help needed.

[_Bee_]

Hi!

I think I am suffering of PPD since my son was born in 2008.
I know that I need some medical help, but I don't know how to go about it. I lived in the US only for a few years, so I am not so familiar with the medical system.
I tried to talk to my family doctor about this a while ago, but he said that he thinks that I am only a little bit stressed out about being a mom.
Who can diagnose that I have PPD?
Who can give me a prescription?
I would like to have some kind of psychotherapy, is there a doctor who can give me a prescription and do a kind of therapy. I am not sure what kind of therapy, what kind of doctor can help me to evulatate this?
I have a blue cross/blue shield insurance, I noticed that "licensed socialworkers" are in-network-providers. Has anyone experience with that kind of therapist?
How did you find your provider?
I would like to have some recommendations, but I don't anybody who can give me a recommendation.

thanks a lot in advance for your help. Bee

[littlehawksmom]

How are you?

Do you have any support IRL?
Are you getting enough exercise-yes it is okay to use a stroller and get out and really walk. This helps me more than anything.
Are you getting enough fresh green food? Enough good oils-like a good quality fish oil?
Are you getting enough sleep?

Sometimes things are just hard-not discounting PPD, at all, but I think acknowledging that life with small children can be hard, and temporary, maybe could be helpful.

Hopefully you'll get some great advice here. Hang in there!

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Since your family dr just blew you off I would get out your covered provider handbook from bcbs and pick a therapist from there.

Can you describe some of the things going on with you that make you think you have ppd? Your ds was born in 08 so that is loong time to deal with ppd without help.

[K-Mom3]

A family doctor or any other MD SHOULD be able to help you and write a prescription but you just never know who is going to know what they are talking about when it comes to ppd. I would suggest looking at this postpartum.net
The link I posted is to the part where you can search for local help. You'll probably find another mom in your area who might know a doctor who is good with ppd.

As for a therapist--there are plenty of different titles of jobs for people who can be therapists--social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, etc. I think again, it will be a question of finding one who understands ppd. If you find an area contact, you could ask them about a referral for a good therapist as well.

You can do a self test--there's one posted in the sticky part of this forum. Or here's another one:
http://pediatrics.about.com/library/...z_ppd_scng.htm

I have no idea how reliable the tests are--obviously not a diagnosis. But if you score high, print it out and take it with you to an appt. That might help you not get blown off again.

s Sorry that you're not doing well.

[_Bee_]

Hi Moms!

Thanks for your responses so far.
I am pretty sure that I am suffering of a depression, if it's a postpartum depression or not - I am not sure.
I was dealing with depression in my life before: this feeling of guilt and hopelessness, just anxiety and very dark thoughts.
I feel depressed like this for a couple of months, after a traumatic birth, after a very exhausting time, when I went back to work (then I got laid off, but that's another story) and some chronic pain issues. What it makes worse, is that I don't have family around. My family is in one country in Europe, my husband's family is another country in Europe. So, I don't have support here. I have here a mom's group, but I have the feeling, that the other moms just have no problems. Everybody is always in a good mood, they never talk about problems (but I also think that there is a difference of mentality and communication between European and American way of life...). We are not very close, but see us on a regular basis. 2 of them also watched my son for a few hours, when I had to go to the doctor.
What I will try to do: go back to my family doctor (I just did the test in the sticker, and I had a score of 65), and I will contact a few of the licensed social workers. Maybe they can start a therapy and give me a prescription.
Thank you very much for your input.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Good luck to you and remember if you need to just "talk" and vent you can do so here without judgment.

[pagodafish]

Hi Bee,
I hope you are hanging in there. This can be such a hard time. I really struggled with PPD and I'm still working to get through it. I tried all of the basics like diet, excercise etc. I finally went to an energy kinesiologist, my sister suggested this, to see if that would help and it really put me back on track. BCBS is pretty good about covering some non-traditional therapy (in some states). I have to pay out of pocket but it has been worth every penny. If you are interested in something like this PM me. I don't know where you live but I would be happy to give you some names/resources that could help you find someone in your area.
Hugs and support.

[_Bee_]

HEllo again!
I just wanted to give you an update about me.
I went to my family doctor and I am now on Citalopram. First week 20 mg/day, now 40 mg/day. I am now in my 2nd week on medication.
I also started a psychotherapy. I am not sure about it. I kind like the therapist, but I at the moment, if even more talking about my problems can help.
Part of my crisis is that I keep rethink about my life again and again and again, and I cannot find a way out of it. So if I talk about this again, how can this help??
Do you have any thoughts on this?
Best, Bee

[mom2sol]

Hi, I'm new here. I suffered from PPD- mostly anxiety really with my third child. I'm glad you've found a way to see a therapist. I know it can seem a little pointless but talking really does help to sort of diffuse things. I think you can get this tape playing in your head about past things.... for me it was very overwhelming- getting it out of my head did help to get it to stop playing, if that makes any sense. Keep going and see what happens, I think you'll find that you really like it.

It's been mentioned before but don't discount the power of eating well and exercising. My anxiety was right after the birth for a couple of months and was pretty intense but I managed it but getting out every day, taking B vitamins, and making sure I was eating well and enough. I was actually dropping weight off very fast after the birth and really had to work at eating enough good foods. Getting enough sleep, very important as well. I had to go to bed at 8 or 9 in order to get enough sleep, which was really difficult for me because I'm a night owl but it helped tremendously.