Comments on: Why Are We All So Depressed? http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/09/28/why-are-we-all-so-depressed/ Parenting, Politics and News for the Perfectly Challenged Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:46:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: fern http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/09/28/why-are-we-all-so-depressed/#comment-3437 fern Sun, 01 Oct 2006 10:50:21 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/09/28/why-are-we-all-so-depressed/#comment-3437 First of all--Andrea Yates was diagnosed with post-partum psychosis. That is very different from post-partum depression which is also different from the new baby blues. Depression is much more complicated than just two kinds-hormonal shift and lifestyle changes. Lifestyle change depression is called situational depression. With treatment it can go away in a short or longer period of time and may never come back. For some, depression may take a much more serious form-- just happens, comes out of nowhere and is pervasive. This may require a lifetime of treatment (meds and therapy). And sometimes it happens to children (which can then bring it on in a parent). In this case, what may happen is that the child has depressive illness and the parent has situational depression. There is also a big difference between what some call being depressed-- as in "I'm bummed out for a few days" and having depression--as in "everything is cloudy and I am not functioning in life." Sometimes you don't know how sick you were until you are treated and it begins to get better. First of all–Andrea Yates was diagnosed with post-partum psychosis. That is very different from post-partum depression which is also different from the new baby blues.

Depression is much more complicated than just two kinds-hormonal shift and lifestyle changes. Lifestyle change depression is called situational depression. With treatment it can go away in a short or longer period of time and may never come back. For some, depression may take a much more serious form– just happens, comes out of nowhere and is pervasive. This may require a lifetime of treatment (meds and therapy). And sometimes it happens to children (which can then bring it on in a parent). In this case, what may happen is that the child has depressive illness and the parent has situational depression.

There is also a big difference between what some call being depressed– as in “I’m bummed out for a few days” and having depression–as in “everything is cloudy and I am not functioning in life.” Sometimes you don’t know how sick you were until you are treated and it begins to get better.

]]> By: Holly Schwendiman http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/09/28/why-are-we-all-so-depressed/#comment-3416 Holly Schwendiman Fri, 29 Sep 2006 18:28:39 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/09/28/why-are-we-all-so-depressed/#comment-3416 Interesting isn't it? I'm finding a lot of ties to undiagnosed attention deficit issues specific to women. I used to think this was a big easy slap-on diagnosis that was overused and an easy out, now that I've got a daughter with it I'm seeing how real it is. The fascinating thing is what they're just learning about women and the disorder - without fail, every woman that has it, although wasn't diagnosed young, has grown up to with depression issues. Until now there's been no awareness of the difference in the sexes and thus the difference in the symptoms and coping mechanisms for women with the disorder. Suffice to say they've grown up being slapped down for their inability to organize, finish tasks, etc., etc., etc. No wonder so many are depressed. The one time the disorder comes to light with hormone shifts we brush it off as moody teen girls, moody PMS women or heaven forbid "the change". LOL More we don't know than we do I suspect. ;o) Hugs, Holly <a href="http://www.hollyscorner.com" rel="nofollow">Holly's Corner</a> Interesting isn’t it? I’m finding a lot of ties to undiagnosed attention deficit issues specific to women. I used to think this was a big easy slap-on diagnosis that was overused and an easy out, now that I’ve got a daughter with it I’m seeing how real it is. The fascinating thing is what they’re just learning about women and the disorder - without fail, every woman that has it, although wasn’t diagnosed young, has grown up to with depression issues. Until now there’s been no awareness of the difference in the sexes and thus the difference in the symptoms and coping mechanisms for women with the disorder. Suffice to say they’ve grown up being slapped down for their inability to organize, finish tasks, etc., etc., etc. No wonder so many are depressed. The one time the disorder comes to light with hormone shifts we brush it off as moody teen girls, moody PMS women or heaven forbid “the change”. LOL More we don’t know than we do I suspect. ;o)

Hugs,
Holly
Holly’s Corner

]]> By: Jessica Carlson http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/09/28/why-are-we-all-so-depressed/#comment-3411 Jessica Carlson Fri, 29 Sep 2006 12:00:34 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/09/28/why-are-we-all-so-depressed/#comment-3411 I think there are two kinds of post-partum depression, one is a hormonal shift and the other is classic depression brought on by sudden lifestyle changes. Having a new baby is much like uprooting and moving to the North Pole. What I don't believe to be post-partum depression is what Andrea Yates was supposedly diagnosed with after she murdered her children. She was psychotic, deranged and chemically imbalanced. Post partum depression does not make you kill your kids. You might have a fleeting moment where you kid yourself (but aren't serious), but to actually act upon is a serious, serious disease and I'm kinda pissed that it has been lumped into post-partum depression. PPD is different than being deranged or ill before you even have kids. I think there are two kinds of post-partum depression, one is a hormonal shift and the other is classic depression brought on by sudden lifestyle changes. Having a new baby is much like uprooting and moving to the North Pole.

What I don’t believe to be post-partum depression is what Andrea Yates was supposedly diagnosed with after she murdered her children. She was psychotic, deranged and chemically imbalanced. Post partum depression does not make you kill your kids. You might have a fleeting moment where you kid yourself (but aren’t serious), but to actually act upon is a serious, serious disease and I’m kinda pissed that it has been lumped into post-partum depression. PPD is different than being deranged or ill before you even have kids.

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