Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most common complication of childbirth,
striking approximately 15 percent of new mothers each year. Most of these don't
need intensive intervention; standard treatments include counseling and
medication. But there are severe cases: women swallowed up by anxiety, who,
despite the exhaustion of a newborn, can't sleep. Women who can't stop obsessing
over the terrible things that might happen to their babies, or who think about
hurting their children -- or themselves. There are many possible reasons for
this. Experts agree, for example, that PPD is under-reported. But another factor
might be that hospitalization can seem like a pretty scary idea. Especially
considering that moms requiring or requesting it have had only one option:
general psychiatric wards, the same locked units that care for drug addicts,
schizophrenics, and patients with bipolar or eating disorders.
I found this article "New help for moms with postpartum depression" interesting because there are quite a bit of women who go through this and I don't think its fair to them especially if those moms were really excited for having a baby. I know that if I was to have a child I wouldn't want to feel depressed about the child and have thoughts of suicide or hurting the baby because it's not the baby's fault for why you feel that way. And a new mother or a previous mother deserves to feel happy for the new life she had created.
Good post, Sasha. Don't forget to label it "current event". 24/25
ReplyDeleteAs we begin to realize that "mental illness" is not a bad word, I think we'll continue to see more and more treatment options for mental illnesses that are tailored to specific conditions. That is, in my opinion, a very good thing.
I found this blog very interesting because I have friends who's parents have suffered from postpartum depression and its a very serious issue. It causes mothers to be so stressed that they can't even be happy about having a new baby. Its awesome that there is a treatment for that specific issue now.
ReplyDeleteI think building yourself up for having a baby and being so excited only to end up stressing so much you have PPD would be extremely awful. Having a baby should be a joy in your life, not something you need to stress over so much you think about hurting yourself or the baby, I'm glad there are treatments for this.
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