Thank you for all of the support last week when I wrote about finally making the call to a therapist for help in dealing with my anxiety. It was a really tough call to make, but I know it was the right call. I think the right calls are usually the tough ones, you know?
I made a similar call in August when my dad died and I was met with a less than helpful answer. I was crushed. I felt like I was being told to choose between Emma or my mental health.
I’m talking about that experience today on Postpartum Progress as my first post as a contributing writer on the Warrior Mom Leadership Team.
My father passed away in August. As I waited for news about his arrangements, I felt the pangs of anxiety building. Knowing that I have a history of anxiety, I called the only doctor I’ve seen in 2 years–my obstetrician.
I explained to the receptionist what I was going through and that I knew I needed to get in with someone, a therapist, for treatment, but that I didn’t know where to start and the wait time would likely be too great to treat my immediate needs. I asked if they could they prescribe something to help. The nurse practitioner called me back that afternoon.
“Are you breastfeeding?”
“Yes. A few times a day. My daughter is 16 months old.”
“There’s only one medication we can give you.”
Read the rest of “Breastfeeding and Postpartum Depression: Treatment Options” at Postpartum Progress.
Congrats on your gig with Postpartum Progress. It is one of the only sites I have found that talks specifically about PPA, which I have had after both pregnancies. I didn’t address it at all after my first, but have now been seeing my psychologist for just over a year and I feel SO much better these days. I hope you start to feel more like yourself soon too.
I’m just now seeing your comment, but thank you for leaving it. PPA so often gets overlooked, mostly because it’s easy for people only to discuss PPD. I had PPA (and PPD) after Joshua and many people had no idea it was a thing.
My first appointment is in a week, so I’m on the road to recovery. 🙂