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Family members and
friends face their own challenges when caring for a woman suffering
from PPD. For many, this is their first experience with
someone suffering from a mental illness. It is a frustrating
and confusing time with limited support and information. For
this reason, we offer the following information for the caregivers
and loved ones of a PPD sufferer.
If there is anything we can do for YOU in this time of uncertainty,
please contact us. We are here for you!
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PPD is a real illness
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| She
cannot “snap” out of it.
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| She
will get better.
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| WITH
PROPER TREATMENT you will get your wife/daughter/sister/friend…back
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| You
cannot make this go away.
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| PPD
affects the whole family.
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| Make
sure you are taking care of yourself.
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| Do
not assume everything is OK because she says so.
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| Do
not let her appearance convince you that she is feeling better than she
really is.
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| Do
not tell her what to feel or what not to feel.
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| Validate
what she feels.
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| Listen
to her.
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| Some
things that made her feel good previously, may not work the next time.
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| Tell
her you know she feels miserable.
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| Tell
her she will get better.
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| Tell
her she can still be a good mother and feel terrible.
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| Tell
her it’s OK to make mistakes—she doesn’t have to be perfect.
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| Tell
her to let you know what she needs you to do to help, but remember she may
not know what she needs.
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| Tell
her you love her.
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| Tell
her the baby will be fine.
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Please remember, if your loved one expresses ANY
thoughts of hurting herself or her baby seek IMMEDIATE medical
attention!
This is an emergency and help must be sought right
away!
The Postpartum Husband, Practical Solutions for
living with Postpartum Depression - Karen Kleiman, M.S.W
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