- Share This Post
- submit
- 0
-
Sparkle (0)
1. Scary Stuff
Women with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders can be very suggestible. What does that mean? It means you can hear or see something disturbing and then suddenly be convinced it relates directly to you. You can get a scary idea in your head and then not be able to get rid of it -- it can sometimes get stuck in there and endlessly terrorize you. It's best to surround yourself as much as possible with positive images so that upsetting thoughts don't get the chance to enter your mind.
Avoid horror movies and scary books. Don't watch too much news, and don't surf the internet carelessly. Be very choosy about which websites you go to and which discussion forums you join. Some "mommy websites" don't have trained moderators running their PPD forums, and you'll run into well-meaning women telling you exactly what you need to do, and not do, to get better. They don't know you and they don't know exactly what you need. Each person responds differently to treatment. Some take meds and some don't. Some have side effects and some don't. Some have a great doctor and some don't. Some get better quickly and some don't. If you spend all day comparing yourself to what women on the internet have done you can drive yourself crazy. Try to go to safer sites, where trained peer support and/or research-based information are offered, like Postpartum Support International, the Online PPD Support Group, MedEdPPD, Postpartum Progress or your state's local support organization.
2. An Overscheduled Life
Does it all need to get done right now? Really? Or is your health more important? A spotless house, empty laundry basket and dishwasher, three-course meal and five different mom and baby classes aren't necessary. The more you give yourself to do, the more you're likely to beat yourself up when you can't do it all perfectly. And trust me, you can't do it all.
3. Thought Monkeys
The fabulous blogger at Sophie in the Moonlight calls the negative thoughts that most of us with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders experience "thought monkeys". Many of us unwittingly lend a hand to our illness by accepting these negative thoughts; by telling ourselves we are bad people and defective mothers. I love how Sophie has brought this to life:
"Thought Monkeys [are] my name for those incredibly destructive, deeply internalized, mischievous thoughts that jump and screech inside my mind, demanding attention, demanding action NOW. Look at us NOW ... The Thought Monkeys even have names. In no particular order they introduce themselves as follows: "I'm Not Enough of, at or for Anything", "I'm A Big Burden"; "I'm Unlovable"; "My name is "The World Would Be Better Off Without Me" and her close cousin "I'm Not Worthy to Breathe In This Air Shared By My Friends and Family"; and my least favorite says "I'm To Blame For Every Abusive Thing That Has Ever Been Done to Me My Entire Life". Aren't they sweet? Each one is uglier than the last and they each think they are the most important one. Hateful little creatures."
Sophie challenges each thought monkey. She avoids believing they are true. She fights back with her own mind, argues with herself that these thoughts are wrong. We have to do the same. We can't contribute to and even further our suffering by accepting that these thoughts are reality. They aren't. They are part of the temporary disease.
4. Unsupportive People
It may help to temporarily avoid or limit your time with people who blame you for your illness or don't try to understand, as well as people who are judgmental or don't support your treatment and recovery path. You need positive and supportive people on your side, so spend as much time with those people as possible. And even if you don't find them among your friends and family, you will find them among the women who have been through these illnesses, so try and find a support group in your area.
5. Procrastination
Many recent studies show that both the physical and emotional health of untreated women and their children can be negatively impacted over the long term. Babies whose mothers have untreated depression during pregnancy, for instance, are twice as likely to be born prematurely.
