Publication
Talking about postnatal depression (reprinted 2010)
| Contents: | Introduction What is post-natal depression Understanding post-natal depression What can I do? Getting help from others Friends and relatives The future Suggestions for reading |
The future
The most important thing I'd want to tell other women is that you can leave post-natal depression behind you.
It was like coming out of a deep dark forest.
It may take a while to get over post-natal depression, but it will happen. You will probably find you begin to have more and more good days, but try not to be too let down when a bad one comes along again. Don't expect too much of yourself too soon. Remember that all women go through spells of feeling low, sometimes with no obvious cause, and don't be misled into thinking you're not making progress.
I used to warn people off when I was having a bad day so that they'd give me space and let me be.
If you're considering having another baby the thought of experiencing post-natal depression again may make you very wary. But it is possible to take steps to prevent it. This time you and those around you have experience and foresight on your side, and can watch out for warning signs.
If possible plan in advance of the baby's arrival how you can get help and support, and time to yourself. It's a good idea to avoid putting yourself under undue stress, for example by moving house, although obviously it's not always possible. Perhaps most importantly, find someone you can confide in and trust?a friend or relative, a doctor, health visitor, counsellor or someone in your self-help group.
Some doctors will advise you to follow a course of hormone treatment or anti-depressant drugs while you are pregnant as a preventive measure, but not everyone agrees that the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks. Ask yourdoctor to explain these to you so you can make up your own mind. Remember you have a right to this information.
Some women feel that the experience of post-natal depression?painful as it is?helped them to understand themselves better. Others prefer to leave it behind them and work at making up lost ground, strengthening their relationships with their children and others close to them.