Replies to 'Dealing with Postpartum Depression'

I suffered from PPD after the birth of my first son. That was 31 years ago. After the first two years I ended up hospitalized in a very severe depression and became totally dysfunctional. I continued to suffer with anxiety and depression over the next 30 years. It's so hard to give advice because I know the difficulties your wife is dealing with and I also understand what it's doing to you. It might help to know that she did not choose this. Her body sufferes from chemical imbalances and I'm sure she would rather live a different way. As a general rule 99% of the time when a depression lasts that long there's more going on than just PPD. It would be a good idea to have her tested for a mood disorder or other type of disorder as well. After 30 years on medications for my disorder I have found some very nice holistic remedies. The up and coming trends are Craniosacral healing, Reikki, Mind & Body therapies and accupuncture is wonderful too! I am currently medication free and holding my own with the help of alternative healing. Some of the depression mediations will cause sexual side affects, not to mention that depression itself causes low sex drive. It can take many different types of programs to pull it all together. No one therapy is the solution to it all. They all have there benefits. She needs to seek out and bring into her life as many support systems as possible. It's a lot of work and if you can support her that would be wonderful. It takes a very loving and understanding person to help someone through this. Your the only who knows if it's something you can handle or not. I won't lie, it's not easy and I can certainly understand your frustration. You need your own support system as well. Believe me seek out as many programs and support groups as you can. One of them is going to turn this around for both of you.