I have actually heard of new fathers experiencing post-partum. Just saying… obviously FAR more females, but it still happens. Also, I would be interested if down the line you do a comic showing a man who already knows he is a depressive dealing with becoming a new father. I’m thinking that would probably be a more common situation and also a real concern.
(And this is in no way meant to be a criticism! Mostly I’m just appreciating how spot-on you are with all of these so after seeing how you treat mothers in a strip I’m curious to see what you’d do with fathers as well.)
I understand that there are fathers that do experience postpartum, that’s why I said “primarily” rather than “only” 🙂
I would probably shy away from that idea because of a lack of research on the subject. Worrying and doubting about one’s ability to be a parent is not symbolic of depression in itself, considering that becoming a parent is the most serious and demanding things a person can do in their lives. Anxiety and self-doubt are kind of normal in this case, and in fact, if someone wasn’t concerned about their ability to become a good parent I’d wonder if they had actually thought it through or truly understand what’s ahead of them.
Knowing this, it is really hard to depict a situation that is an incredible stressor on unaffected people let alone depressed people. It is easier to show how depressed people are affected by things that shouldn’t affect them so hard. This opinion may change if I discover something unique about depression and becoming a father but as of yet I haven’t come across anything.
This is a “get help now” because while it’s normal to have some negative feelings, being low all the time is a sign of something off emotionally. And don’t even think of giving up because if she thinks she hates herself now, wait’ll she’s missing her child who “went to a better life”. Hell on earth. I was depressed after my daughter was born but I remembered what it was like giving my son to my ex-in-laws some years prior and it got me through.
This makes me feel really sad because I have Asperger’s Syndrome and I was like that as a baby. I’m not saying this particular baby has anything wrong with it, but I just know I’ve made my mom feel this way in my infancy.
A close friend of mine went through the ordeal of depression right after giving birth. She and the baby got professional help, thanks to a very good physician.
Even without official diagnosis of PPD, the first few months are so very hard. If you know a new mom, ask her how you can help. At the very least, tell her you know that parenting is really fucking tough, and she is doing a GREAT JOB.
I distinctly remember, when my daughter was about one and just starting to toddle around, lying immobile on her bedroom floor, crying, staring at the ceiling whilst she played and toddled around me. I have had depression and off throughout my life, since my teens, so looking back, it was no surprise that post-party’s depression also hit, but I was never diagnosed. Thank you for posting this one. Keep it up xx
This reminds me of me when my son was a baby/toddler. I remember driving when he was a baby, I would spot houses of strangers and think, “If I just set him out in his carseat here, would they take him in? Would he have a better life with this random family than he will with me?” Thankfully, I never acted on those thoughts, or darker ones. He’s not a baby any longer, but I still wonder occasionally, if he would have, in fact, had a better life had he been adopted by a loving couple, rather than the childhood I’ve provided. I believe I’m a “good” mother, but I also know that “good” is a relative term. Essentially, I believe I’ve done the best I could with what I had to work with, but I am also well aware of how depression has, indeed, hampered my mothering.
Exactly
Got one for the fathers?
I’m thinking too much for the unlikely-to-happen future, including becoming a father.
This is a comic on post-partum depression which primarily affects women.
I have actually heard of new fathers experiencing post-partum. Just saying… obviously FAR more females, but it still happens. Also, I would be interested if down the line you do a comic showing a man who already knows he is a depressive dealing with becoming a new father. I’m thinking that would probably be a more common situation and also a real concern.
(And this is in no way meant to be a criticism! Mostly I’m just appreciating how spot-on you are with all of these so after seeing how you treat mothers in a strip I’m curious to see what you’d do with fathers as well.)
I understand that there are fathers that do experience postpartum, that’s why I said “primarily” rather than “only” 🙂
I would probably shy away from that idea because of a lack of research on the subject. Worrying and doubting about one’s ability to be a parent is not symbolic of depression in itself, considering that becoming a parent is the most serious and demanding things a person can do in their lives. Anxiety and self-doubt are kind of normal in this case, and in fact, if someone wasn’t concerned about their ability to become a good parent I’d wonder if they had actually thought it through or truly understand what’s ahead of them.
Knowing this, it is really hard to depict a situation that is an incredible stressor on unaffected people let alone depressed people. It is easier to show how depressed people are affected by things that shouldn’t affect them so hard. This opinion may change if I discover something unique about depression and becoming a father but as of yet I haven’t come across anything.
This is why i dont want kids…
I feel the same. Or that my child will feel the same, and I won’t know how to help them.
Bittersweetness
This is a “get help now” because while it’s normal to have some negative feelings, being low all the time is a sign of something off emotionally. And don’t even think of giving up because if she thinks she hates herself now, wait’ll she’s missing her child who “went to a better life”. Hell on earth. I was depressed after my daughter was born but I remembered what it was like giving my son to my ex-in-laws some years prior and it got me through.
Some great representations of depression in comix form. http://t.co/pDUGkFDqIT
And post partum, I hear can have a nasty habit of sneaking up on you.
This makes me feel really sad because I have Asperger’s Syndrome and I was like that as a baby. I’m not saying this particular baby has anything wrong with it, but I just know I’ve made my mom feel this way in my infancy.
A close friend of mine went through the ordeal of depression right after giving birth. She and the baby got professional help, thanks to a very good physician.
Even without official diagnosis of PPD, the first few months are so very hard. If you know a new mom, ask her how you can help. At the very least, tell her you know that parenting is really fucking tough, and she is doing a GREAT JOB.
I distinctly remember, when my daughter was about one and just starting to toddle around, lying immobile on her bedroom floor, crying, staring at the ceiling whilst she played and toddled around me. I have had depression and off throughout my life, since my teens, so looking back, it was no surprise that post-party’s depression also hit, but I was never diagnosed. Thank you for posting this one. Keep it up xx
I meant post-partum – damned autocorrect. Post-party depression is something else entirely, lol.
http://t.co/7Vac4CX9kp #postpartum
http://t.co/7Vac4CX9kp #postpartum
A comic strip written by the depressed. I suggest all read–esp mental health workers. 243 http://t.co/O0JcOMhTWr via @depressioncomix
This reminds me of me when my son was a baby/toddler. I remember driving when he was a baby, I would spot houses of strangers and think, “If I just set him out in his carseat here, would they take him in? Would he have a better life with this random family than he will with me?” Thankfully, I never acted on those thoughts, or darker ones. He’s not a baby any longer, but I still wonder occasionally, if he would have, in fact, had a better life had he been adopted by a loving couple, rather than the childhood I’ve provided. I believe I’m a “good” mother, but I also know that “good” is a relative term. Essentially, I believe I’ve done the best I could with what I had to work with, but I am also well aware of how depression has, indeed, hampered my mothering.
Depression Comix: “Am I just a bad mother?” https://t.co/ZqTGXveXqo