I too experienced the devastation of postpartum depression but mine became the psychosis form and I was separated from my baby and needed to be hospitalised for several months. It took me a long time to recover and continue my life as a mother, wife and school teacher. It is an illness so often 'not talked about' and I applaud Brooke for speaking out. I look forward to reading her book.
Incidentally I too have written my account of the illness and people may also be interested in it - I also list a big Appendix for help and advice. My book is called Eyes without Sparkle, a journey through postnatal illness, by Elaine A Hanzak.
People who have read it have told me how much it has helped them and made them realise they are not alone in this awful illness.

In the UK I have been asked to speak about it on national TV and in the media! It seems we are needed to 'spread the word' about this awful illness and help reduce the stigma associated with it and help people realise that you can get better!

Details of my book are at http://www.radcliffe-oxford.com/books/bookdetail.asp?ISBN=1+85775+655+X

best wishes
Elaine

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I have also written a book about my experience with PPD. It is called "Baby Feat" and can be found at www.authorhouse.com in the next few weeks. I have been very anxious to reveal what I experienced and am glad that this coincides with a celebrity going national. I hope more women will seek help and others will recognize this as real. I pray that we will learn to understand and walk together on this journey of motherhood. It is a high calling. for more on my story go to www.babyfeat.com Tammy Crowder

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I wanted to share that I too had devastating post partum depression from my first baby, and received counselling and medications to deal with it after being hospitalized and six yrs later I had a 2nd baby and again had post partum depression and came to the point of being suicidal and after an attempt to take my own life I was hospitalized and have just had my 3rd baby after 5 yrs and this time no depression. But I had everything in place with meds and counselling and home support that made it easier this time around. Motherhood can be wonderful with the right support. Thank you Brooke Shields for bringing this out into the public.

Debora

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My experience is somewhat different than Brook but in some ways very similar. When I was about 2 weeks away from my due date I kept feeling something pulling inside my naval but didn't think nothing of it. When I went into labor it was simply unbearable (and that was my 3rd child). Time came for the delivery except my son came out blue with the cord wrapped around his neck 3 times and didn't not breath for 3 minutes. I couldn't figure out why he wasn't crying and I could see all the commotion and the rushing going on but didn't have a clue. No one was telling me anything. Finally when I was wheeled back to my room the doctor came and told me my baby had a 50/50 chance of survival and if he did survive he would be retarded. That being said I was left alone, depressed and I couldn't stop crying and my bed was near a window on the 2nd floor. I began to have bad thoughts of jumping out. It was like a magnet. Then the priest came and gave my son emergency christening. My son had pneumonia and jaundice and would not be released from the hospital right away. I then begged to be released right away and they obliged. He stayed on for one month.I visited every day. But, instead of me rejecting him ,my son was the one rejected me. He wouldn't let me hold or cuddle him or breasfeed him and cried constantly. Has anyone else been rejected by their own baby? I don't know which is worse, a mother rejecting her baby or vice versa. My postpartum depression went on for many months. I wish I had known then what I know now. My son still rejected me whenever I wanted to hug him for a longtime up in his 20's. I never gave up on him. He is now 34 very smart and a loving son.

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different angle! thank you for explaining why my mother may not have paid attention to me. thank you for being so honest about your foreign thoughts towards your daughter. that was so courageous and you cannot imagine how helpful it will continue to be for mothers and people in my position as well to come. I am 47 and just had a huge breakthrough.
love-beverly

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Tom Cruise commented badly on the way Brook Shields personally handled her PPD. I am so angry about what he said. He has no right to condem her for how she handled it. He is entitled to an opinion, but he is way off.

Depression is a serious medical condition. It must be treated with the help of qualified doctors, which can include the use of medication, as needed.

Tom was also "way off base" when he added the additional comments about her career. It is her life not his.

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I lost ALL respect for Tom Cruise when I listened to him put down Brooke Shields for how she has dealt with PPD. If you have heard him speak about how happy he is with his life, and how unhappy Brook is with hers, I do not see how you can ever feel the same about him again.

I had a child 22 years ago. I wanted him more than anything in this world. Immediatley after he was born, I could barely tolerate being in the same room with him. I had intended to nurse my child, but I anxiety level and all kinds of anger went through me each time I touched him. I eventually got so I told the nurses not to bring him into my hospital room. I tried to handle the situation by hiring someone to stay with us and take care of him almost all of the time. On several occassions, I caused physical harm to my child. When I harmed him, it was like two personalities living within one body. There was the bad personality that was determined to hurt the baby, and there was the weaker, good personality that had little control, but always tried to keep the child safe. The good personality was forced to go along for the ride and live in total misery. When these occassions got to where I my presence was life-threatening to my child, I would take over-the-counter sleeping pills and knock myself out. Eventually, it came to the point where I knew that I had to get my son into a home where he would feel secure and feel safe and loved. I gave my child up. The complete experience has been a nightmare beyond belief. When this happened to me and I reached out to friends and family, for help. No one would believe me when I would tell them how bizarre I was feeling and that I had to have help for my child. I not only had to live with strange feelings and behavior, I had to live with years of hating myself and finding myself a totally repulsive person, even though I was a highly respected medical professional. Only, during the last few years, since other women have talked about their experiences with PPD, have I been able to forgive myself and once again feel like a respectable human being. This has seemed so amazingly strange, because I am a very easy-going person and I wanted my child so badly. If anyone had ever told me that I might feel like that after having a baby, I probably would not have believed them.

I hate to think of anyone else and their baby having to endure PPD, but I highly praise Brooke Shields for helping the public to understand that when this happens to a woman, that it is real and they desparately need help for the safety and well-being of their child.

It frightens me to think that Tom Cruise's comments about Brooke could potentially return peoples' attitudes to the times when my son was born and everyone seemed ignorant about the situation. Tom Cruise has no idea what he is talking about when he says that Psychologist, Psychiatrist, and Medications are of no use, and potentially very harmful. He reminds me of my parents telling me that my problem was that I did not attend church often enough. Tom needs to leave the practice of medicine to the medical professionals and stick to Acting.

Thank you Brooke! As another commentor, noted, I am sure that this will be a source that will help provide explanations to many children whose mothers experienced PPD.

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Unless Mr. Cruise has a PhD in psychology that we are un awar of, giving medical advise about mental pharmaceuticals is out of him area of expertice. Perhaps Mr. Cruise should seek therapy regardng his controlling need to get involved with young starlets and his insecurities involving successful women instead of attacking proven methods that help women ovrcome debilitatng biochmical and emotional problems. You go Booke!

J. Waters, PhD Psychology

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GOOD FOR Brooke Shields - telling Tom Cruise where to go and what to do when he gets there. The last time anyone looked this know-it-all has not given birth - nor has anyone he has ever been associated with - how darn he assume that he is the end-all source for how to treat post-partum depression. This is a serious condition that most mothers experience in some form or another. Believe me, if men as fathers EVER has post-partum depression, there would be a TON of federal money thrown at it until there was a quick cure. Way to go Brooke.

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Tom Cruise has no idea what p.p. depression is like. So, how can he comment. I had it and thought I was losing my mind. I'm not big on drugs either, but sometimes you need them to help you. He owes her and many other women an apology for such an unthinking comment. I have lost even more respect for him ( after seeing Eyes Wide Shut....I started losing it), but now I have lost total respect.

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I would like to say to Brooke (who I hope reads this) that you did not deserve the bashing that you got from Tom Cruise. As a first time mother myself, I too dealt with depression problems. Thank you for coming out and sharing your experiences, you have helped me a great deal. People who are especially unable to experience the reality of pregnancy and childbirth should keep their opinions to themselves. I wish you well and hope you have many years of happiness!!
Thank you,
Amy

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I felt so relieved when I heard about Brooke's ordeal. I am sorry she went through it. But our society never understands anything until a famous person experiences it. Then it is a legitimate issue.

Brooke is brave for coming forth. PPD is misunderstood by the medical profession and by the public at large. I can only hope that her bravery helps people to better understand pregnancy and birth.

Oh, and the hell with Tom Cruise and anyone who says "there is no such thing as a chemical imbalance".

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Im a guy, but im not here to suppost Tom Cruise. I dont know what causes postpartum depression but let each guy try to carry a child for 9 months and feel what its like to have it removed at the end of that time. Its not painless. I could be like tom cruise and give religious reasons why its not painless but i wont. When you carry a child for 9 months and then are seperated from it, that in itself can cause depression. It takes courage to come out in fornt of the world and tell people you had a problem with depression. I myself have had 3 strokes over the past 15 years, i now suffer from depression from those strokes but the doctors say 'no you don't'. If it was not for the medication i take life would be a bit rougher for me and others who have to take medication for depression. One of the area i have problems with is telling people that beleive in God and follow him that i have depression. Why? Because im a lienced minister. I dont rely on medication alone, i also trust in the Lord to help me get through the rough times. Jesus said himself 'let those who need a doctor go to a doctor'. Dont put them down for it cause i am still here for them also. Depression can be faked just like other things can be faked. Tom Cruise I have a lot that i can tell you about religion, its not religion its a relationship that you can have with God and you sir, dont have that relationship.

In Christ

Vance Winsor

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Like Brooke, I too had postpardum depression with my first son. After I came out of it, I thought I would like another baby. I figured lightening doesn't strike twice in the same place, right? Wrong. It was worse for me after my second child, then I knew I could not have anymore. I was afraid I wouldn't come back from the otherside. I want to let Brooke know, it could happen again. Take care. I have been on anti depresseants since my last child, that was 22 years ago.
Linsa

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I wish getting help for depression wasn’t something that would follow and plague you for life. I had to go covert to get help for my depression, and I didn’t do that till my son was 11. I wasted 11 years of our relationship not feeling loving toward him because of all the ramifications that come with getting help for depression. The world makes you feel that there is something wrong with you, so you don’t get help. And the medication you take will follow you for life, can cause you denial of medical coverage, can be used against you in getting a job. And in the event you were in a custody suit, they will use this as a means of taking your children from you. It is amazing that a medical crisis you try to get help for would never leave you, and will constantly be a label for you. I think it is a very courageous thing Brooke Shields did admitting that she is as human as the rest of us, and that life can be imperfect in Hollywood as well as everywhere else. And as for Tom Cruise, I sincerely hope for Katies sake that she does not come down with this after she has their child, he will give her some vitamins and tell her she will be alright tomorrow; with the same potential affects I have suffered, and still suffer. And while I do not agree with what Andrea Yates did, no one listened to her either. It is still a nasty little secret, and there is something wrong with you if your child does not produce this incredible instantaneous love in you. And until treatment is not a bad thing, many relationships, and suffering will continue.

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