I planned to tell you that a PPD segment was going to air this Friday on FOX so you could be ready to watch, but unfortunately it got moved up to this morning, so I missed it and you may have too. Anyway, it appeared on the nationally syndicated "Morning Show with Mike and Juliet."
The interview featured Melissa Noga, a mom who experienced postpartum anxiety, Dr. Meg Spinelli, Peter Breggin and PSI President Susan Stone. You can, and SHOULD, watch the whole thing here. Melissa was great, Dr. Stone was great, Dr. Spinelli was great, and Peter Breggin was a real ass. He made the whole thing an argument about the "needless use of medication" and said that there was no evidence that antidepressants were related to hormones.
I'M EVIDENCE, SIR.
I and thousands of other women like me are evidence that, when in postpartum crisis, antidepressants can save lives and restore families. May I point out that no one in the PPD arena has ever said that:
1. Every woman who suffers a postpartum mood disorder should take medication; or
2. Every woman who takes medication should remain on it forever.
I don't know where these people come up with this stuff. Most PPMD advocates, myself included, support whatever works, be it exercise, supplements, medication, therapy or a combination of all of the above. What they do say is that women need to get themselves out of the crisis, and if it's meds that do that, then fine. I used meds, and yes it took me several to find the one that worked for me, but once it did it was GREAT. I'm proud of the choices I made. I wouldn't change them for a second. How dare he or anyone else question me, and try to make me feel ashamed of my choice.
Ladies, please listen to people like Meg Spinelli and Susan Stone and Shoshanna Bennett and others who have specifically treated hundreds and hundreds of women with postpartum depression and know the latest information in the field, rather than old men like Peter Breggin, who has been in practice for many decades and seems not to have advanced his understanding of these disorders since the 1950s.
What is it with these men??? If you're going to be an advocate for the treatment of PPD, then be one. Otherwise, shut the hell up. And get back to me once you've had a baby!
Just a little comment about Mr.Breggin's "all you need is love and support". I had love and support including therapy for depression, but continued to suffer needlessly for three months. It was not until I was diagnosed with PPD and recieved specialized care "which included antidepressants" that I felt any improvement. Medication helped pull me out of the dark, it eased the feelings of extreme hopelessness and as a result I was finally able to bond with my newborn son. If that makes me a druggie well so be it! I AM NOT ASHAMED of what I had to do and would do it again if needed.
Samantha.
I'm the girl who was on the t.v.show for the Postpartum Segment. Thanks so much for discussing this on your site…wasn't Breggin ridiculous? What I really wanted to say, but I figured they might "bleep" me out, was that him giving us ladies advice on postpartum was like us giving him advice on erectile disfunction!!! Seriously! I will never have a problem with that so I would never attempt to give advice on it…same should apply to him! He will never go through the hellish ordeal we have so stop trying to push your pratices on us!! Thanks for all of your support, girls….keep on truckin'!
I am so proud of my good friend Melissa for overcoming the darkness which is ppd and speaking out on behave of the millions of suffering women..yey mel for being such an advocate..I am blessed to have you in my life.
I am so proud of my good friend Melissa for overcoming the darkness which is ppd and speaking out on behave of the millions of suffering women..yey mel for being such an advocate..I am blessed to have you in my life.