Alternative treatments for PPD that you've had success with

[jsh7809]

(Hope this is the right place to post this!)

Hi, mamas,
I'm struggling with PPD/ anxiety and am strongly considering starting on an SSRI... the past few weeks I've had to take ativan and trazadone (not every day) on occasion to get me through the days or nights, and while I think that those are likely much more dangerous to the baby, DH is very concerned about me starting on a long term medication like Zoloft. But I'm having trouble seeing a way out of the cloud, you know?

I just put a call into our local feminist sliding scale counseling group and have had good success with them in the past. Other things that have been suggested to me are acupuncture, exercise (I am having a HARD time finding time and energy for it, but know it will be a boon - yoga DVD is coming in the mail and I hope to start swimming laps tomorrow), more omega 3s (I take fish oil and vitamin D but I'm going to step it up)... What else? I'm pretty open to everything (although finances are a big issue), be it a great self hypnosis/ guided meditations CD, a good book you'd recommend, another kind of therapy, etc.

Hit me!! I have a feeling I will start on the SSRIs and just do my best to get into a regimen so I can wean them sooner than later.

[Blueone]

I completely understand wanting an alternative to Zoloft and all, but as someone who worked personally with PPD parents and have seen some of the things it can cause, I'd highly recommend staying on your SSRI DAILY, or even taking Zoloft. There is nothing wrong with Zoloft and in time you can slowly cut down the dose with your doctors recommendation and supervision.

Just because you'd be taking it right now, doesn't mean you will be on it for years. It is something to help you function on a daily basis and not meant to be taken on occasion when you feel you need it the most. Sometimes a person doesn't recognize the stress, anxiety, or depression until it's much more severe.

However, taking Zoloft WHILE doing your alternative treatment is always something possible.

Remember, while medication isn't always the best thing for all scenarios, it is something meant to help people when they really do need it, like someone with PPD because it does affect your parenting, the attachment you have with your baby, and in the end that does impact a baby for years. If all they sense is an overanxious and depressed mom, they will think it's normal and mirror the behaviors you are exhibiting. So if you're anxious, they will act anxious.

So give Zoloft a shot and the alternative treatment as well. I'm sure within a year or so you'll be able to drop your dose down further and maybe even be off it! There's no shame in needing medication for a period of time.

[laurabfig]

What about seeing a chinese herbalist to try herbal medicine?
(I'm looking into this for my PRE-partum anxiety...)
Hope you find what works best for you.

[annettemarie]

We actually have a forum dedicated to PPD, so I am going to bump this over there.

[lairaja]

I struggled with this with my DS, and I was very lucky in that my midwife also happened to be a LMT and Herbalist. I saw her for massage and energy work, and then she put me on a vitamin/diet/Flower Remedy regimen that really helped:

-Eliminate coffee, chocolate, alcohol and sugar if you haven't already for BF'ing. These all lead to mood swings and eliminating or reducing them will help stabilize mood.

- Vitamins: Take a B Complex. I use one labeled for Stress. This alone seemed to help me immensely. So much that I started taking it again about a month before DD was born as a preventive measure. It seems to be helping this time around, too.

- Bach Flower Remedies: Elm and Olive are often prescribed for postpartum mamas. Here are the descriptions:

Olive

"Those who have suffered much mentally or physically and are so exhausted and weary that they feel they have no more strength to make any effort. Daily life is hard work for them, without pleasure." - Dr. Edward Bach

Elm

"Those who are doing good work, are following the calling of their life and who hope to do something of importance, and this often for the benefit of humanity. At times there may be periods of depression when they feel that the task they have undertaken is too difficult, and not within the power of a human being." - Dr. Edward Bach


If you are lucky enough to live near a Natural Healing School, they may have a store for their students that is open to the public where you can put together your own Flower Essence tincture for a reduced price. You only need a few drops at a time, so I wouldn't recommend buying a whole bottle at a health food store. At the New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics I can go in and make my own bottle for $3. This lasts me at least a month.

I have a family history of depression and have taken Zoloft in the past. I really didn't want to go the med route ever again, and I'm pleased that these alternative methods made a big difference for me. But everyone is different, so YMMV. Find an herbalist, I say!

HTH

[deditus]

High dose fish oil - I took 3 T. A DAY of Carlsons fish oil for a while
Good B-Complex like Megafoods or Thorne
Magnesium - Natural Calm (mag citrate helps lots of people, not me though, I use magnesium glycinate)
Nourishing infusions - http://www.susunweed.com/How_to_make_Infusions.htm
I like oatstraw or nettles
At least 20 g of good quality protein at every meal, like wild caught low contaminant fish or grassfed beef
I did use 5-htp when I needed to - there are many threads here dedicated to it, I think the main thread is something like "true natural remedy"
Vitamin D

[Mirrormonkey]

I second High doses of fish oils, high quality fish oils! And lots of sunshine!! I am still struggling, but if I can spend the day at the park with friends and not be alone with the kids all day it does wonders. I still have really bad moments, but they are just moments now.

[Teenytoona]

Also, read The Mood Cure by Julia Ross.

[newcastlemama]

Originally Posted by Teenytoona

Also, read The Mood Cure by Julia Ross.

Yep. I actually went to her clinic 4 years ago when I had PPD and did the whole supplement program. I went about 1.5 years after I had been diagnosed with severe PPD/PPP. I was able to get off Effexor and Xanax.

I also took high vitamin cod liver oil and ate a traditonal foods diet with meat, veggies, fruit, nuts, evoo, butter, coconut oil...(no grains, gluten, and dairy helps me too.."primal diet") Read up about taking high doses (5,000-10,000iu) of vitamin D as well. The B-complex helped me a lot as well (I take Country Life Co-enzyme B-Complex) you can get good prices at www.iherb.com

Making an effort to have friends, joining a gym with childcare/excersise, and sun has also helped tons. s

This is another good book:
http://www.rebuild-from-depression.com/

[kandiwaggen]

Try this workbook

I'm in the same boat and am seriously considering giving meds a try. I've been suffering from chronic headache since I had my baby in December and it has brought on anxiety like I've never known before. MRIs all came back normal and so now thinking the headaches are caused by the anxiety. So I just wanted to share with you a book that I just started reading called:

"The Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook: Practical Skills to Help You Overcome Anxiety, Worry, Panic Attacks, Obsessions, and Compulsions" by Pamela Wiegartz.

I'm usually not into these types of things, but I also never had a headache prior to having my 3rd baby so I'm willing to try anything to help me feel better. I haven't finished the workbook yet, but just the relaxation breathing exercises have helped me a bit. I've tried some natural remedies with no improvement. Exercising makes me feel better but doesn't improve the headaches. I read that SSRIs are often used to treat chronic headache associated with anxiety so I'm seriously considering them. My 3 kids deserve to have their happy healthy mommy back!

Good luck to you.

[DecemberSun]

I have to chime in with another vote for Omega 3's (I buy one specifically for "Mood"), multivitamins (I buy one specifically for "Stress"), Vitmain B Complex, Magnesium (I take the one with Calcium and Zinc in it), lots of protein, water, exercise, and sunshine. You CAN control your depression with natural supplements! However, to get you out of your initial "rut" and up on solid ground, don't be afraid to use a SSRI to get you there. I struggled with depression for years, went on and off my medication, and finally found a wonderful combination that has made me feel *normal*. I took Zoloft during my first pregnancy and Effexor while nursing, and of course I felt terrible for taking "drugs", but I also knew I couldn't be a mess for my son. By my second pregnancy I had discovered the wonderful effects of Omega 3's in combination with vitamins and I am so glad I did.

[josephajain]

Ppd

Really very well written man...I like it!!

[weliveintheforest]

With my first, I had a big improvement from adding fish oil and increasing my protein intake dramaticly.
With my second I used homeopathics and accupuncture. Diet/supplements seems to be the biggest factor for me, if I don't eat well I have a hard time coping.

[MamaMem]

I understand your desire to not go to the SSRI's. I just want to testify that they are not a lifetime-sentence. I started almost 10 mo ago. About 7 of that I was 175 mg - it tops out at 200. Just before DS2's birthday, I had a very distinct shift in my psyche. It was so obvious I almost felt it in my physical body as much as my head. In the last 2 weeks I have been reducing my dose to see where I can go with it. I am thrilled that right now I am at 137 and definitely going down more!

I personally did not find the omega's and 5-htp to make any difference. BUt I also was just pretty far gone down the anxiety path till I got help. I was totally in Freeze mode till I was aware that PPD was really the problem. I am actively working toward recovering from PP-PTSD and had I gotten help for that months earlier, I probably would not have ended up as low as I did.

Outside of meds, the single most helpful thing I found was the weekly PPD support group. I could never begin to put a price on the value of meeting with a few moms that so understand your journey and being able to have someone help you stratigize about "petty" things that are overwhelming you.

[Angela512]

I had really bad PPD (is it ever not bad?) after my 2nd child. I went to a naturopathic doctor and got a bunch of herbs, vitamins, minerals, and diet changes recommended. I was also advised to see a counselor because PPD is not just a physical thing...it is also emotional/mental (feeling overwhelmed, etc). Working at all the angles, I was able to kick my PPD with no drugs.

My suggestion is not just Omega 3, but a good cold-pressed Cod Liver Oil (I use Carlson Lemon flavor). Also, take vitamin D if you cannot be out in the sun (direct sun light) for at least 15 minutes per day with 40% of your body exposed (otherwise, it's just not enough exposure). Taking a brisk walk every day helped and also drinking fruit smoothies (homemade) every morning and at lunchtime helped, as well.

You may be surprised at what a difference a change in the diet does (I always ate very well, but ended up removing gluten and dairy and I noticed a big difference within a week from just those changes alone).

Good luck. I hope you do whatever you feel you need to to feel better.

[jsh7809]

Sounds like I have been doing a lot of what you all recommend (fish oil, D3, cal/mag, SAMe, 5HTP etc)... I did start Zoloft just over 3 weeks ago and have finally been feeling like myself again. I haven't had a panic attack in a week! And can get out of that "stuck" scared and hopeless place when I see it coming along...
So my hope is to wean off of the Zoloft in a matter of months (not years) and have other coping techniques and strategies and nutrition in place.
The one worry is that I have unexplained itching all over my body this week. My psychiatrist says that if it was the Zoloft, I would've reacted right away, not 3 weeks down the road. But my herbalist says it could just be the thing that sort of tipped my scale and is too much for my liver to handle or something and makes me itch... no real rash, just faint red dots and itching... I would hate to have to start over on another SSRI at this point!

[silybum]

I love fish oil, but PLEASE BE CAREFUL taking the cod liver oil. It is usually high in vitamin A, which accumulates in the liver and can lead to toxicity. This is extra important for your LO if you are bfing. I'm not saying not to take Cod liver oil, but if possible, check with a professional (nutritionist, naturopath etc.) Or at least do some research on the "safe upper limit" for breastfeeding.

[jsh7809]

Just to update, I am doing much better these days . Unfortunately I reacted to the Zoloft (got a terribly itchy rash all over my body, waited a week to see if it would go away or was something else since it took 3 weeks to even appear, but it went away within 24 hours when I finally weaned off the Zoloft), but I have had really great results with 400mgs of SAMe and 100mg of 5HTP per day so far. I do have some insomnia with the SAMe but my mood is so improved, it's amazing. I may try going down to 200mgs of SAMe to see if I can sleep easier, but my herbalist thinks that it also may improve at the current dose in another week or two.
It's quite expensive but definitely worth a try! Especially if you are concerned about SSRIs and BFing. It also works faster (1-2 weeks instead of a month or more) than standard SSRI meds.