Postpartum Progress

New Support Group in Corvallis, OR

I've updated the support group list with a new group in Corvallis, Oregon.  Check it out in the updated list attached.

Download ppd_support_groups.doc

"Down Came the Rain" Now In Paperback

Brooke Shields's book "DOWN CAME THE RAIN: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression" is now available in paperback (ISBN: 1401308465).  If you don't already have a copy, now would be the time to get one!  It's a great book to help remind you that you're not alone and no different from all the other women who go through this!

Back from New Jersey

I got back from the Postpartum Support International Conference a few days ago and have been meaning to write to let you know how it went.  It was SO GREAT to meet people face to face with whom I've been talking over the Internet.  I got to meet Wendy Davis, Benta Sims, Karen Kleiman, Sonia Murdock, Jane Honikman, Meeka Centimano, Birdie Meyer, Joan Mudd, Teresa Twomey, Virginia Williams, Kathleen Fitzgerald, Charlotte Gould and so many others I can't list them all.  These are women who are dedicated to positively impacting the identification and treatment of women with antepartum and postpartum mood disorders.  Such a gathering gives me great hope.

Unfortunately I was only able to attend one day of the conference because I didn't want to leave my infant for too long, but what I was able to attend was very interesting and I'll be sharing some of the information with all of you readers in the next several days.

The Art of Psychiatric Medication

One of the most frustrating things about getting treated for a postpartum mood disorder is the fact that you can't take one single magic pill and get better the next day.  When I first went to see my psychiatrist, I had the expectation that he would give me something that would begin working immediately.  I was pretty surprised to find out that prescribing psychiatric medication is both a science and an art.  ("You mean to tell me I have to wait two weeks to see if something will even work????!!!!!!" )

Each of us has a different brain, and thus different medications work for different people.  If I took a medication and it didn't work, or worked but had unpleasant side effects, I became concvinced that I'd simply never get better.  Of course, when you're depressed, it's easy to become convinced that you'll never get better.  Now I know that is simply not true.  You WILL get better.  You simply have to find the strength within yourself to accept that treatment is a process and expecting to get better in a week is unrealistic.  What you can expect is to get less sick over time until you get back to who you were before you got sick.  For some people that takes a couple of months, for some people longer.  However long it takes you has nothing to do with the kind of person you are -- it's just biochemistry.  I've taken many medications, including Effexor, Celexa, Seroquel, Risperdal, Wellbutrin, Luvox, Cymbalta, etc.  Throughout all of them, I was on the road to recovery.  Some just worked better than others at treating my symptoms. 

The most important thing you can do is to take charge of your health and march into your doctor armed with all of the information that physician might need to fine tune your medication.  If you're not eating, tell the truth.  If you fall asleep well, but wake a lot in the middle of the night, tell them that.  If you can't fall asleep to begin with, tell them that.  If you're having intrusive thoughts, or they've gotten worse, lay it on them.  If you feel jittery, or alternatively you feel sluggish, let them know.  If you feel like you want nothing to do with your husband or your children, don't be embarassed to say it.  Nothing you can say is going to shock them or me -- I know exactly what you're going through because I've been through it myself.  I remember I used to drive right through stop signs (with my baby in the car!) -- it's like I was in some kind of dream world and I had delayed reaction time to everything.  I made sure to mention it.  Every detail is important and you can't hold back.   In this way, you help both yourself and your doctor. 

You will find the right medication for you, and you will get better. 

Changes to Support Groups in MN and NJ

I've updated the support group list with some recent changes to groups in New Jersey and Minnesota, so if you're from either of those areas you should check out the changes.

Download ppd_support_groups.doc

Dinner and Drinks Afterwards at The Union Square Cafe

Thursday night, June 8th, I'll be having dinner with a few of you at the Union Square Cafe in Manhattan, at 21 East 16th.  Dinner is at 8:30pm. If you're not coming for dinner, then please join us later for drinks.  It will be a nice place to hang out and chat and enjoy each other's company.  All are welcome.  If you do decide to come, look for a woman with shoulder-length red hair -- it serves as a beacon to all those who are looking for me!!