Postpartum Depression For Dummies »

Shoshana S. Bennett, PhD, is a noted guest lecturer who has been featured on national television shows including ABC's 20/20. She is also host of the online talk show "Health Matters" at WorldTalkRadio.com.

It's a great blessing when a new mom with postpartum depression (PPD) is fortunate enough to be diagnosed early by a knowledgeable medical practitioner or therapist. But without guidance, it isn't always clear where the boundary between normal baby blues and PPD lies. As with any other illness, the quicker that PPD is identified and treated, the faster the woman will recover.

Postpartum Depression For Dummies can help you begin the process of determining what’s going on with you and give you a better idea of where you fall so that you can get yourself into proper treatment right away. The book covers all aspects of PPD, from its history and its origins to its effects on women and their families to the wide variety of treatments available—including conventional Western medicine, psychological therapy, alternative medical treatments, and self-care measures. Postpartum Depression For Dummies reveals:

• Why some doctors may be hush-hush about PPD

• How to distinguish between pregnancy hormone changes, "baby blues," and PPD

• The difficulties of getting a proper diagnosis

• The role and importance of a therapist

• The benefits of medication for depression

• Alternative treatments with  a successful track record

• How to find the right balance of psychological, medical, and alternative treatment

• Ways you can help foster recovery

• The nutrition you need to care for yourself properly

• How to help your partner help you

Postpartum Depression For Dummies also provides the additional resources you need—web sites, organizations, and furtherreading—to help avoid the unnecessary suffering caused by undiagnosed and untreated PPD and survive and thrive as a new mom.

Foreword     xix
Introduction     1
About This Book     1
Conventions Used in This Book     2
What You're Not to Read     3
Foolish Assumptions     3
How This Book Is Organized     4
Bringing Postpartum Depression into the Light: What It's All About     4
The Three Little Letters: PPD and You     4
Diagnosis Confirmed: Looking at the Treatment Options for PPD     4
Traveling the Road to Recovery     5
Moving Beyond PPD     5
The Part of Tens     5
Icons Used In This Book     5
Where to Go from Here     6
Bringing Postpartum Depression into the Light: What It's All About     7
The Big Adjustment: Welcome to Motherhood     9
The Reality of Motherhood: Let Bootie Camp Begin!     10
The Reality of Postpartum Depression (PPD)     12
Debunking Denial: A Glimpse from Yours Truly     14
Denial's more than a river in Egypt     15
Why some doctors may be hush-hush about PPD     18
When Depression Begins in Pregnancy     19
Distinguishing between pregnancy hormone changes and PPD     20
Understanding the urgency of getting help at thisstage     21
A Brief Overview of Treating and Recovering from PPD     22
Timing is everything, so begin your treatment now     22
Knowing your three main treatment options     24
Fostering recovery on your own     25
Before You Begin, Take Some Hope for the Journey     26
These Ain't No Baby Blues: PPD, Up Close and Personal     27
Baby Blues: Cute Name for a Crummy Time     28
What the lighter side looks like     28
Getting support     29
When the Misty Blues Turn to Darker Hues     30
Distinguishing between baby blues and PPD     30
Identifying the symptoms of PPD     32
Understanding the risk factors     33
Considering Special Situations Where PPD May Be on the Horizon     35
If Baby is seriously ill     36
If Baby passes on     37
If babies come in pairs (or more)     38
If you're a teenage mom     38
Extending beyond Biological Moms: PPD in Dads and Adoptive Moms     39
Letting go of preconceptions: Dads with PPD     39
Feeling the weight without the labor: Adoptive moms     40
You Mean There's More? Five Related Postpartum Disorders     41
Penciling in Some Lines: A Quick Comparison of Mood Disorders     41
When Fear Strikes: Panic Disorder     43
Searching for the root of an attack     44
Calming your panic     44
Helping others help you     46
Facing the Aftermath: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder     46
Reducing post-traumatic stress     48
Helping others help you     49
Breaking the Cycle: Handling Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)     50
The obsessive side of OCD     52
The compulsive side of OCD     54
Putting OCD to bed     54
Helping others help you     56
Riding the Emotional See-Saw: Bipolar Disorder     57
Balancing the scales of bipolar disorder     58
Helping others help you     59
Immediate Attention Needed: Psychosis     60
Combating psychosis     61
Warning your loved ones     62
The Three Little Letters: PPD and You     63
Looking Within: Is PPD Your Big Bad Wolf?     65
Facing the Beast Head-On: Tuning In to Your Emotions     65
Minding Your Mentality: A Look at Self-Talk and Dark Thoughts     68
Hearing what you say to yourself     68
Recognizing the difference between fantasies and reality: A word about suicide     70
Watching for Warning Signs of the Physical Kind     72
Evaluating Your Postpartum Slump     73
A Professional Assessment: What's Huffing and Puffing at Your Mind's Door?     77
The Difficulties of the Diagnosis     78
Taking a Pre-Assessment: The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale     78
Answering a handful of questions     79
Discussing your pre-assessment with a professional     83
Receiving a Competent Professional Assessment     83
Making sure your doctor has proper PPD training     83
Going another round to establish a diagnosis     84
Reacting to Your Diagnosis     86
Seeking Out a Therapist to Keep Your Proverbial House Standing     89
Understanding the Role and Importance of a Therapist     90
Finding the Motivation to Go to Therapy: Demolishing Mental Blockades     92
In the beginning: Contemplating therapy     92
Confronting fear of the "therapy" label     93
Knowing that therapy doesn't mean you're weak     93
Revisiting previous bad experiences with therapy     94
Gracefully accepting your need for help     94
Understanding your partner's reaction      95
Talking yourself into, not out of, therapy     95
Seeking Help When You Suspect You Have PPD     96
Finding the Right Therapist for You     97
Knowing what to look for in a therapist     97
The gender bender: The equal weights of Mars and Venus     99
Choosing a Licensed Therapist     99
Sorting through the assortment of therapists     99
Other potentially helpful professionals     101
Paying for Therapy: Don't Shortchange Yourself     102
Locating a Therapist or Counselor     103
Assessing the Therapist You've Chosen     104
Diagnosis Confirmed: Looking at the Treatment Options for PPD     107
Venting Your Mind and Heart: Psychological Treatment     109
Knowing What to Expect From Therapy     109
The first point to remember: Keep your expectations realistic     110
Partnering with your therapist     110
The mechanics of therapy: Where, when, and how long     112
Grasping the length of the therapeutic process     113
Deciding when to show or when to go     113
Making the Most of Therapy     115
Assessing your needs     115
Putting out the fire before rewiring the house     116
Developing a wellness plan     118
Letting the nature of therapy take its course     120
Ending Therapy and Staying Healthy     122
Attending Groups     122
Counteracting a Chemical Cause: Medical Treatments     125
Recognizing the Benefits of Medication on Depression     126
Who You Gonna Call? A Psychiatrist, That's Who     127
Understanding why a psychiatrist is essential     127
Knowing where to go if you can't get to a psychiatrist     129
Addressing Concerns about Taking Prescribed Meds     129
The most common general worries     129
"Is taking meds while nursing safe?"     131
"How do I know I'm not dealing with a thyroid problem?"     132
Specific Types of Medical Treatments for PPD     133
Antidepressants     133
Antianxiety meds     134
Sleep aids     135
Mood stabilizers     136
Antipsychotic meds     136
Electroconvulsive therapy     136
Understanding the Fact that Finding the Right Med(s) is a Process     137
Identifying the important health-related differences among women     138
Staying the course after you receive a prescription     139
Side Effects: You Can't Always Get Just What You Want     140
Knowing When to Begin Med Therapy     141
All Things Natural: Alternative Treatments     143
Introducing the World of Alternative Treatments     144
Looking back on the rise of alternative treatments     144
Sorting out basic treatment-type terminology     145
Combating the negative stigma of the alternative route     147
Alternative Treatments that Make the Cut for Their Success     148
Energy work     149
Exercise     150
Guided imagery     150
Light therapy     151
Massage     151
Meditation     151
Omega-3 fatty acids     152
SAMe     152
Alternative Treatments that May Add a Bit of Benefit     152
Acupuncture     152
Applied kinesiology     153
Ayurveda     154
Chiropractic therapy     154
Herbs     154
Homeopathy     156
Hormones     157
Hypnotherapy     157
Reflexology     158
Yoga     158
Administering Alternative Treatments: You and a Pro     158
Who's who in the name game      158
Searching for Other Alternative Treatments: Be on Guard!     161
Creating a Comprehensive Treatment Plan     163
The Three Components: Finding the Right Balance for You     164
Conventional Therapy or Alternative? A Quick Comparison     165
Coordinating the Plan     168
Letting a good doc guide the way     168
Meeting with a psychiatrist     169
Working with two therapists     169
Doing a bit of research     170
Making sure you're on the same page as your doc     173
Reacting to a doctor who stands her ground     174
Adding Professionals to Your Treatment Team     174
Getting Your Team Members to Huddle     176
As You Go through Treatment     177
Determining what's working     177
Knowing when it's time to try something else     178
Ah, the Good Stuff: Dealing with Insurance     179
Putting a price on happiness     179
Making the grade: Understanding the "in-network" mumbo-jumbo     180
Traveling the Road to Recovery     181
Getting the Most Out of Your Treatment     183
Recognizing the Stages of Recovery     183
Accepting PPD as a force to be reckoned with      184
Fear: Feeling the weight of self-doubt     186
Impatience: Wanting to shove Father (or Mother) Time forward     187
Glimmers of light: Experiencing moments of feeling good again     188
Recognizing the old you     189
Keeping the Faith: Ways to Foster Recovery     190
Staying in the present     190
Charting your progress to see success     192
Being kind to yourself     193
Loving your body (and respecting yourself, too)     195
Celebrating your successes     196
Playing your part in your treatment team     197
Setting the Supermom Cape Aside: Caring For Yourself     199
Eat and Drink Your Heart Out, Baby! (The Healthy Way, of Course)     200
Boosting your mood with food     200
Hydrating your brain     202
Taking nutritional supplements     202
Making Sure You Get Some Winks     204
Starting with the ideal plan     205
Making do with whatcha' got     205
Working through the challenges     207
Shakin' It for Your Love     208
Taking Regular Breaks     209
Avoiding burnout     209
Figuring out what to do with yourself      210
Staying Social     211
Cocooning versus unhealthy isolation     211
Confiding in people you're comfortable with     212
Creating a Positive Ambience     213
Muffling the noise     213
Getting away from cabin fever (without leaving the house!)     213
Soaking in some vitamin D     214
Trading the rags for britches     214
Shutting off the boob (tube)     215
Reading airy fluff, not serious stuff     215
Giving Yourself Permission to Set Limits     215
Reaching out and asking for assistance     216
Accepting help when it's offered     217
Structuring Your Day     218
Making lists     218
Setting yourself up for success     220
Knowing It's Okay to Lighten Your Load     220
Deciding whether to take it on     221
Slacking for the good of your health     222
Coping with Your Feelings     223
Learning to Ride the Waves     223
Facing Your Feelings Head On     224
Throwing a party for yourself! A pity party, that is     224
Releasing your perfect pictures     226
Letting your worries float away      227
Boosting Your Self-Esteem     230
Assessing your self-esteem     231
Improving your self-esteem     232
Knowing What You Can and Can't Control     234
Coming to terms with the truth     234
Relinquishing the reins to your partner     235
Responding to Others Honestly (But Appropriately!)     236
Taking a timeout when you feel snippy     237
Dealing with comments that put you on the defensive     238
Forcing Yourself to Laugh     240
Finding Somebod(ies) to Lean On     241
Emerging from under the Sheets     242
Accepting the fact that you need a support circle     242
Deciding whom to tell     243
Diversifying Your Support Team     244
Your partner     244
Home sweet home: The core of your support     245
Extending the innermost circle     246
Increasing the circumference to outside communities     248
Explaining Your Depression to Others     252
Adapting your info according to the listener     252
Getting personal with other adults     253
Giving the gist to older kids     254
Finding a Healthy Balance between Support and Self-Sufficiency      256
Helping Your Partner Help You     257
Understanding Your Partner's Role in the Battle     258
Dealing with Your Partner When You Want to Be Left Alone     259
Kindly explaining your need for solace     260
Keeping your cool     261
Minding your partner's need for space     262
Communicating Effectively on a Regular Basis     262
Listening, not just hearing     263
Scheduling regular debriefing sessions     263
Telling your partner what you need (without making him guess or making him wrong)     264
Maintaining sensitivity in your speech     265
Seeing a Therapist Together: Benefiting from an Extra Set of Brains     266
Getting Support when Friends and Family Make You Feel Worse     268
Sharing Responsibilities     269
Having a business meeting     269
Splitting household chores for now and always     270
Handling money matters     271
Watering Your Relationship and Letting It Grow     272
Continuing the dating stage     272
Enjoying Mars and Venus: Sex (for him) and intimacy (for you)     273
Showing love to your partner even when you feel empty     276
Helping the One You Love: A Chapter for Family, Friends, and Partners     277
Reacting in a Healthy, Helpful Way     278
Showing your understanding and unconditional support     278
Acknowledging your difficult feelings     279
Keeping your lips sealed     279
Getting Information if Depression Is Foreign to You     280
Thickening Your Skin: Not Taking Things Personally     282
The negative actions or reactions aren't about you!     282
You aren't the trigger (or the fixer) of your loved one's PPD     282
Caring for Yourself     283
...To benefit her     284
...To benefit you     284
Keeping Kindness in Your Countenance     285
Continually caring even when you're frustrated     285
Holding closely the virtue of patience     286
Radiating optimism and hope     287
Putting Your Love into Action     288
Listening without trying to fix her (or her problems)     288
Providing the partner support she needs     289
Lending a helping hand     291
Encouraging healthy habits     292
Referring her to helpful resources     293
When PPD Escalates: Recognizing the Warning Signs of Suicide     294
Practicing Sensitivity: Knowing What's Okay and Not Okay to Say     295
Leaving constructive criticism by the wayside     295
Lauding her efforts     296
Keeping her stress under wraps     296
Steering clear of mentioning her shortfalls     296
Making her sure of your loyalty     298
Moving Beyond PPD     299
Delight at the End of the Tunnel: Emerging with a New Sense of Self     301
Looking Back: Build Yourself Up, Buttercup     302
Remembering the past: The healing gift that lasts     302
Congratulating yourself for pressing on the journey of healing     304
Completing and "anchoring in" the healing process     306
Taking Back the Reigns     308
Setting realistic goals     308
Making decisions again     309
Taking over tasks     310
Feeling Like Yourself...Or Even Better     311
Deciding Whether to Have Another Baby     313
First Things First: Assessing Your Intentions     314
Making an Informed Decision, Sans Fear     315
Sizing up your risk of getting PPD again     315
Knowing the truth about PPD and postpartum psychosis     317
Planning Ahead if You Decide to Pass Go     318
Arming yourself early on     319
Surveying the elements of a postpartum plan     320
Putting your plan on paper     320
Undergoing professional consultations     324
Considering an antidepressant as a preventive means     325
Trusting Your Decisions     327
The Part of Tens     329
Ten Common Fantasies about Motherhood     331
This Should Be the Happiest Time in My Life     331
I Should Be Able to Do Everything Myself     332
I Shouldn't Need Breaks     332
My Life Won't Change That Much     333
My Needs Shouldn't Matter     333
Bonding Happens Immediately at Birth     334
Breastfeeding Is Natural, So It Should Come Easily     335
Mothering Is Instinctual     335
I Should Feel Satisfied Being a Stay-at-Home Mom     336
My Baby Will Be My Companion     336
Ten Thoughts to Focus on Throughout the Day     337
PPD Is an Illness, Not a Weakness     337
Seeking Help is Courageous     337
I'm a Good Mom     338
PPD is Temporary - I Will Recover     338
It's Important That I Take Care of Myself     338
I'm Doing the Best I Can      339
I'm Practicing Love toward Myself     339
I'm Surrounding Myself with Positives     340
PPD Isn't My Fault     340
I'm Not Alone     340
Resources     341
Web Sites     341
Information     341
Support resources     342
Support Numbers     343
International Organizations     343
Postpartum Support International     344
Marce Society     344
North American Society for Psychosocial Obstetrics and Gynecology (NASPOG)     344
Further Reading     345
Index     347