Quote:
Originally posted by grimm@Feb 12 2005, 08:26 AM
Gigi.. Post partum depression is very real. We just dont know what causes it.. there are a couple schools of thought, a hormonal reaction (even an ellergy). High levels of certain hormones exascerbate feelings of unsurity, or inadequacy, or fear for the child. psychological realizations of the finality of the birth of a child, or feelings regarding the changes, both mentally and physically,that come with it.. there are a bunch of theories. Nobody knows for sure, but Doctor's all take it very seriously.. it is a very severe condition.. only compounded by the guilt women have felt for a long time for feeling like that after experiencing a wonderful event (in the eyes of society). wrong stigmas put on the disease, for sure.
|
Absolutely....societal pressures certainly have their place in making the depression worse due to guilt....
Are there adequate studies being done on post-natal depression? I get the idea that doctors are aware of it, but there are not enough studies out there trying to figure out why it happens. I feel like doctors just throw medication at it and hope for the best. I mean, ultimately, medications are just a bandaid, and if we can discover the root of the problem, we may be able to stop it before it starts.
I won't go into the theory that, in today's society, in general, men's dis-'ease's are tended to much quicker and more thoroughly than women's dis-'ease's....but, in this specific case, I am somewhat jaded and lean towards this idea. Especially because it is linked to mental illness. If a woman is feeling 'blue' the doc throws her some pills...if a man is 'blue', they do a bunch of tests first and try to discover the root of the problem before medicating.....