Clinical Depression While Pregnant

Many people would believe that women who are pregnant are protected from depression. However, contrary to the common believe that pregnant are not prone from depression, pregnant women are just as susceptible to depression that those women who are not pregnant. In fact, the risk of depression becomes even higher right after a woman gives birth. According to experts, the postpartum stage has the potential of bringing about that "sadness and madness" state. Women who have history of depression are more prone to post-natal depression. The hormonal change, the stress of childbirth, sleep disturbances and the stress of caring for the baby would reduce the capacity of women to cope with everyday life and may lead to depression. Post-natal depression …show more content…
Suffering from a severe depressive episode or having suicidal thoughts usually makes the victim feel completely isolated. Watching a friend or loved one suffer from a mental health problem is also tremendously painful. My goal in writing this is to help people who have not experienced clinical depression understand what a depressive episode is like, and help them be as supportive as they can to a friend or loved one suffering from a mental disturbance. My personal experience with depression is extensive. I have suffered from clinical depression for most of my life. I have been in some form of therapy, on and off, since I was eight. I have attended group therapy and depression support groups. I have been hospitalized twice for depression (in 2003, when I was 19, and again in 2007, when I was 23). I have been on a remarkable variety of anti-depressants and other mood-altering medications. And despite these experiences, I have still found myself confused about how to help others around me during times of mental distress. I have frequently wished that I could be of more help to friends in need. It can be difficult to talk to someone, even if you are very close, when they are experiencing depression, because depression can distort perception and make even easygoing people sensitive or even defensive. I have attempted to provide a few simple guidelines for talking to someone who is depressed, based on my personal experiences and those of friends and family members. Everyone finds different things helpful, and that's why these suggestions are so broad. They are only suggestions, based on what I have found useful in the past, and if they do not have a positive effect, feel free to disregard them immediately. My training in psychology is limited to the introductory courses I have taken in human development in college. My advice