R E S O U R C E S
YOU ARE NOT ALONE. YOU ARE NOT TO BLAME.
YOU WILL GET BETTER. THERE IS HELP!
All the symptoms, from the mildest to the most severe are temporary and treatable. Treatment varies, depending on the severity of the symptoms.
SYMPTOMS
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders can manifest itself in many ways and can occur anytime from conception through two years after delivery. Some women experience persistent feelings of intense sadness. Others experience fluctuating mood swings. Still others experience a tremendous anxiety. The following is a list of symptoms for various types of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. A woman may experience some but not necessarily all of these symptoms.
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Deep Sadness
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Crying Spells
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Hopelessness
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Excessive Worrying
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Intense Irritability or Anger
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Loss of Appetite
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Inability to Sleep, Even When the Baby is sleeping
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Overwhelming Fatigue
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Loss of Interest in Sex
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Lack of Joy in Life
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Feelings of Shame, Guilt or Inadequacy
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Severe Mood Swings
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Withdrawal from Family and Friends
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Confusion or Disorientation
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Hallucinations and Delusions
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Paranoia
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Difficulty Bonding with the Baby
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Thoughts of Harming Yourself or the Baby
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Attempts to Harm Yourself or the Baby
TAKE the SELF-QUIZ
The Edinburgh Post Natal Depression Scale (EPDS)
(J.L. Cox, J.M. Holden, R. Sagovsky, Department of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh)
This 10-question self-rating scale has been proven to be an efficient and effective way of identifying patients at risk for “perinatal” depression.
Please note: The EPDS is only a screening tool. It does not diagnose depression. Diagnosis can only be done by a licensed healthcare professional.
If you feel that you might be suffering from perinatal or paternal depression, it could be helpful to complete this interactive quiz and share the results with your health care provider.
ONLINE:
https://psychology-tools.com/epds/
PRINT (PDF)
http://postpartumwellness.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/edinburghscale.pdf
Print a copy of this completed quiz and bring to your next doctor's visit
For crisis intervention and services - click on The Parent Links Healthy Coping brochures link under Resources
You can also call the PEP Warm Line for phone support at
805-564-3888 (English) or 805-8552-1592 (en Espanol)
for confidential one-on-one support from trained volunteers, parents just like you. From basic infant care to breast or bottle feeding issues to postpartum adjustment, the Warmline can be a great source of information and support.
RESOURCE LINKS
MENTAL HEALTH and GENERAL RESOURCES
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Parent Links Healthy Coping Brochures – Santa Barbara County Resources and Screening Tools
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Fact Sheet Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders: Impacts on moms, babies and families
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Maternal Mental Health Now Maternal Mental Health Now
POSTPARTUM
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Postpartum Support International (PSI) Postpartum Support International (PSI)
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Postpartum Research The Marce Society for Postpartum Mental Health
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Santa Barbara County Postpartum Depression Strategic Plan
ALCOHOL & DRUG
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California Department of Public Health Information on Perinatal Substance Use
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Where to go for Diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
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Cedars Sinai Medical Center - Medical Genetics/Birth Defects Center 8700 Beverly Blvd Pact St 400 LA, CA 90048 Phone 800-233-2771. Contact John Graham john.graham@cshs.org
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UCLA Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Related Disorders Clinic 760 Westwood Plaza 68-265A Semel Institute Los Angeles, CA 90095. Contact Mary O'Connor PhD
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Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Clinic 1721 Griffin Ave LA, CA 90031. Contact Dr. Lyn Laboriel Phone 323-221-4134. www.violenceinterventionprogram.org
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San Diego State University - Center for Behavioral Teratology 6330 Alvarado Court Suite 100 San Diego CA 92120. Phone 619-594-7228. Contact Sarah Mattson, PhD. (or) Amy Flink 619-594-1228. www.psychology,sdsu.edu/new-web/facultystaff/matson.html
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UCSD Department of Pediatrics. Division of Dysmorphology 3020 Children's Way, MC 5109 San Diego CA 92123. Phone 619-543-2066. Contact Kenneth Lyons Jones, MD.
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Santa Teresa Medical Center, Dept of Genetics 5755 Cottle Road Building 1 san Jose, CA 95123 Phone 408-972-3300 Contact David Witt MD. www.pemanente.net/homepage/kaiser/pages
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IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN INFORMATION ON TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES SEND EMAIL TO THE PWC THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE

