Patti, I'm so sorry to hear that you and your family suffered in such a big way from PPD. How awful, and not to mention frustrating to know that you had PPD but didn't realize it. Please don't torture yourself with the "what if's." I've been there myself and it can totally drive you nuts. Somehow I reached the point where I was more forgiving of myself and realized that I did the best I could at the time.
Do you feel like PPD is completely behind you? Do you still struggle with it from time to time? PPD, when not treated, can hang on for many years and sometimes develop into chronic depression.
I've heard from a lot of women who, even today, are suffering because we still have so much work to do to spread awareness of perinatal mood disorders. I've written quite a bit about PPD since I experienced it as well and wish that we could put an end to the suffering. I had PPD back in 1996, and up until I was finally diagnosed, I'd never heard of it. For several years now, I've been trying to help various PPD organizations and experts spread the word about its potential devastation to women and their families. And about how it's so easily treatable as well as preventable.
There is current legislation before the US Senate that, if passed, will do wonders to improve the care and PPD education that new mothers receive. If you'd like to help get the bill passed, here is some info on it that was written by Susan Dowd Stone, a nationally-renowned PPD expert and women's health advocate who writes for EmpowHer: https://www.empowher.com/news/herarticle/2009/03/31/melanie-blocker-stokes-mothers-act-passes-house
You can also find some of my PPD articles by clicking on the below link:
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Patti, I'm so sorry to hear that you and your family suffered in such a big way from PPD. How awful, and not to mention frustrating to know that you had PPD but didn't realize it. Please don't torture yourself with the "what if's." I've been there myself and it can totally drive you nuts. Somehow I reached the point where I was more forgiving of myself and realized that I did the best I could at the time.
Do you feel like PPD is completely behind you? Do you still struggle with it from time to time? PPD, when not treated, can hang on for many years and sometimes develop into chronic depression.
I've heard from a lot of women who, even today, are suffering because we still have so much work to do to spread awareness of perinatal mood disorders. I've written quite a bit about PPD since I experienced it as well and wish that we could put an end to the suffering. I had PPD back in 1996, and up until I was finally diagnosed, I'd never heard of it. For several years now, I've been trying to help various PPD organizations and experts spread the word about its potential devastation to women and their families. And about how it's so easily treatable as well as preventable.
There is current legislation before the US Senate that, if passed, will do wonders to improve the care and PPD education that new mothers receive. If you'd like to help get the bill passed, here is some info on it that was written by Susan Dowd Stone, a nationally-renowned PPD expert and women's health advocate who writes for EmpowHer: https://www.empowher.com/news/herarticle/2009/03/31/melanie-blocker-stokes-mothers-act-passes-house
You can also find some of my PPD articles by clicking on the below link:
https://www.empowher.com/search/google?cx=001740413268797642882%3Axdyajny4mzk&cof=FORID%3A11&query=Kristin+Davis%2C+PPD&op=GO&form_build_id=form-53253113da48cfc176ccab880bbcbb87&form_token=d5302685f9d6569ebaa6f7b886454858&form_id=google_cse_searchbox_form
Please let me know how you're doing and if life has gotten easier for you and your family.
Kristin
April 30, 2009 - 10:41pmThis Comment
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