Question:
I am 22 years old, mother of a 9 month old. I was diagnosed with high anxiety, depression and an eating disorder at 14. I have never wanted to take meds. I have always had my ups and downs but since I had my son, it feels like nothing but downs. I cannot focus, I am easily agitated with anything and everything, my hair is falling out, I get frequent migraines. A few nights ago I passed out at the store (and no I am not pregnant again). I have IBS which doesn’t help with my eating disorder. My grandmother and brother are Bi-polar/Manic Depressive, I don’t want to believe that I am too, but I don’t know what else to consider.. Any advice?
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Answer:
I am not able to say if you have a bipolar disorder. Of course, given your history it is fairly safe to say that you suffer from major depression, or, that you probably carry that diagnosis.
Hair falling out and the post partum depression that you are experiencing could be due to the huge hormonal changes taking place in your body since child birth. It is also a huge task to cope with your first born.
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What I am recommending is that you get yourself to a clinical psychologist or experienced licensed clinical social worker and get started on treatment. Besides the fact that you need that emotional support, it is also important to find out what is causing this depression and for that reason, I have an additional recommendation.
You really must see your medical doctor because the hair falling out points to physical things that could also be causing depression.
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So, see your medical doctor and get a referral to a good psychologist, or, if he thinks it necessary, to a psychiatrist, as well, in order to get started on medications.
I will say this about medications: cognitive behavioral psychotherapy works just as well as medication in relieving depression.
One last thing that you need to know but I am not telling you this to make you feel guilty but to motivate you to get help. It is this: Studies show that babies are affected by their mothers’ depression if that depression goes untreated. So, for both your sake and that of your baby, get help.
Good Luck
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