Blogs and Posts to check out for Info and Inspiration!

Sometimes when I am on a blogging binge I open a whole bunch of blogs/posts I come across via google alerts, other blogs, twitter, web-surfing, etc.  The posts stay open as tabs on a ridiculous number of Mozilla groups at the bottom of my screen for sometimes up to a week.  Today, I have at least 5 separate posts up, hopeful that I will be able to share each one of them with you.  Instead of making you wait for each one in a separate post here at Beyond Postpartum, I will simply list the links below.  Check out the ones of interest to you.

Don't Call Me Mother discusses post-adoption depression

How Massage Can Alleviate Depression

Deep South Moms: Women...who needs them?

Mindfulness helps to reduce anxiety and depression

Mary: A Role Model for Mothers

Depression and Christianity

I am often asked for resources or opinions on reconciling faith and mental health issues.  I find that the two most common questions I get from blog readers related to faith are about prescription meds (i.e. why can't I pray this hell away?) and faith and guilt associated with not being able to focus on God's blessings in the midst of deep depression and anxiety or feeling like God has abandoned them.

I have been facilitating a support group in churches for a little over a year now.  However, the group has welcomed people of all faiths.  Because of that, most of the conversations do lend themselves to a secular format.  This blog definitely has a faith bent and my individual peer support usually has one, as well (unless the woman specifically requests we not discuss faith).

Sue McRoberts's book, The Lifter of My Head is a terrific read related to surviving and recovery from PPD as a Christian. 

Here is a blog post that I published a few weeks ago from my Pastor specifically addressed to women struggling to reconcile faith and depression.

These are additional resources I just came across that I think do a nice job address depression from a Christian point of view in order to address some of the concerns we have when dealing with something as devastating as a mood disorder.

Here is a great site devoted to information and support for Christians suffering...I especially like the encouragement for those in pain and the "it's not your fault, do not feel guilty" motto here...

Christian Depression Pages

I will caution that in keeping with its conservative nature there is a bit more focus on advice specific to mild depression or being "blue."  

What should a Christian do if overwhelmed with depression?

PPD in Africa

I found the following article interesting.  I am always intrigued to read more about Perinatal Mood Disorders in other countries.  From what they are called (Postnatal Depression or PND in the UK and Austrailia) to what types of treatments are protocol in those locations, especially since research (though dated) has always seemed to assume that many countries- especially Eastern ones- seem to have lower rates of PPD.

This article, from All Africa, focuses on a Rwandan woman named Eve who was hospitalized just three days after her husband went back to work in an area away from home.

Here is another article on PPD in Africa:

New Moms in Africa Fight Postpartum Depression

Research on Postpartum Depression by University Student: Quick EPDS Survey

The following is a letter I received from a University student.  If you are currently suffering from or recovering from a PMD, please take a minute to take this survey (it's actually just the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale plus a few risk factors using Survey Monkey).

My name is Erin Listman and I am a student at Northern Virginia Community College. I will be graduating this semester, and will begin my major of Psychology at George Mason in January. As of now, I am taking a class on research methods, and have chosen postpartum depression as my area of study. I have chosen to conduct a survey examining factors of women's lives that may contribute to PPD, such as socioeconomic status, paternal satisfaction/support, number of previous births, age, and mental health history (previous diagnosis of anxiety/depression). This survey will be completely anonymous. I am asking for your support group's participation in this study. Below is a link to the survey, which includes the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (first 10 questions), and the remaining questions pertaining to the above factors.

Thank you,

Erin Listman
PPD Survey Link

OOPS! I am doing it again...

Shhhhh...don't tell.  I started another blog.  This one is for families who are looking for resources specific to Atlanta for Perinatal Mood Disorders.  Don't tell my husband, please. ;)

Close to Home

I have been dealing with/recovering from a known PMD for two years now.  Almost two years to the day ago was the worst day of my life.  Not to be dramatic, but to further explain...worse than being kidnapped (don't ask...it was a very short period of time and I wasn't injured).  worse than being abused for years by an alcoholic mother (she's been clean a long time and we have reconciled since). worse than breaking up with a first love I thought I would marry (better off with my true love now, anyway).  worse than just about anything I can imagine.  Thanksgiving 2007 was the day that I realized just. how. sick. I. was.  I couldn't get dressed.  I barely could cut my toenails so my shoes would fit.  I called my psychiatrist (yep, ON THANKSGIVING DAY) and told her I couldn't live like I was anymore.  I wanted to go into an inpatient program at a mental hospital...seriously...I was so desperate I wanted to go!

Last year's Thanksgiving was kind of uneventful, yet it was quite a great feeling I do remember to be as well as I was just one year later.  See, that November two years ago I was convinced that I was never going to get well.  Never.  My PPD was worse and different than ALL the PPD cases my psychiatrist had ever seen in her many years of practice, specializing in Perinatal Mood Disorders.  I just knew it.  She said all of her patients got better if compliant with treatment, but I mean really, how could she know for sure?  It seemed nearly impossible to me at the time that anyone could feel as bad as I felt (the emotional equivalent of "get me a priest, I need last rites").  Feeling that bad, how could I possibly get better?  I mean, seriously, people who are given 48 hours to live with cancer don't generally make a miraculous recovery and live to 100, do they?  That's how I remember feeling, though.  Like I would simply collapse and be swallowed up by the earth if I had to endure more than a couple more days of that hell.

So, you all already know who was right and who was wrong.  Thank God!  I was just too sick to see or believe the rational, research and statisic based evidence that was being presented to me.  I still needed to hear it though.  All women who are suffering need to hear it.  Even if they won't or can't or don't believe it, they need to hear it.  Over and over again.  YOU.  WILL. GET. BETTER.  Somewhere in our subconscious the "old, good, well us" is there and needs to be encouraged to come back out into this world again. 

This year and a half that I have been supporting women in Atlanta and beyond, most of whom are now Survivor Mamas, has been a mixed blessing.  It makes me sad that so many (generally 1 in 8) suffer from a PMD at all.  I wish we knew exactly how to prevent it.  But, I am so honored to be able to serve them (and God) by having the opportunity to do what I do.  This little bit that I do blesses me and I hope them a little, too.  Some of them have even become my friends in the process.  Recently, I have had my first experience with having someone I called "friend" before their PPD suffer.  While I always care deeply for the women with whom I develop a relationship through this shared burden, having an old friend of many years be overcome with a PMD and call to share their struggles is painful.  This person, this strong, competent, independant woman is scared, desperate, hopeless, guilt-ridden.  Oh Lord, why her?  Why does someone I already love have to be stricken by the anxiety, depression and obsessions?  It's just a little too close to home.  And yet, what a gift that we have each other and a relationship already formed and developed with trust and caring.  This is different.  And not all bad.  Thank you, God, for strengthening my friendship with her.  Thank you for providing a tiny diamond in the very, very rough.  You always provide.

Giving Thanks

In the spirit of this often overlooked holiday, I wanted to share with you one of the things I am most grateful for this Thanksgiving...
The people in this world who are brave enough to disregard stigma, embarrassment, humiliation, urging from their family and friends to do otherwise, and guilt, focusing on the potential to help someone else when they speak up about their depression or anxiety.  Time and time again I am overwhelmed by the number of people that in 2009 alone shared their story in the hopes that it might inspire, lift up, or educate others about mood disorders.  If you'd like to read more about just a few of them, please click their names below and you will link to an article featuring "their story."  Happy Thanksgiving!

Brooke Shields

GA Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson

 Lisa Rinna

Gina Lee Nolan

Angie Harmon

Country Singer Sammy Kershaw

Being Mindful

We've talked before on Beyond Postpartum about approaching life and especially motherhood with an attitude of living in the moment.  In that regard, a few months ago I bought and began reading Buddism for Mothers.  Though I do not practice this religion, I believe that much of this practice and mindset can be implemented into and complement Christianity.  I have read the first chapter or two and I have found some extremely helpful tips.  The one that has stuck most with me over the past weeks was the advice to be mindful of each and every sensation you are experiencing at the very moment it happens.  The heat and softness of your baby's skin as you rock him to sleep.  The way that your mattress cradles your body as you lay down at night.  The smell of the wet leaves on your lawn.  The sound of the gentle breeze blowing through your backyard.  There are so many experiences that we never even notice each and every minute.  Being mindful of exactly the way our senses are being triggered and ignited can put a whole new perspective on life, especially in the moments when we most need such a reminder.

Today, I came across two great articles speaking directly to the topic of mindfulness as it related to depression, motherhood, and life.  I hope you will read and enjoy them.

4 Quick Mindfulness Techniques

10 Quotes for a Mindful Day

Reminder about the Therapist-led PPD Group

Where: Ridgeview Institute
              3995 South Cobb Drive
              Pro North Building
              Group Room 6
              Smyrna, GA 30080
     
When:   1^st and 3^rd Thursdays of every month
             2- 3:30 p.m.
           

Who should attend: Mothers who are struggling or who have struggled with postpartum - depression, anxiety, OCD, panic and/or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

 
Group Facilitator: Jacqueline Cohen, LAPC                                

  404-822-1026

*Due to hospital policy and for the safety of your little ones, please do not bring children to group

Insomnia, and obsessions, and sadness, OH MY!

Today I came across this GREAT article at Postpartum Progress about the signs and symptoms of Postpartum Deression and related disorders.  Though I have done presentations, websites, interviews, etc. about this very topic on several occasions, the lists that I created and rattled off were more like "clinical speak" then the "plain english" Katherine uses in her post.  That's why I wanted to share it here.  She speaks it just like you are probably thinking it when you consider how you are feeling right now.

As I read through the list I realized just how many of these horrible symptoms I dealt with in my darkest hours and how thankful I am to be well now.  Some of these symptoms went away quickly once I stabilized on meds and began therapy (You can't understand why this is happening.  You are very confused and scared.).  Some of them I am still working on, though it is SO MUCH easier now (You're not having that mythical mommy bliss that you see on TV or read about in magazines.). 

Wellness has a spectrum.  It's first stop on the other side of the scale is responding positively to treatment for your PMD.  But it doesn't stop there.  Along that spectrum are a bunch of stops.  On my spectrum, I think that there are infinite stops.  Each time over the past two years I have felt like I was 100% well and fully better and where I wanted to be, the next month something changed and I felt like things actually improved some more.  That's how my motherhood journey has gone so far.  For me, the Hell of PPD was so deep, dark, lonely, scary and hopeless that any improvement made me feel like I was well.  The reality is that in hindsight I was probably only 50% or 60% "well" in those first months of my treatment and recovery.  I still had issues.  I still obsessed.  I still didn't let my baby eat fruits or veggies after Noon (that's a WHOLE other blog post about PPOCD we'll save for another day).  BUT, I was well enough.  Well enough to care for myself and my baby.  Well enough to know I wanted to begin to support other women.  Well enough to know I wanted to get even more well.

I hope your journey to wellness will be short and sweet.  I hope your treatment will be immediately and 100% effective and you won't have to spend much time on the spectrum.  I hope you find that all the symptoms on this list are old news within months of discovering you have a PMD.  BUT, if they're not, don't be surprised.  Don't be scared or sad.  You will get better.  It just may take some time.