Thanks for coming back to the second part of my thoughts on postpartum depression and medication.  If you missed the first part, you can find it by clicking here.

Extreme Views About Medication

Some people would like to make psychotropic medication out to be evil incarnate.  I am telling you as a practicing therapist and a mom who couldn’t see the light much of the time for three and a half years – medication can be a huge factor in a depressed mom’s recovery.  It can make ALL the difference.

It can pull her out of the hole so she can begin feeling functional again and rebuilding her life.  I have rare moments in my life that can top the joy and hope I felt when I absolutely knew I wasn’t going to dip down in the pit of hell again with my PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) for the upcoming month.  It was pure elation.

Pure Joy From Reconnecting With Myself

That hope and joy fueled me to really start enjoying my life again.  I was never suicidal or ever thought of hurting my kids, but I was an empty shell.  I felt like an alien in my own skin.  I had a great life before my depression, and great people and things going on around me during my depression.  I didn’t feel like I was in my own life at times.  I felt like my true self was slowly disappearing inside me.

When I finally felt like myself again, I knew deep down that I would make a complete recovery.  It wasn’t some “high” from a happy pill giving me fake euphoria or some nonsense like that.  It was the reconnection with myself that made me so joyous.  I knew me and I knew I was going to be back.

Medication Is A Valid Choice For Depressed Mothers

Medication is a choice that all depressed mothers and women should have the option to consider.  If you think you are experiencing postpartum depression or premenstrual dysphoric disorder, get help right away.  You may or may not choose to use medication, or even need it.  But at least ask some questions in case your doctor suggests it or you think it might help.  Many people are eternally grateful to have gotten psychotropic medication that literally saved their lives.

Don’t listen to people with extreme viewpoints that want to shut down your options.  Find a doctor you trust and who truly understands your best interests.  Your needs are unique.  Make the best choices for you and your ability to live your life well.

photo credit: pixelpyro

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  Ginger at 12:10 pm on August 25th, 2010

Extreme viewpoints simply come as a result of extreme adverse reactions which really do happen and which you fail to mention.

Informed choice can only be truly informed if you actually know the spectrum of things that can happen on a medication.

You experienced medication as extremely helpful….good for you.

Some people get worse when they take antidepressants and in the worst scenario the doctors add more of the offending drug that cause a spiral effect…and utter chaos in some women’s lives.

This does NOT happen to everyone…but being aware of the phenomena allows one to take meds more safely and to actually be informed of the chance of such a thing happening.

Your position in not even mentioning potential serious and life-threatening adverse reactions is just as unsafe…and leads toward a less informed woman.

  Erika Krull, MS, LMHP at 12:27 pm on August 25th, 2010

Ginger,

Thanks for your comment. My intent is promote good health consumership, and to get all your questions answered. I thought I was clear that I advocate making an informed choice by and asking plenty of questions, making the best choice for you and your concerns. But perhaps I wasn’t as clear as I had thought I was. I apologize if you felt I was not seeming to understand that things can go wrong with meds. There was no reckless intent to leave out the possibility that things can go wrong.

Of course they can, and that’s why we all hear so many warnings after TV ads for medications now. Granted, there are risks with any medication a person might use. This includes more widely accepted meds for heart conditions, blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, and so on. Talking to a doctor you trust and asking questions is what I promote, and that would include finding out any risks.

What I dislike, and what I am primarily writing about, is people making blanket statements about medications being the wrong idea for *everyone*. You make an excellent point about being fully informed about all the pros and cons. As you have said, this approach will allow you to take meds more safely understanding the full spectrum of potential risk vs potential benefit.

I’m glad you highlighted this important part of the conversation about postpartum depression treatment.

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“Postpartum Depression – The Question of Medication, Part Two”

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    Last reviewed: 25 Aug 2010