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View Full Version : spanking/'mean mommy' and PPD



erika
05-10-2002, 09:07 AM
just wanted to give a heads up to moms who find that their parenting skills have deteriorated substantially with pregnancy or birth - this is a symptom of PPD. I was feeling really really guilty about what a rotten mother I had become (to my 4yo) after my pregnancy began. I finally (now that baby is 9mo) learned that my decline from total AP mom to witch mom is a PPD symptom. It is actually a relief to me to realize that I was not just destined to be incapable of handling the needs of two children, but that PPD was screwing up my head and my emotional response.



TiredX2
05-14-2002, 11:25 PM
You don't know how I feel reading this. I have totally become mom from hell and I just am not keeping a handle on things. So what did you do? Counseling, medication... please advise. Is this commonly known so if I see a doctor they will not just think I am a horrible parent?

Thank you so much!
Kay
erika
05-15-2002, 09:05 AM
counseling is what i have done. no meds yet. So far, counseling alone has helped a lot!!!!! if you are worried about how you will be perceived, go photocopy the symptom list for PPD from Our Bodies, Ourselves, take it to your doc and say, "wow - I just saw this and it describes me really well - I need some help". My onset was actually during pregnancy, which is why I didn't recognize it as POST-partum. If you can manage it with counseling alone and no meds, do it, but I know meds have helped some people tremendously so I wouldn't totally rule that out, either. I would just be inclined to try the counseling first, unless I was having suicidal thoughts, etc..

anyway, I am feeling better - and responding to my kids a lot better now after only 1 counseling session (though I'm sure going to more!).
TiredX2
05-16-2002, 01:05 AM
So I didn't really identify the changed symptoms as "depression" since they were so much more anxiety/anger issues. I went in today and am deciding what to do.

Thanks for the help!

Kay
erika
05-16-2002, 07:20 AM
mine has also been more anxiety/anger as well.
isn't it a drag?
best wishes. I have my 2nd appointment in 90 minutes, and I can't wait!