New here... will it ever get better? - Page 2

[newcastlemama]

Amanda,
I had to up my dose on Effexor twice in the past 13 months (in about 3 months or less I get to decrease it). I know ppd is sooooo incredibly hard...we can't escape our minds. I used to wish that I had a physical injury istead of ppd because then I could feel less scared....I am so glad that you are still here and communicating. There can be low days even on antidepressants....just have a plan on what to do if it gets to be too much (call someone, leave the room, go for a walk, see the neighbor, take a shower, anything!!!) Loves, Jennifer

[astjaj1]

Thanks

Newcastlemama, thanks so much for responding to all of my posts. You give me a lot of hope knowing that you beat your ppd. I also know that everybody has their bad days on meds, but I still feel as though my anxiety is a little excessive. I have done a little better the past two days. I got my mother in law to watch my son for a while and then hung out over there when I was done running errands. I am over here today as well. I know I can't always be over here, but it does help to have the help and not be stuck by myself in my house all day. I think once I start back to school, I think I'll be able to not think about thinking so much. That is my biggest problem. I don't stay busy when I'm home alone. I know it gets better, but sometimes I just get so tired of fighting this. I wouldn't ever do anything stupid, but hopefully you know what I mean. It seems to take so much effort to fight my anxiety. Anyway. I am starting to get better bit by bit. I am starting to want to take care of my son. I even smile at him now. That has to be progress. Thanks so much for listening and reading my posts. I hope you will continue to post.
sorry so long

[DanAbimytwomiracle]

I had severe PPD that started late (about 6 months PP) and lasted until my twins were 2. It was absolutely awful, and the Zoloft helped me climb out of it. My only advice is to take each minute, each hour, each day at a time, while looking ahead to better times. There were nights I had to put my dd down and walk away for a few minutes b/c I wanted to hurt her, I would get so angry that she wasn't sleeping .
The "dangerous" time with some meds is 2-3 weeks after you start them b/c you can backtrack a little. You may need a higher dose, and whatever patience you can dig up.
You can do this. Have someone's phone # handy at all times incase you need to call someone.

[astjaj1]

Thanks so much to everyone!

I just want to thank everyone that posted to my response. It really helped me on my worst days. I also want to write that I am doing so much better. I am not 100%, but I'm almost there. I still have some bad days, but they aren't as bad as they once were. I just want to encourage everyone that suffers from ppd to be patient with yourself. It really does get better!!! I really thought that I would be in a dark hole forever, but the light does shine through. Just keep yourself busy and try your hardest not to think about the ppd. I know that is so hard, but the less you feed it, the better and easier it gets. Just stay strong and love your little ones.

Amanda

[kimmie-pooh]

Amanda ~ Thank you so much for the update! I didn't see this post until now, but I was so glad to see your last update.

I am glad that you are doing so much better! I know that in the darkest times, it's hard to believe that you can one day feel 'normal' again. Honestly, I cannot really remember the feelings of depression. My psychiatrist read a little bit of my chart back to me (notes from my first visit). I remember thinking how odd it was that I cannot even remember those feelings. Just like childbirth -- you remember that it was painful, but you don't remember the pain.

Many hugs to you! Wishing you all the best on your journey to healing.

[ambiguousinamber]

Dha

[QUOTE=Susannah M]Amanda-
anybody out there who has had good experiences with treatments other than just using medications?
-Susannah[/QUOTE ]
Has anyone else tried taking fish oil and Evening Primrose Oil? I had severe depression for 3 months with my first 2 children. No thoughts of hurting myself or my child but very much not myself. When I found out I was pregnant and my second child was only 1 I was really worried about going through the depression again. I started praying about it and searching for a natural way to try to head the depression off. I went to a health food store and asked and they said they had just had someone in there lecturing on how DHA helps people with depression. They said that our bodies need the DHA found in Omega 3 oils but to eat enough fish to get it would be too dangerous with the Mercury levels. They said that babies depleat our bodies of DHA. Now I'm not a doctor nor do I propose that this is the answer for everyone. I just know that I had my baby girl on the third of Jan and have only felt twinges of the depression and that only when I have missed taking my vitamins and the fish oil and the Evening Primrose. I have been taking Nordic Naturals Omega 3 fish oil 1tsp once a day (nasty but not as bad as it could be) Royal Brittney Evening Primrose Oil 1300mg 1 capsule 2x's a day along with my prenatals which are Rainbow Light prenatals. Now again I want to say...I am not a doctor and I know there are people that may need more or this might not work for...I just wanted to share what worked for me. I was thinking of starting a new thread and asking if anyone else had heard of(or tried) this.