So who is telling the truth?
(PRWEB) July 5, 2005 -- The recent press
on the postpartum depression experienced by Brooke Shields has
brought a highlight on opinions expressed by Tom Cruise on his
anti-psychiatry position. The debate has become extremely heated as
many women feel Cruise’s position diminished their personal
experience with post-partum depression. So who is telling the truth?
Ironically, they both are.
According to the Postpartum Resource Center of Texas, Postpartum
depression occurs in 1 of 10 women. It is marked by drastic mood
swings, feelings of despair, crying spells and avoidance of their
new baby. Postpartum psychosis can result in hallucinations,
delusions, severe insomnia, extreme agitation and suicidal or
homicidal thoughts.
For most of us the idea of injuring a newborn makes us cringe and
seek revenge. But for those women who have suffered the acute
symptoms of postpartum depression or psychosis, they are haunted by
such thoughts and will seek any remedy to alleviate the symptoms.
Brook Shield’s willingness to use Paxil is not to be criticized or
commended, but rather understood. She sought a solution – some women
haven’t and have killed their children as a result.
Tom Cruise’s suggestion that vitamins could have balanced hormones,
while sounding too simplistic, actually has merit. So why was he
attacked for his statements? Could it be that as a man he has no
perceived validity with women’s issues? Or is it his stance against
the use of psychiatric drugs that has the world responding harshly.
In 1999, a Harvard University study generated tremendous interest
throughout the bipolar community with information about a natural
substance that offered an effective and simpler treatment than
pharmaceuticals – fish oil. The study was conducted on 30 patients
with bipolar disorder who had histories of relapse. Most were on
medications that did not offer successful treatment. Although the
trial was scheduled to last for nine months, it was cancelled after
only four due to the outstanding results.
Additional findings concluded that postpartum depression is 50 times
more common in countries with low levels of seafood consumption.
During pregnancy, a woman’s body becomes depleted of fatty acids,
which are transferred to the fetus. Omega 3 is not only critical to
the growth and maintenance of brain cells but low levels have been
detected in studies on depressed patients. A National Institute of
Health study tracked 15,541 women from their eighth week of
pregnancy to eight months after giving birth and found those who had
no seafood rich in Omega 3 fatty acids had nearly twice the rate of
depression as those who had rich Omega 3 sources in their diet.
Psychiatric Times published a special report in August 2003 stating
“Inadequate levels of Omega 3 fatty acids have been associated with
depression, including postpartum depression.”
So why do we as a society turn to behavioral drugs to treat the
symptoms of depression. That is the question that needs to be
addressed. Why has information on natural treatments been suppressed
while drugs reign supreme? Unfortunately these are the pertinent
questions that need to be addressed and have been lost in the
debate.
There are many women still suffering from postpartum depression.
Lets offer solutions that truly work rather than offering a way to
cover the symptom. That would be a fair debate to both opinions.
lectures and addresses the media on multiple topics
regarding behavioral drugs. For more information contact
at 866.628.6135
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