Amy
Amy
Once I started treatment, I could smile at my little boy
It was the winter of 1995. Colder than normal temperatures and record-breaking snowfall intensified Amy’s feeling of isolation.
She loved the baby boy she had just brought into this world. But instead of her days being filled with joy, Amy felt anxious and alone.
I was used to being in control. I was a project manager for some substantial businesses.
But you can’t be in control of an infant.
Amy’s dad had battled depression for many years in an age when doctors didn’t treat mental health issues as a medical conditions.
In her case, Amy calls the combination of social, psychological, and biological factors the “perfect storm,” as her depression continued to worsen.
There was one day I couldn’t get out of bed and pulled the sheets over my head.
I thought, “I can’t take care of this child,” and I didn’t think it was going to get better.
Her husband took Amy to the ER, but she was sent home with only a prescription for anxiety pills.
“Don’t be afraid to reach out. You can feel better. You will feel better.”
Fortunately, her father’s psychiatrist recommended a therapist who specialized in postpartum depression. Amy started on antidepressants. Her family helped out in any way they could.
Within a couple of months I felt stabilized and human again. I could engage with the world and take care of my son.
When it came time to have a second child, Amy spoke with her doctor and changed her medication to one safe for pregnancy.
Her symptoms never returned and given her family history, she has opted to remain on antidepressants.
Her oldest son is now 21 years old, studying pre-med, and her youngest is in high school, on the honors track and a talented athlete.
Postpartum depression is a condition just like any other health issue.
Don’t be afraid to reach out. You can feel better. You will feel better. And you all will thrive.
