Discussion Paper:
"For decades, I pretended everything was normal"
Discussion Paper: "For decades, I pretended everything was normal"
The article For Decades, I Pretended Everything was Normal (Mayoh, 2011) discussed how a 43-year old Australian mother Bronwyn Marquardt has been suffering from depression since her early 30s. As defined by the George Mason University (2007), “depression is a disturbance in mood, thought, and body” and is characterized by different levels of guilt, self-doubt, hopelessness, loneliness, disappointment, and sadness.
Throughout this period, Marquardt has been diagnosed with postnatal depression and major depressive disorder. Postnatal depression is the depression that arises in the months after childbirth (Oakley & Malik, 2011) while major depressive disorder is defined as the condition that includes at least five of the following symptoms (Horwitz & Wakefield, 2009): 1.) suicide attempt, suicidal ideation, or recurrent thoughts about death; 2.) indecisiveness or reduced ability to concentrate or think; 3.) feelings of inappropriate or excessive guilt or worthlessness; 4.) loss of energy or fatigue; 5.) psychomotor retardation or agitation; 6.) hypersomnia or insomnia; 7.) change in appetite, weight loss, or weight gain; 8.) a lack of pleasure or interest in activities; and 9.) a depressed mood. It is also important to note that the condition is considered major depressive disorder only if the five symptoms include either reduced pleasure or interest or a depressed mood.
It is evident from the article that Marquardt’s depression was triggered, if not worsened, by tragic events in life such as the breakup of her first marriage. As stated by Robinson, Rodgers & Butterworth (2008, p. 4), mental disorders are usually “linked with a range of adverse social outcomes,” which include the possibility of a marital breakdown as well as marital dissatisfaction. Similarly, the National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care (Andrews, Hall, Teesson, & Henderson, n.d.) showed that the prevalence of three of the most common mental disorders among Australians – affective disorders, anxiety disorders, and substance use disorders – are associated with marital status. In particular, “the highest rates of disorders were found among persons who were separated or divorced” (Andrews et al., p. 9), that is, 27.4 % of divorced women and 23.7% of divorced men. It is also notable that there are high rates of the mental disorders’ occurrence among widowed women. Conversely, married men and women had the lowest rates of disorders.
It can then be deduced from the study that people who have these mental disorders are more unlikely to marry and are more likely to divorce and that events such as the death of a spouse and separation or divorce can have adverse effects on one’s mental health. On the other hand, it can also be deduced that marriage may be good for a person’s mental health.
As well, it was indicated in Mayoh’s article that Marquardt suffered from postnatal depression. In Marquardt’s words, she said that she was happy about having another baby but that she was just so inexplicably sad.
For most women, having a baby is the biggest social, emotional, and physical “upheaval they have ever experienced” (Pope, 2000, p. 5). Mothers can feel a wide range of emotions towards their baby, which can include elation, delight, tenderness, and protectiveness, yet they can also feel guilty, frightened, angry, and as if they have no control over their lives. This is the reason for the confusion and the feeling of inadequacy that mothers sometimes feel.
Women have a desire to become good mothers and they consider imperfection as the biggest failure in life. However, these expectations are sometimes unrealistic. Such expectations include the belief that they should always be available, that they should always prioritize their baby’s needs, and that they should never take a break; that they should instinctively know how to settle, comfort, and breastfeed their baby; that they should recognize and love their baby right away; and that having a baby will improve their marriage.
Not being able to meet these expectations causes women to blame themselves instead of realizing that motherhood is a very stressful responsibility with limited resources. However, mothers find it hard to admit that they’re having difficulties and might not ask for help for fear that people might think they’re a bad mother.
It is also for this reason that the emotional problems experienced by women before or after childbirth are usually misunderstood in the community. They are hidden because of shame or embarrassment. These emotional problems are more likely to occur during the first three months after childbirth than at any other time in a woman’s life. It should be noted that 80% of mothers are likely to experience the baby blues (Pope, 2000). This is usually a time when women are extra sensitive and cry a lot. They feel unconfident and irritable, especially from 3 to 5 days after birth. These occurrences may be attributed to the hormonal changes that occur after childbirth.
This is supported by the findings reported in the article Depression: A Treatable Disease (2009), which stated that women have twice more chances to suffer from depression than men due to both social and biological factors. The study showed that depression was most common among women aged 25 to 44, and peaked during the years of childbearing. Social factors, on the other hand, included stress from work and family responsibilities.
Not only are women hesitant to talk about their maternal problems, but it’s evident that, just like Marquardt, women are also hesitant to talk about their depression. Some are “too embarrassed to talk about their feelings and worry about what others think of them” (Harold, 2008, p. 41). The negative stigma that’s associated with depression can also make people hesitate to talk about it (Okoye, 2005) while others feel guilty about their illness or feel that they are pathetic or weak because they can’t get over it (Hine, 2008).
It should be kept in mind, however, that finding someone to talk to is actually the first step in treating depression. It can help one sort out the confused thoughts by talking to someone they trust such as a close friend or a family member. This also makes it easier to make a decision about seeking professional help.
Seeing a family doctor does help a lot, as this provides “the best opportunity for effective treatment” (Harrold, p. 41). The family doctor is capable of treating most cases of depression, but can provide referrals to more specialized services if necessary. They have the training required for recognizing the signs of depression, and they understand how difficult it is for some people to ask for help.
As well, it should be noted that the Australian government has established BeyondBlue, an independent and non-profit Australian organization that addresses issues related to anxiety, depression, and other substance misuse disorders (“Beyondblue,” 2011). It aims to raise community awareness about depression and reduce the stigma that’s associated with the condition. One of the ways by which this stigma can be reduced is the implementation of a social marketing strategy that includes opportunities that increase contact with people who have or have had a mental disorder (Sheffer, 2003). This encouragses people to seek help and promotes positive attitudes. It also helps for public policies to be developed, as these would ensure supportive policies for healthcare, housing, employment, and welfare. In addition, it would help to explore more effective treatments and provide sensitization training for those with regular contacts with people who have a personal experience.
In conclusion, the article For Decades, I Pretended Everything was Normal described how an Australian woman suffered from depression, a condition that a lot of people suffer from, not only in Australia but in other parts of the world as well.
The article highlighted how depression can be caused by tragic life events such as marriage breakdowns, and the results of previous studies that showed the same were discussed.
The article also mentioned how Marquardt suffered from postnatal depression, and it was discussed how women are prone to depression not only because of the expectations and responsibilities that stem from motherhood but also because of the pressures to meet societal expectations of what a woman's role should be.
In addition, the article highlighted how not talking about her depression hindered Marquardt's recovery and this paper discussed some of the reasons behind the shame, fear, and embarrassment associated with talking about the condition.
Lastly, as acknowledged by Marquardt, the paper discussed how talking about one's depression can aid in one's recovery and how important it is to seek professional help. These, together with government assistance and community efforts towards the eradication of the stigma around mental illness, can help in the prevention and treatment of depression, with the hopes that someday mental illness won’t plague our societies as much.
References
Andrews, G., Hall, W., Teesson, M., & Henderson, S. (n.d.). The mental health of Australians.
Canberra, Australia: Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services
BeyondBlue: The national depression initiative. (2011, July 21). Retrieved from
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/mentalhealth/publishing.nsf/Content/beyondblue-1
George Mason University. (2007, July). Coping with depression. Retrieved from
http://caps.gmu.edu/educationalprograms/pamphlets/CopingWithDepression.pdf
Harrold, J. (2008). Mental health. Australia: R.I.C. Publications
Hine, N. (2008). The depression trap: Ten ways to set yourself free. Red Raft
Publishing, LLP
Horwitz, A. V., & Wakefield, J. C. (2009). The medicalization of sadness: How psychiatry
transformed a natural emotion into a mental disorder. Salutee Societa, 8 (2), 49-65
Mayoh, L. (2011, October 29). For decades, I pretended everything was normal. Retrieved from
http://www.news.com.au/news/are-you-hiding-depression-behind-a-smile/story-fn6ja1a0-
1226179310921
Oakley, C., & Malik, A. (2011, November 15). Rapid psychiatry. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley &
Sons
Okoye, M. (2005, December 20). Overcoming depression. Xlibris Corporation
Pope, S. (2000, July 31). Postnatal depression: Not just the baby blues. M. Sweet (Ed.).
Canberra, Australia: National Health and Medical Research Council
Robinson, E., Rodgers, B. & Butterworth, P. (2008). Family relationships and mental illness:
Impacts and service responses. Australian Family Relationships Clearinghouse, 4, 1-19
Sheffer, R. (2003, May 28). Addressing stigma: Increasing public understanding of mental
illness. Retrieved from http://www.camh.net/education/
Resources_communities_organizations/addressing_stigma_senatepres03.pdf
