Postpartum depression for dummies / Shoshana S. Bennett ; foreword by Mary Jo Codey.

Cover -- About the Author -- Dedication -- Author's Acknowledgments -- Contents at a Glance -- Table of Contents -- Foreword -- Introduction -- About This Book -- Conventions Used in This Book -- What You're Not to Read -- Foolish Assumptions -- How This Book Is Organized -- Icons Used In This Book -- Where to Go from Here -- Part I: Bringing Postpartum Depression into the Light: What It's All About -- Chapter 1: The Big Adjustment: Welcome to Motherhood -- The Reality of Motherhood: Let Bootie Camp Begin! -- The Reality of Postpartum Depression (PPD) -- Debunking Denial: A Glimpse from Yours Truly -- When Depression Begins in Pregnancy -- A Brief Overview of Treating and Recovering from PPD -- Before You Begin, Take Some Hope for the Journey -- Chapter 2: These Ain't No Baby Blues: PPD, Up Close and Personal -- Baby Blues: Cute Name for a Crummy Time -- When the Misty Blues Turn to Darker Hues -- Considering Special Situations Where PPD May Be on the Horizon -- Extending beyond Biological Moms: PPD in Dads and Adoptive Moms -- Chapter 3: You Mean There's More? Five Related Postpartum Disorders -- Penciling in Some Lines: A Quick Comparison of Mood Disorders -- When Fear Strikes: Panic Disorder -- Facing the Aftermath: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder -- Breaking the Cycle: Handling Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) -- Riding the Emotional See-Saw: Bipolar Disorder -- Immediate Attention Needed: Psychosis -- Part II: The Three Little Letters: PPD and You -- Chapter 4: Looking Within: Is PPD Your Big Bad Wolf? -- Facing the Beast Head-On: Tuning In to Your Emotions -- Minding Your Mentality: A Look at Self-Talk and Dark Thoughts -- Watching for Warning Signs of the Physical Kind -- Evaluating Your Postpartum Slump -- Chapter 5: A Professional Assessment: What's Huffing and Puffing at Your Mind's Door? -- The Difficulties of the Diagnosis -- Taking a Pre-Assessment: The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale -- Receiving a Competent Professional Assessment -- Reacting to Your Diagnosis -- Chapter 6: Seeking Out a Therapist to Keep Your Proverbial House Standing -- Understanding the Role and Importance of a Therapist -- Finding the Motivation to Go to Therapy: Demolishing Mental Blockades -- Seeking Help When You Suspect You Have PPD -- Finding the Right Therapist for You -- Choosing a Licensed Therapist -- Paying for Therapy: Don't Shortchange Yourself -- Locating a Therapist or Counselor -- Assessing the Therapist You've Chosen -- Part III: Diagnosis Confirmed: Looking at the Treatment Options for PPD -- Chapter 7: Venting Your Mind and Heart: Psychological Treatment -- Knowing What to Expect From Therapy -- Making the Most of Therapy -- Ending Therapy and Staying Healthy -- Attending Groups -- Chapter 8: Counteracting a Chemical Cause: Medical Treatments -- Recognizing the Benefits of Medication on Depression -- Who You Gonna Call? A Psychiatrist, That's Who -- Addressing Concerns about Taking Prescribed Meds -- Specific Types of Medical Treatments for PPD -- Understanding the Fact that Finding the Right Med(s) Is a Process -- Side Effects: You Can't Always Get Just What You Want -- Knowing When to Begin.