When I was first diagnosed with postpartum depression, my psychiatrist told me to get my heart rate up to 160 every day. Studies show that this helps fight depression. He told me I did not need to keep my heart rate at 160 for a long time - a few seconds was enough.
If you have postpartum depression, or think you might, please see your doctor. But don't just rely on pills and monthly check-ups. Recovery is so much more than that. Try getting your heart rate up to 160 every day and see if that's a piece of your recovery puzzle.
If you are out of shape, you will not have to do much to get your heart rate up! Some jumping jacks might do the trick. If you are in excellent shape, then you probably have the exercise thing under control and you don't need any lectures from me!
You can do this. When my psychiatrist first told me to get my heart rate up, I felt so overwhelmed. Exercise? Every day? Impossible! How could I possibly be a good mother and get my heart rate up?
Now I know that was the PPD talking. When I exercise at home, Pippa is fascinated. She imitates my moves while I flail about and get my sweat glands working. When I go to the gym, she is thrilled because she gets to play with her friends at day care for an hour.
The goal is 160 every day - but whatever you can do, that is a good start. Carving out a few minutes for jumping jacks might seem overwhelming. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. If I could reach through your computer screen and give you a hug, I would. It is okay to feel overwhelmed. Your hormones have gone bat shit crazy! On the exercise front, do what you can. Congratulate yourself for what you do. Forgive yourself for what you can't.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Location Change for Tuesday Meetings
So last week, I learned that Grant Park is not the place to be on Tuesday mornings. (Unless you are willing to pay a $46.90 parking ticket (ugh, street cleaning)). So going forward, we will keep meeting at Grant Park on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month, and we will meet at Brookside Park on the first and third Tuesdays.
Brookside Park has two playgrounds. There is the awesome pirate ship park behind the aquatic center - we are NOT meeting there. We will meet at the playground on the Kidspace side of the park. Go to the Rose Bowl. Park in Lot K - there is plenty of free parking, and there are lots of signs pointing the way to Kidspace. As you head towards Kidspace, you will see a playground. There's a main playground and a smaller playground for toddlers. We will gather at the smaller playground for toddlers.
If you have PPD, I know this might seem intimidating. YOU CAN DO THIS. And if you get lost or the baby has an explosive poopy diaper or you accidentally go to the pirate ship playground? So what! You missed a free play group, big deal. My feelings will not be hurt - I know how tough it is to get out of the house when you are fighting those PPD demons.
If you can get yourself to the Rose Bowl, you can find the playground. There are tons of signs pointing the way to Lot K and Kidspace. Follow the signs, you will be fine. I know you can do this.
Brookside Park has two playgrounds. There is the awesome pirate ship park behind the aquatic center - we are NOT meeting there. We will meet at the playground on the Kidspace side of the park. Go to the Rose Bowl. Park in Lot K - there is plenty of free parking, and there are lots of signs pointing the way to Kidspace. As you head towards Kidspace, you will see a playground. There's a main playground and a smaller playground for toddlers. We will gather at the smaller playground for toddlers.
If you have PPD, I know this might seem intimidating. YOU CAN DO THIS. And if you get lost or the baby has an explosive poopy diaper or you accidentally go to the pirate ship playground? So what! You missed a free play group, big deal. My feelings will not be hurt - I know how tough it is to get out of the house when you are fighting those PPD demons.
If you can get yourself to the Rose Bowl, you can find the playground. There are tons of signs pointing the way to Lot K and Kidspace. Follow the signs, you will be fine. I know you can do this.
Monday, February 16, 2015
Upcoming Meetings
I thought a little predictability might be nice. Going forward, we will meet on the first and third Tuesday, and the second and fourth Wednesday, of the month. Our gatherings start at 10 a.m. at Grant Park.
We gather at the picnic tables by the sandbox. As you can imagine, my toddler does not like to patiently sit at the tables while the playground beckons, so I will dump my bag at the tables and put up a sign that says PPD. (It's a really pathetic simple sign right now, but maybe someday, I will paint something pretty!) Just add your bags to Camp PPD and I'll make sure we connect.
Since we have fun weather in Pasadena, please remember to check the blog the day before a meeting to confirm the location. If there is rain or brutal heat in the forecast, we will meet elsewhere. Also, be sure to check the blog for other fun random gatherings.
We gather at the picnic tables by the sandbox. As you can imagine, my toddler does not like to patiently sit at the tables while the playground beckons, so I will dump my bag at the tables and put up a sign that says PPD. (It's a really pathetic simple sign right now, but maybe someday, I will paint something pretty!) Just add your bags to Camp PPD and I'll make sure we connect.
Since we have fun weather in Pasadena, please remember to check the blog the day before a meeting to confirm the location. If there is rain or brutal heat in the forecast, we will meet elsewhere. Also, be sure to check the blog for other fun random gatherings.
Friday, February 6, 2015
Upcoming Meetings
Park gatherings are suboptimal because it's difficult to have a meaningful conversation while keeping a baby or toddler safe. But, parks are free, and I don't want anyone to miss a meeting because something is not in their budget. I am hunting for a better meeting place. A place where we can safely corral and easily entertain our little ones, and still have good conversations. If you have any leads, let me know!
For now, we will stick to Grant Park. We will set up camp at the picnic tables by the sandbox. There is an excellent coffee shop across the street.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at 10 a.m. at Grant Park.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at 10 a.m. at Grant Park
I would eventually like to choose some regular meeting times, but for now, I'm shifting days around to try to accommodate as many moms as possible.
All moms who have or had postpartum depression are welcome to attend! Let's build a community of peer-to-peer support together and help eliminate the stigma and ignorance surrounding the most common postpartum complication.
For now, we will stick to Grant Park. We will set up camp at the picnic tables by the sandbox. There is an excellent coffee shop across the street.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at 10 a.m. at Grant Park.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at 10 a.m. at Grant Park
I would eventually like to choose some regular meeting times, but for now, I'm shifting days around to try to accommodate as many moms as possible.
All moms who have or had postpartum depression are welcome to attend! Let's build a community of peer-to-peer support together and help eliminate the stigma and ignorance surrounding the most common postpartum complication.
Friday, January 30, 2015
Upcoming Meeting: February 11 at Grant Park
We will have a meeting at Pasadena's Grant Park on February 11, 2015 at 10 a.m. All are welcome! We will meet at the picnic tables by the sandbox.
Grant Park is located at 1200 Cordova Street, Pasadena, CA 91106. There is plenty of free street parking. There is a cute little café across the street from the park where you can get coffee.
Come enjoy some fresh air with us!
Grant Park is located at 1200 Cordova Street, Pasadena, CA 91106. There is plenty of free street parking. There is a cute little café across the street from the park where you can get coffee.
Come enjoy some fresh air with us!
Sunday, January 11, 2015
January 2015: My Current PPD Treatment
I was diagnosed with postpartum depression in July 2013, four months after the birth of my daughter Pippa. At that time, my psychiatrist prescribed 100 mg of Zoloft and 30 mg of Mirtazapine (aka Remoeron). I am now taking 150 mg of Zoloft and 3.25 mg of Mirtazapine every night before I go to bed. I see my psychiatrist every four weeks, give or take a few days.
These are some other things I do to keep my mental health as awesome as possible:
- Regular exercise, especially lots of Zumba and swimming because those activities get my heart pumping and make me smile.
- No alcohol. If I have even a few sips of wine, the next day I feel depressed, so I have not had a sip of alcohol in nearly a year. I don't miss it at all.
- Seeing a wide range of friends and family on a regular basis.
- Having time away from Pippa so I can recharge my batteries.
- Getting out of the house!
These are some other things I do to keep my mental health as awesome as possible:
- Regular exercise, especially lots of Zumba and swimming because those activities get my heart pumping and make me smile.
- No alcohol. If I have even a few sips of wine, the next day I feel depressed, so I have not had a sip of alcohol in nearly a year. I don't miss it at all.
- Seeing a wide range of friends and family on a regular basis.
- Having time away from Pippa so I can recharge my batteries.
- Getting out of the house!
Friday, October 17, 2014
Recommended Reading: The How of Happiness
Shortly after I was diagnosed with postpartum depression, my sister recommended the book The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want, by Sonja Lyobmirsky. I resented the recommendation. I didn't need some general book about happiness. I needed medicine! A psychiatrist! And a psychologist! Some silly book my sister liked was not going to save me from my postpartum depression demons.
It's true, I did need medicine (Zoloft and mirtazipane). And I did need a psychiatrist and a cognitive behavioral psychologist. I also needed to spend four days in the hospital. Those things were essential to my recovery.
But I needed more. When I was first diagnosed with postpartum depression, I thought I just needed to take my pills and get enough sleep. WRONG. I had to get back into the world and do the things I love.
My sister kept pestering me, so finally, I grudgingly borrowed the book and started reading.
IT WAS SO INSPIRING. This book is written for every person and does NOT offer a cure to depression. If you have postpartum depression, you should still seek a doctor's help; but this book greatly supplemented my treatment.
In the first part, the book describes the science of happiness. It's very interesting, but don't worry, it's not too long.
Then there's a test that you can easily take while your baby naps or does tummy time. The test identifies the activities/values that will most effectively increase your happiness.
The second half of the book is devoted to explaining the different activities/values that can increase your happiness. BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ THE ENTIRE SECOND HALF. You just read the two or three sections that correspond with your happiness style.
e According to the test, projects and goals increase my happiness. So true! But when I had postpartum depression, I forgot how much I enjoy working on and completing a few projects. I headed to a yarn store asap and started knitting a blanket for my newborn niece Beatrice.
The book also told me that learning increases my happiness. So true! Yet sadly, I had lost this part of myself to the postpartum depression darkness. I brought learning back into my life. First easily, with little museum outings. Then I took an online drawing class and went to a CPR class. I downloaded an app on to my phone to practice Spanish.
Finally, my test results recommended that I engage in physical activity. Oh boy, I had become a SLUG, but I eased myself back into exercise with daily walks. Now I go to the gym and do Zumba every week and Zumba makes my heart sing joyously. When I had PPD, I had no energy and just the thought of exercise exhausts me. Now I know that exercise does not deplete my energy - it increase it! I do everything possible to include physical activity in my life because it makes me so happy.
What sort of things will increase your happiness? I don't know, but I do know that The How of Happiness will help you answer that question for yourself. If you haven't already, please see a doctor for help with postpartum depression. And then read The How of Happiness!
It's true, I did need medicine (Zoloft and mirtazipane). And I did need a psychiatrist and a cognitive behavioral psychologist. I also needed to spend four days in the hospital. Those things were essential to my recovery.
But I needed more. When I was first diagnosed with postpartum depression, I thought I just needed to take my pills and get enough sleep. WRONG. I had to get back into the world and do the things I love.
My sister kept pestering me, so finally, I grudgingly borrowed the book and started reading.
IT WAS SO INSPIRING. This book is written for every person and does NOT offer a cure to depression. If you have postpartum depression, you should still seek a doctor's help; but this book greatly supplemented my treatment.
In the first part, the book describes the science of happiness. It's very interesting, but don't worry, it's not too long.
Then there's a test that you can easily take while your baby naps or does tummy time. The test identifies the activities/values that will most effectively increase your happiness.
The second half of the book is devoted to explaining the different activities/values that can increase your happiness. BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ THE ENTIRE SECOND HALF. You just read the two or three sections that correspond with your happiness style.
e According to the test, projects and goals increase my happiness. So true! But when I had postpartum depression, I forgot how much I enjoy working on and completing a few projects. I headed to a yarn store asap and started knitting a blanket for my newborn niece Beatrice.
The book also told me that learning increases my happiness. So true! Yet sadly, I had lost this part of myself to the postpartum depression darkness. I brought learning back into my life. First easily, with little museum outings. Then I took an online drawing class and went to a CPR class. I downloaded an app on to my phone to practice Spanish.
Finally, my test results recommended that I engage in physical activity. Oh boy, I had become a SLUG, but I eased myself back into exercise with daily walks. Now I go to the gym and do Zumba every week and Zumba makes my heart sing joyously. When I had PPD, I had no energy and just the thought of exercise exhausts me. Now I know that exercise does not deplete my energy - it increase it! I do everything possible to include physical activity in my life because it makes me so happy.
What sort of things will increase your happiness? I don't know, but I do know that The How of Happiness will help you answer that question for yourself. If you haven't already, please see a doctor for help with postpartum depression. And then read The How of Happiness!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)