Looks like I'm heading to this forum

[SeanaRain]

I took the online test and scored a 54. I think I also may have scored myself a little low in places. Basically, I think I didn't want to admit that some things are as bad as they are.

DS is about to turn 9 months. Is it too late for PPD? Could this just be "standard" depression? Or could it just be that I never admitted anything to myself for a while and this has really been going on for quite some time.

[Mama Katrina]

(((hugs)))) I scored a 79 after weaning up to 10 mg of Lexapro (on it total of 4 weeks, after 5 days I had to drop to 5 mg for a week to wean myself onto it). I'm not weaning myself up to 20 mg (taken the 15 mg 3 days now). But the doc seems to think I am better than that test indicate . This is the first child I've sought help with... :

[gilnikche]

Originally Posted by SeanaRain

DS is about to turn 9 months. Is it too late for PPD? Could this just be "standard" depression? Or could it just be that I never admitted anything to myself for a while and this has really been going on for quite some time.

No it is not too late for PPD. But whether it is PPD or not is probably irrelevant. Have you read any other info on their site about having/getting support?

Please feel free to post more about your situation/feelings. It really does help.

[SeanaRain]

As far as support goes...

I finally owned up to my DH the way that I've been feeling and the things that I've been thinking about. Totally supportive, as I knew he would be. I just didn't want to admit to him that I am having problems. (I have a problem with admitting when I'm wrong and admitting that everything isn't hunkey-dorey fine.)

I have an appointment scheduled for Monday March 7 with my family doctory. I'm going to retake the online quiz Sunday (and be as honest with it as I can be) and take it in with me to show her. I'm not sure if she'll be able to do anything. If not, hopefully she'll be able to recommend someone she trusts.

Thanks for the hugs Mama Katrina.

[MsMoMpls]

SeanaRain- I am glad you are getting the help that you need and agree that regular depression or PPD isn't that important except that if it is purely biological, meds are the best route and if there is some pscyhological piece, therapy is really important. Support as a mother is crucial with either. The thing you said about having a hard time admitting you're wrong or asking for help likely put you at risk for depression. Us mere mortal human beings make mistakes often and need help regularly. It is really important that you learn to be more gentle and forgiving with yourself. Meds won't do that. That takes relearning. I am getting better about admitting mistakes. I don't have that perfectionistic stuff to deal with anymore. Somehow, the older I get, the easier it is to be ignorant. But... I certainly still struggle with asking for help. And not asking for help is what keeps a lot of people from starting therapy. Might be really good for you and actually can feel reallly great to have people you can count on to be there just for you.

[EllasMama]

You're right - it can be SO hard to admit you need help or aren't doing well. I deluded myself for a long, long time before I sought therapy. I put off meds for much longer than that, thinking I could muscle my own way through.

All my life I was conditioned to become an independent, over-achieving, self-critical person. No wonder I had trouble admitting I couldn't do what I'd previously assumed would be a fairly simple task (parenting) without some major assistance from many sources. I expected myself to be able to do it all, and felt like a huge failure when I couldn't. I'm finally getting through all that and realizing that I'm actually just human after all, LOL. And - newsflash - so is everyone else, no matter how "perfect" a face they present to the world.

s,
Carol