tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post4751472130866961906..comments2023-08-20T05:00:45.407-04:00Comments on Becoming Me : Measuring Motherhood with a Broken Ruler – My Journey Through PPD – Part 5Angela Nazworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13949844180291293484noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-40321034763777377792008-10-17T23:30:00.000-04:002008-10-17T23:30:00.000-04:00I stand in awe of your candidness and thank you fo...I stand in awe of your candidness and thank you for speaking out about such a taboo subject (especially in Christian circle). I struggled with PPD and I wish I had read something like this back then....Praise God for you!Be Brave, Keep Goinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05394854291855646867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-38002470208567226562008-06-12T10:50:00.000-04:002008-06-12T10:50:00.000-04:00THANK YOU for all of your hard work in sharing thi...THANK YOU for all of your hard work in sharing this with us! I know I dealt with PPD but didn't get all the help I needed. I wish I would have known more going into each pregnancy. This series was very helpful! God is good!<BR/>JaimeGrandCanyonMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10404804112830140846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-66765298859092634322008-06-11T18:43:00.000-04:002008-06-11T18:43:00.000-04:00I really appreciate how you've listed out your ste...I really appreciate how you've listed out your steps.. the charts and such.. gives me lots to chew on as whether i'm done with mine, or whether i've just got it "under control" kwim?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-57606776856553597712008-06-11T17:43:00.000-04:002008-06-11T17:43:00.000-04:00I hear ya, as a christian sometimes it can be very...I hear ya, as a christian sometimes it can be very disheartening to hear "if you just had the joy of the Lord" you wouldn't be depressed! Slap me again why don'tchya?!<BR/><BR/>I found that with meds, christian counseling and ALSO cutting caffeine (how wild you had to do that too!) helped TREMENDOUSLY.<BR/><BR/>Just in the past 6 weeks I've been able to add a little caffeine in every 3-4 days (not much mind you, just 1/2 cup of weak coffee).<BR/><BR/>Thanks for sharing this, I know it will help MANY christians struggling with the medication issue.Darlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07330592107479342634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-46510723486251826952008-06-11T15:23:00.000-04:002008-06-11T15:23:00.000-04:00This is a great wrap up with a lot of good suggest...This is a great wrap up with a lot of good suggestions. Thank you for sharing so openly and honestly about your experiences.Trishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17681523260739807543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-51467255987327844932008-06-10T23:25:00.000-04:002008-06-10T23:25:00.000-04:00I am so glad you got through this.I too had a form...I am so glad you got through this.I too had a form ofPPD that I didn't realize was that at thge time.After the birth of my third child in less than three years I got panic disorder.I had to do all of those things you suggested and have got throughg the darkness by the grace of God.virginiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05017621660449033013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-71957022384452037832008-06-10T23:05:00.000-04:002008-06-10T23:05:00.000-04:00What great advice and suggestions. Again, kudos f...What great advice and suggestions. Again, kudos for sharing and helping so many women. Smiles!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01531001180084362992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-29264452232755423942008-06-10T21:52:00.000-04:002008-06-10T21:52:00.000-04:00Angela,Thank you for what you're doing. As I cont...Angela,<BR/>Thank you for what you're doing. As I continue in my 3rd year of "treatment resistant" PPD, I am encouraged to see that I am not alone in having these thoughts of guilt, fear of "messing up" my children, having trouble recognizing myself. I praise the Lord for your recovery, and I'll work on trusting that He just might have the same in store for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-9360027538173392822008-06-10T21:51:00.000-04:002008-06-10T21:51:00.000-04:00Angela,Thank you for what you're doing. As I cont...Angela,<BR/>Thank you for what you're doing. As I continue in my 3rd year of "treatment resistant" PPD, I am encouraged to see that I am not alone in having these thoughts of guilt, fear of "messing up" my children, having trouble recognizing myself. I praise the Lord for your recovery, and I'll work on trusting that He just might have the same in store for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-31148767446061893902008-06-10T21:18:00.000-04:002008-06-10T21:18:00.000-04:00I just found out that my little sister has been di...I just found out that my little sister has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. (Her husband was injured in Iraq. He has recovered completely and currently has a date to return to Iraq in May.) I have referred her to you site and hope that maybe the similarities in the Disorders and your encouraging words can help her. <BR/>I am thankful for reading your posts and perhaps God was helping to prepare my heart to listen and not dismiss the diagnosis. She is many states away and there is little that I can do but pray. (I am not saying that prayer does not work. I am sure God will comfort her through our prayers.) <BR/>I would appreciate your prayers for her. She has two small boys and a very busy life as a military wife.Rachel https://www.blogger.com/profile/12724352927602251380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-66506236864100613552008-06-10T20:31:00.000-04:002008-06-10T20:31:00.000-04:00Angela,You will never know how much more of an und...Angela,<BR/>You will never know how much more of an understanding you've given me toward people who have struggled with PPD. You have been so open and honest, and while therapeutic, I'm sure it has been difficult to relive some of these moments. What a blessing that you've so openly shared such a wealth of information, and also encouragement to others who may be fighting PPD. This has (and will) undoubtedly help many. <BR/><BR/>Blessings,<BR/>TracyTracyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02158977330746847962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-66573033536878959892008-06-10T18:45:00.000-04:002008-06-10T18:45:00.000-04:00Angela,I just want to thank you once more for your...Angela,<BR/>I just want to thank you once more for your honesty and your straight talk about the reality of PPD. I've been scarce in cyber land recently, catching up today on your last five posts or so. Thank you for being willing to show yourself weak in order to show our God as strong and All Sufficient. It is difficult to delight in what makes us weak, but what a testimony to the sufficiency of our Savior! He is All!<BR/><BR/>Blessings to you, friend. So glad our blog paths crossed.<BR/>LisaLisa Spencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12990706355525884593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-31543890300849068832008-06-10T18:11:00.000-04:002008-06-10T18:11:00.000-04:00that caffeine elimination really stuck out to me. ...that caffeine elimination really stuck out to me. I think I need it but I think it affects me in a bad way. I'm going to start a mood chart. My midwife told me to take extra B vitamins to help even out my hormones. Once again thanks for being so real and vulnerable.Tonyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15816260131470363977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-56265576295168333002008-06-10T17:12:00.000-04:002008-06-10T17:12:00.000-04:00I love how you have shared your heart and your exp...I love how you have shared your heart and your experience with PPD. Last week a woman who heard me speak at her MOPS group emailed me and told me about her experience with PPD. I gave her the links to this blog series and encouraged her to get in touch with you. I hope she will!<BR/>As for the medicine...I fully understand what you're saying. My son was just diagnosed with ADHD and though I was initially reluctant to give him medicine for it, my thoughts changed. I realized if he really couldn't control himself, me telling him, "Honey you just need to focus," wasn't going to help one bit. If the medicine would help him do what he can't do, so he could do what he <EM>can</EM> do I realized that was the best thing to do for him. And WOW! what a good thing it has been.<BR/>So glad I got over my "thing" so Matthew could get the help he needed.Karen Hossinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18049412644792482270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-5233545141484173592008-06-10T17:05:00.000-04:002008-06-10T17:05:00.000-04:00I am so sorry you went through this as a young mot...I am so sorry you went through this as a young mother. I told you in an earlier post that I understand how hormones out of whack can make you feel. I am peri-menopausal. I had a hard time last year with my hormones and the way it made me feel. Thankfully I was able to find a gyn. who helped straighten them out. Hormones are powerful and they can alter your life in ways that are really difficult. I am glad you had some doctors who helped you find your way out of the fog. I am glad you were able to look at all aspects of what was going on in your life. Sometimes I didn't know if it was physical, spiritual, emotional, mental, circumstantial...etc. So I had to take them one at a time. Deal with the physical while going to God with the spiritual. He used it all.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for sharing your heart,<BR/>Hugs,<BR/>JulieJuliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13553121852669901186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-16177930430168882562008-06-10T16:58:00.000-04:002008-06-10T16:58:00.000-04:00No telling how many women are going to be helped t...No telling how many women are going to be helped through your struggle. I love your plan of action. Thank God you were willing to walk it through to the other side. <BR/><BR/>Again, thank you for your honesty and truth. May God use it to his glory as only he can.<BR/><BR/>peace~elaineelaine @ peace for the journeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09675745465728814736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-58790263434765863622008-06-10T15:52:00.000-04:002008-06-10T15:52:00.000-04:00I believe you sharing your personal story is going...I believe you sharing your personal story is going to be a wonderful blessing and help to many, Angela.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-84992379238843843242008-06-10T15:03:00.000-04:002008-06-10T15:03:00.000-04:00I would like to thank you for posting this series....I would like to thank you for posting this series. I am bipolar, and I have to take 4 different meds every day to control it. This used to make me feel like a failure, but now I realize that God heals in many ways. One of those ways is through counseling and pharmaceuticals.<BR/><BR/>Thank you for sharing your journey. I think you are really giving hope to many women.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-10965260929350994002008-06-10T14:38:00.000-04:002008-06-10T14:38:00.000-04:00I'm so glad you had the strength to get the help y...I'm so glad you had the strength to get the help you needed. You didn't rely on meds- you used a balanced approach where you dealt with your PPD on many level. I'm so proud of you!Pamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07156212038739784644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-79022621301917045892008-06-10T11:39:00.000-04:002008-06-10T11:39:00.000-04:00Angela, each time I read through your journey, my ...Angela, each time I read through your journey, my heart is full and my eyes start leaking.<BR/><BR/>I think this is such an encouragement to anyone with depression, whether PPD or for any other reason. It's an encouragement to those of us who just have a "funk" now and then. Not to minimize your symptoms, but to say that this information is all relatable and applicable. <BR/><BR/>Beautifully, authentically written and lived. I'm thrilled for Jesus in you and your victory over this disease. I get so tired/angry when people tell me to pray through something--as if that were the farthest thing from my mind. I liken my meds to any that a person might take for diabetes or any other chronic illness. <BR/><BR/>Great, great post. <BR/><BR/>xxxooogretchenGretchenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02576409086020993015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-23325108810912375752008-06-10T11:13:00.000-04:002008-06-10T11:13:00.000-04:00Angela -I've often struggled with the medication v...Angela -<BR/><BR/>I've often struggled with the medication vs. prayer. Our pastor often preaches about - and has told me in person - overcoming everything with prayer.<BR/><BR/>Like you, I feel like a failure as a Christian because I take antidepressents. However, if I don't take my meds, I fall into a deep pit. This pit takes me to one place: suicidal. So, if taking my meds makes me a failure as a Christian so be it. At least I'm here for my husband and children.<BR/><BR/>NadineAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-3661038786395035532008-06-10T11:12:00.000-04:002008-06-10T11:12:00.000-04:00I am so glad to know you had such amazing people h...I am so glad to know you had such amazing people helping you through this and that you've gotten the help your body needed. Thank you for bravely sharing this journey.hannah mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13670485838465430425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-21259545669750409582008-06-10T10:19:00.000-04:002008-06-10T10:19:00.000-04:00Thank you so much for your honesty and forthrightn...Thank you so much for your honesty and forthrightness about PPD. For those who are traveling this road, I know it is a God-send. It is never easy to throw yourself out there and bare the dark times of our lives, but I know God is using you far beyond what you could imagine. Looking back on the period of time after my youngest was born, I realize that I experienced a few of the things you have shared. Feelings of being inadequate and a failure as a mom were a part of this experience. Again, thank you for sharing your heart with us. I know God will continue to bless you richly. Blessings to you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-49712998178525139172008-06-10T09:56:00.000-04:002008-06-10T09:56:00.000-04:00What an excellent, straightforward list. Even as I...What an excellent, straightforward list. Even as I walk through this journey I am continually being refined and learning new things. Off to start a mood chart now, it seems a necessary step at this point.<BR/><BR/>Oh, and at my first psychiatrist appointment when he looked at me and said "Cut the caffeine in half" I looked at him like he was a crazy man! But I'm working on it. (Even when I have to special order my Organic Fair Trade decaf Espresso beans because you'd be amazed how hard those are to find.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-992476707494424848.post-75331402208089652122008-06-10T08:53:00.000-04:002008-06-10T08:53:00.000-04:00Thank you so much for sharing such a personal expe...Thank you so much for sharing such a personal experience. I'm sure you'll never know just how much your openness has helped women.<BR/><BR/>I agree with you that medication is a gift from God for those who need it. Of course, prayer is the first necessity. But sometimes the answer to those prayers comes in the form of pharmaceuticals. God is really smart that way!Jensterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15639970448069931471noreply@blogger.com