First off… I had my daughter in May. I am married. And, I am 18 years old. DO NOT JUDGE ME PLEASE!
I’m gonna list some things and you tell me if you think I have postpartum depression:
- easily (and I mean EASILY) frustrated and irritated. The littlest thing triggers me and I just yell and scream.
- I am overly jealous of pregnant people or just happy people in general. If it’s not me, my hubby, and my daughter… I don’t want people close to me to be happy. (I don’t choose to be this way. I really wanna be happy for people!)
- I cry about everything. It sucks.
- I have somewhat of a sleeping problem. I have to stay up late. Idk why. And, I sleep all day for like 10 hours, sometimes more! And, now my daughter has her days and nights mixed up still. It’s all my fault.
- My daughter has neck torticollis (her head tilts to the side). Now she has to wear a neck brace a few times a day and go to physical therapy once a week. And, I have to call an orthapedic doctor and they might wanna give her a shot of botox in her neck to relax the muscles or she might have to wear a huge helmet neck brace. Honestly, I FEEL SO GUILTY FOR THIS. I CRY ALL THE TIME. Just ughhh. I feel like a bad mom and it’s all my fault. 
- I am always mean. I can’t help it. I’m trying to be better. I REALLY AM! I am constantly causing fights between me and my hubby. It’s pulling us apart. I feel so bad.
- I have a breakdown at least once a week. A HUGE BREAKDOWN!
Now, I DO NOT HAVE THOUGHTS OF DEATH OR SUICIDE.
My hubby thinks I need to see my doctor. I’m scared and don’t wanna. Idk what she will do or think. I don’t want her to judge. I don’t wanna go to a mental institution. I don’t want people to think I’m crazy! I don’t want social services checking up to make sure I don’t hurt my daughter. Bc I don’t think about doing that!
What will she do? What do I say? I’m scared!
Thank you and I’m sorry it’s so long!
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I think you should talk to your Dr.
Your Dr wont judge.. many women suffer from depression after having a baby.. its a big change in your life for one thing.. and also the hormonal changes make you emotional. Its a common issue. Your Dr isnt there to judge, your Dr is there to help you.
You will NOT be put into a mental institution. Mental institutions are for those who may be a hazard to themselves or others. Having an irregular sleeping pattern and being unhappy is not a reason for you to be put into an institution.
Social services will not be checking up. Unless your Dr, or your pediatrician suspects some kind of abuse/neglect and reports it.. they have no reason to be checking up. Just because you seek help does not give your Dr enough reason to suspect a problem either.
See a Dr, tell her what you are going thru.. sometimes it just helps to have someone to talk to about what you are feeling. The Dr can help suggest ways to cope, and may even prescribe some medication to help, such as an antidepressent, or a sleep aide.
Hon, do seek help.. things wont get better on their own.. things may even get worse if they continue. Seek help before things get worse.
going to a doctor or psychiatrist to ask for help will take away the chance that social services will be involved NOT create it!
You sound overwhelmed and thats okay. it happens often.
Just say what you feel, i always felt uncomfortable around psychiatrist also, you might need to try that or some medication to get you thoughts in control while your body adjusts to your post-pardum hormones… they will, by the way, adjust naturally. But right now you need to get healthy for yourself and your daughter!
I know you wrote this because you do want to be a good mom! If you need help that is okay!
I have no children, so I don’t know much about postpartum depression but I do know depression. You sound as if you are depressed, and I know that postpartum is a form of depression which affects nearly 80% of all newly pregnant women.
If it is postpartum that you are experiencing, know that you are not alone. A doctor will want to know that you are experiencing these problems because he or she does have the ability to prescribe things that will help you. There are several prescriptions (if you are willing to try them) which will give you relief from your problems without making you a zombie or robbing you from your ability to parent and live life normally.
The type of person that a child services case worker would be interested in checking up on, is the person who does not seek help for the issues that you are having.
It is natural that your husband should want you to talk with a professional about your problem. I think that if you were on the outside looking in, it would be an obvious choice to you as well.
Please, for the sake of yourself and those in your life, just go speak to someone about it. You will be grateful you did.
*Things are not nearly as bad as you build them up to be*
Please also take a look at the website I have referenced. There is some good advice within.
Your doctor WILL NOT JUDGE YOU, but can help you feel better. If your happier it will benifit your baby and that is most important.
As a stranger and seeing what you typed, I do not think you are crazy in the least bit. I think you should see a doc. Everything between the doc and you is confidential unless you say you are going to hurt someone or yourself. Docs’ are professionals. They have years of training and can, for the most part, tell if someone needs in patient help. As far as I see, you don’t but, I am not a professional. You shouldn;t have to live your life like that. Go get some help. And please don’t be sorry. If Yahoo minded long details they wouldn’t allow you to put that many characters. This site is designed to ask questions and sometimes questions need some details and their gonna get lengthy. I wish you luck and hope you find the help you need.
Your hubby is right, you need to see your doctor.
The previous person to answer already said it all. So I will just include some resources for you and your husband. See the links below:
Sweetheart, the doctor will not judge you. You sound like you need some help and carrying on like this is not good for you or you’re family. Please go to see a doctor, maybe your hubby could go too. No one will lock you up or put you in an institution, or I can assure you, I would be there too! It does sound like post part. depression, so just explain what you explained above to your doctor…in fact print it out and take it with you, and you will get help. Good luck honey, don’t despair.
Oh dear. Huge hug.
It’s not your fault. You are not a bad mum.
Your husband is right. You need to see the doctor. What will she think? That you have a problem and need help. It’s really, REALLY common, and there are things she can do to help, whether it’s medication to help get your hormones back where they should be or just extra support while your body does it for itself. And you are NOT crazy. Your brain is part of your body just like any other. It doesn’t work so well when it’s swimming in hormones which shouldn’t be there. You need to get rid of them.
Trying to get better? It wouldn’t work if you’d broken your leg, why do you expect it to work when it’s your hormones that are affected?
Please, go see her and get the medical help you need. Get your husband to take you, or a friend, if you feel like you can’t go on your own.
Your question and answers that were given were really helpful to me as well. It seems we have the same problems. My husband made the comment that he was going to make me an appointment to see a doctor today. I blew him off. I told him I was only mad because of him, work, our neighbors and the fact that we are a military family and my family lives so far away and has not yet gotten to see our baby girl.
I think though that after reading your question and seeing your answers I will tell him when he gets off of work in the morning that I will go.
Thank you for this. I hope things work out well for you. And don’t think people will judge cause you are a married women with a kid at a young age. I was married once before at 18 for only 3 months. And now I am going on 20 and I am married for the second time. To obviously a better man but still.
It does sound like Postnatal depression, but only a doctor can diagnose you. You need to go see your doctor for the sake of your daughter. If you are feeling this way and not willing to get help for it then you do not have your daughters best interests in mind. It is very hard for a mother with untreated PND to give their baby the type of care they need and deserve. Do this for your daughter.
Postpartum depression is very normal. My doctor told me all about it after I had my baby. You should talk to your doctor about it. He wont judge you I promise. Many women go through it. Your doctor will talk you through it and most likely give you medicine to help. Please don’t feel guilty its not your fault.
Talk To Your Doctor Darling.
Honestly No One Will Judge You.
Women Have Had It Worse.
I Know Someone That Was Depressed And She Used To Hit Her Daughter If She Wouldnt Settle And Go To Sleep When She Wanted Her To.
Your Not A Bad Mother.
At Least You Want Help
Explain To Your Hubby That You Dont Wanna Argue With Him, And That You Wanna Get Better, But You Will Only Get Better With Proffecinal Help. ie Dr.
Good Luck Babe xx