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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Susan J on September 24, 2003, at 8:47:13
Hiya,
My sis-in-law has just left my brother. Everyone always thought their marriage was perfect. My brother says she hasn't been herself since their baby was born, but that's been 2 years ago. She is definitely exhibiting signs of depression, but is it possible it's linked to giving birth, given it's been such a long time ago? My brother has begged her to go to an MD since about 6 months after she gave birth, but she refuses. I don't know why.
Thankfully, they are both going to get counseling, albeit separately. Just wondering if anyone has experience with this....
Thanks!
Susan
Posted by Dinah on September 24, 2003, at 9:10:14
In reply to Anyone Know Anything about PostPartum Depression?, posted by Susan J on September 24, 2003, at 8:47:13
Well, I had a pretty nasty bout with it. My third major bout with depression. But I went on meds about seven months later when I quit breastfeeding. And I was in therapy the whole time. It can start after birth, but it can continue on for as long as any other depression can.
I'm glad she's getting help now. And maybe it does have something to do with her actions. I know that it not only sucked the joy out of my life, but it left me with an extremely negative view of myself as a wife and mother. It would have seemed to me at the time as if I were doing my family a favor to leave them.
Posted by Susan J on September 24, 2003, at 9:34:10
In reply to Re: Anyone Know Anything about PostPartum Depression? » Susan J, posted by Dinah on September 24, 2003, at 9:10:14
Dinah,
Thank you, that's good to know.
>>but it left me with an extremely negative view of myself as a wife and mother.
<<She has never bonded with their son, not at all. Her parents were horrible. Alcoholic father left when she was 9 or so, and mother kicked her out when she was 16 because the mother's live-in boyfriend didn't want kids around. So sis-in-law has some issues, which I thought she had dealt with admirably. She has told me she accepts her mother as she is, cuz I'd personally still be *really* angry if it were me.But maybe that's not so true. Sis-in-law also said she'd be the perfect mother since her mother was horrible, so of course she has set up this impossible standard. And here she is, not really caring for her son, and probably hating herself for it.
I wish I could talk to her, tell her it's perfectly normal to feel these feelings, but that therapy/meds/medical check up would really help....but it's so raw right now, I doubt my brother would want me to talk to her.
Arrrgh. Thanks for letting me vent. My brother is devastated, as is my family. If she confronts what is bothering her and tries to fix it, I know he'd stand by her every step of the way....
Posted by noa on September 25, 2003, at 19:34:53
In reply to Re: Anyone Know Anything about PostPartum Depression? » Dinah, posted by Susan J on September 24, 2003, at 9:34:10
It can often be thyroid related. She should probably have her thyroid tested.
This is the end of the thread.
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