Do you suffer from Depression?

[gigi]

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.....