Can I have PPD?

[JoshuasMommy]

My baby is 10mo old. But I am in a real funk lately. It started a few months back but recently its bad. I have gained a bunch of weight since giving birth. My mood swings are horrible. I yell. I am pissed off always. I am ALWAYS hungry. I have no libido. And I just want to cry. Really I feel like shit. I don't care if I even shower. I feel isolated and lonely. I want to feel better but I can't muster the motivation to do something. I was thinking its my period. I started it when dd turned 4mo. and I have only had 4 in 6mo. The first two were fine and on time but then I went a long time between the last two. And they were very emotional periods with a lot of binging and crying. I am not sure at this point if my irregularness is caused by my emotional feelings or vice versa or its totally something else. I haven't been sleeping well which makes everything worse. DD sleeps great and only nurses once a night. But me if I wake up for any reason regardless of how little sleep I have had I am up for the day or should I say up for the night. I can't stop thinking that I am going to die and abandon my children. WTF is wrong with me? I need to get out of this rut. I was going to post in TAO but then I saw this forum. I am sorry if I am posting in the wrong place. But I am just looking for some anwers or even just someone to recognize what I am feeling. Tina~

[Nisupulla]

Originally Posted by JoshuasMommy

It started a few months back ...gained a bunch of weight since giving birth...I yell...I am pissed off always...I am ALWAYS hungry...I just want to cry...I feel like shit...I don't care if I even shower...I feel isolated and lonely...I can't muster the motivation to do something...I haven't been sleeping well...I can't stop thinking that I am going to die...I am sorry

If you're looking for answers about what's wrong, I think you've come to the right place. Everything you've posted is a potential symptom of PPD. SIGECAPS is an acronym the is sometimes used to define the symptoms of depresssion: Sleep, Interest, Guilt, Energy, Concentration, Appetite, Psychomotor, Suicidal/thoughts about death.

If you looking for answers about what to do now, everyone approaches it differently, I think medication and psychotherapy is best, but you will find a lot of ideas on this board.

PPD sucks, but it doesn't last forever, even though it might seem like it will. Hang in there.

[kaydee]

As the PP said, what you describe does sound like symptoms of PPD. I would go to a doctor soon and see where to go from there.

PPD can begin anywhere in the first year after birth (and of course "regular" depression can happen at any time).

A good source of information and referrals is www.postpartum.net.

g

[Cyclemom]

I went in after a month of wondering what was wrong with me--crying all the time, falling asleep while driving to work (mind you it was only a 20 min drive), unable to focus on any given project for a productive amount of time, no patience with my 1st who was nearly 3-- only after my mom (who suffered from depression) saw what I was going through and it was all too familiar. My baby was 6 1/2 m old, and I was on Zoloft after visiting Dr. until she was 15 m and I weaned off. There isn't anything wrong with you, it may be hard to see right at the moment, but these emotions are normal - some people's bodies handle them differently.
A small word of advice that worked very good to my benefit, I went to my OB-GYN because my relationship with him was the best of any of my Dr's. He understood very well the signs, was able to tell me when I might be feeling better, afterall, they deliver the little buggers and know the exact toll it takes on our bodies and emotions; so if you can, go see your OB, they know our bodies the best. I didn't have therapy with meds, though I have read loads that points to using the two in conjunction with each other is the best way to get good results from treatment.
Best of luck to you, go talk to someone soon for your baby's sake, you don't want to look back and wonder if you could have enjoyed this time better.

[JoshuasMommy]

Thank you ladies. I had a long talk with my dh and told him about how I was feeling and that alone has made a world of difference. He has been so supportive and helping me calm down and get some focus when things get overwhelming. Tina~