There’s an old joke that asks, “Why did God make babies so cute?”
Answer: “So you wouldn’t throw ‘em out the window.”
While this may be funny on the surface, there is an ominous overtone that isn’t very funny at all. The joke underscores how much hard work there is in having a baby and raising a baby, but there is redemption in it because it’s all worth it. In Obstetrics, this has become the least funny joke of all, because there is a condition in new Moms that goes way past the Baby Blues she gets from saying goodbye to her old way of life; this condition, postpartum depression, is true mental illness. Thankfully, it is temporary and treatable.
Postpartum depression, what is it?
Postpartum depression (after birth depression) is a mysterious illness that is true clinical depression. It can occur in up to 14% of all new Momsi. It usually begins any time during the first year after delivery, even as soo ...
There is an abundance of information you can find to learn about depression and its symptoms if you have been diagnosed with it, but what if you find yourself in the complicated and stressful position of trying to help a friend or loved one with this mental disorder? How do you help a friend with depression? What do you say to them? Should you treat them differently? Will it affect your relationship with them?
Depression affects all aspects of a person's life, and it generally wreaks havoc on personal and professional relationships. Friends, family members, and work colleagues alike tend to find themselves feeling either frustrated, guilty, confused, or at a loss when it comes to their depressed loved one. Fortunately, there are things you can do – and things you should avoid – to help your loved one while they work their way through their problems. The following is a guide for the Dos and Don'ts of how to help a friend with depression.
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