is hydration. Drinking enough liquid is a key part in combating postpartum depression. Studies have shown that dehydration can cause feelings of fatigue and anxiety. If you already suffer from postpartum depression and you fail to keep yourself properly hydrated, the chances of your condition getting worse is almost certain, so drink plenty of fluids. If you are breast-feeding it’s very important that you drink a tall glass of water, milk, or juice before sitting down to breast-feed your baby.

Vitamins:
It is extremely important for pregnant and postpartum women to maintain a healthy appetite. A proper calorie intake as well as a daily intake of vitamins is a key part in keeping you feeling healthy and positive both during the pregnancy and in the first few months after the birth. Remember a lot of your nutrients are taken up by the baby after child birth and when you breast-feed so it’s important to build yourself up again with vitamins.

Bible Reading:
This may sound unusual but Bible reading has a calming effect on its readers. The bible offers hope to mankind’s problems and gives it’s readers a sense of peace and tranquility. Learning about God’s promise to make the earth a peaceful paradise where no suffering, sickness or death will exist has a lasting effect on all those who read and meditate on it.

Medication:
There are medications you can take however it would not be wise for me to start naming all the medications you can take since each person requires a different medication as well as dosage according to ones needs. I hope I could be of help to you. Try some of these natural remedies and see if that will help before using medications.

Answer 8

take long walks, let your spouse have the kids acouple times a week and do something for yourself in that time

Answer 9

don't devote your entire time to your family and take out time for yourself or else all the stress will harm you. make time for yourself and do a hobby or enjoy the fresh air outside, read a book, etc. MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF!!! =)

Answer 10

Take a Caribbean vacation.