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International Womens' Day: Chrissy Teigan Shares Her Story of Postpartum Depression

3/7/2017

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In a powerful essay for Glamour magazine, Chrissy Teigen shares her experience with postpartum depression, following the birth of her daughter Luna. 

Postpartum depression is very common as it can affect up to 20% of new mothers. However, as Chrissy eloquently describes, it can be incredibly difficult for one to recognize the disorder amongst themselves, but help is available in the form of additional support, psychotherapy, and medication. 

"Before the holidays I went to my GP for a physical. John sat next to me. I looked at my doctor, and my eyes welled up because I was so tired of being in pain. Of sleeping on the couch. Of waking up throughout the night. Of throwing up. Of taking things out on the wrong people. Of not enjoying life. Of not seeing my friends. Of not having the energy to take my baby for a stroll. My doctor pulled out a book and started listing symptoms. And I was like, “Yep, yep, yep.” I got my diagnosis: postpartum depression and anxiety ...

... Before this, I had never, ever—in my whole entire life—had one person say to me: “I have postpartum depression.” Growing up in the nineties, I associated postpartum depression with Susan Smith [a woman now serving life in prison for killing her two sons; her lawyer argued that she suffered from a long history of depression], with people who didn’t like their babies or felt like they had to harm their children. I didn’t have anything remotely close to those feelings. I looked at Luna every day, amazed by her. So I didn’t think I had it.

I also just didn’t think it could happen to me. I have a great life. I have all the help I could need: John, my mother (who lives with us), a nanny. But postpartum does not discriminate. I couldn’t control it. And that’s part of the reason it took me so long to speak up: I felt selfish, icky, and weird saying aloud that I’m struggling. Sometimes I still do."


To read the full story, visit: 
​http://www.glamour.com/story/chrissy-teigen-postpartum-depression

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Postpartum Depression Among Men

2/10/2016

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When we hear the term antepartum or postpartum ‪depression‬, majority of us think about women, specifically expectant or new mothers. Even from the physician's perspective, one of the "B's" we screen for in the first postpartum visit for women are the "baby blues" and signs of mood disturbances. But what about all the ‪dads‬ out there?

New research in fact has found that ‪men‬ too can suffer from antepartum and ‪postpartum depression‬, indicating that physicians should be extending their screening to all the fathers and soon-to-be fathers out there. While we know that depression among ‪moms‬ may impact attachment and subsequent child development, research also suggest that if unrecognized and untreated, depression among fathers can have the same negative impact on the child and ‪family‬.

In order to raise more awareness to this issue and help fathers and families access help in their community the Fathers Mental Health Network, a website linking new dads to screening tools, resources, and treatment programs and services.

"One 2010 American study, looking at data involving more than 28,000 men, found 10 per cent of new dads have postpartum depression. And, as a recent Canadian study shows, plenty of fathers experience depression before the baby is born as well. Led by a team from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, the Quebec-based research found around 13 per cent of expectant dads dealt with symptoms of depression during their partner’s pregnancy...

On top of that, experts say men are less likely to talk about their feelings than women, leading to a lack of understanding and awareness about depression in dads. While moms may be more inclined to show their sadness and stress outwardly by crying, dads tend to express it in different ways — often through anger — and may also self-medicate with alcohol, detach from family life and, as in Billy’s case, lash out at their partner."


For the full story, click here: http://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/2016/01/25/postpartum-depression-affects-one-in-10-fathers.html

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"Me" Time Helps Lower Risk of Postnatal Depression

1/8/2016

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For all the new moms or future moms out there, a new study has found that mothers who regularly take time for themselves during the first few months after childbirth have a lower risk of developing postnatal ‪‎depression‬.

"The prevalence of depressive symptoms steadily decreased as the frequency of time for self increased. The lowest prevalence of depression was 6% in women who had time for themselves once a week or more. Compared to women who had personal time at least once a week, women who never had personal time were three times more likely to experience depression in the postnatal period."

For the full story, click here:
https://theconversation.com/new-mothers-making-time-for-themselves-reduces-chance-of-postnatal-depression-51808


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A Mother Shares Her Experience With Postpartum Psychosis

12/12/2014

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In the article, "I Had Postpartum Psychosis - More Must Be Done To Help Others Like Me" a mother from Scotland describes her frightening experience with postpartum psychosis, and discusses the challenges she faced in seeking help, as well as the frustrations with first being labeled as malingering. Ultimately, the author Vonny Moyes, pushes for enhanced awareness of postpartum mental health issues and calls for improved screening and increased support for others like her.

"Psychosis doesn’t live up to its Hollywood image; instead it’s often a silent erosion of your own existence, which makes it hard to spot. When delusions and reality blend so seamlessly, you don’t have the self-awareness to shout out. The voices are your reality. And the toxic thoughts. You become caged inside yourself so abruptly that you simply cannot find the fortitude to reach out."

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