Chapter 3: Does this website apply to me? Part III
One of the most surprising features of PPD is that patients with very different symptoms and personal backgrounds often share personality traits that can be stressful. Why? We will get to that in a later chapter. For now, I will just say there is a connection between PPD and the traits. The more of these traits you have, the more likely your brain is involved in generating your symptoms. Here is a list to check out.
Perfectionism or being highly detail oriented.
It is important for you to please others or be seen as good by them.
Being much more critical of yourself than you are of others, or they are about you.
People who were stressful for you as a child are still active in your life.
Giving more to people with whom you are in a close personal relationship than you receive in return.
In the past or present, being in close personal relationships with people who are demanding, controlling, or threatening.
Living a highly stressful life.
Not taking enough time for personal enjoyment.
Experiencing outbursts of negative emotions (anger, fear, shame, grief, guilt) seemingly for little or no reason.
A current or past addiction, eating disorder, self-injury or suicide attempt.
Difficult to control anxiety, nervousness or worry.
Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless much of the time.
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were enjoyable in the past.
Symptoms that are linked to a terrifying, traumatic, or horrifying event or begin after a triggering event that is linked to a trauma.
Repeated, disturbing memories, thoughts, images, or dreams of a stressful or traumatic experience.
If you learned that a child you care about was experiencing everything you did as a child, you would feel sad or angry.
This is not a happy list. I know. The good news is that these stressful traits can be successfully addressed. Every single one can be treated. Even better news is that as you treat the sources of stress in your life, the physical symptoms of PPD will improve and even can be alleviated.
