Mothers and Depression: Depressing ME

It is sad when even "public service" announcements make it clear that our country has lost all moorings in reality---lost in the "magic wand" theory of government, and everything else.

Yes, I heard a "public service" announcement that EVERY new mother--and maybe dad, although dads seemed to be thrown in as an afterthought--should receive "screening" for "depression". In fact, the assertion was that new mothers ("new" in the sense of having just given birth) should receive FOUR "screening's" (whatever in the Hell that means) in the year after giving birth. HOGWASH. I swear we are becoming certifiably insane, as a society.

Yes, "post-partum depression" is a well known "problem". It exists, for SOME women. But I will go out on a limb here: This is NOT one of the great problems of our time. Mothers somehow have had babies for thousands of years without being "screened" for "depression". Sure, if a mother DOES have depression she can't handle, she should seek help. But automatic "screening" for it is absurd. For DADS to worry about it is beyond absurd (worry about their own depression).

What is the absurd BOOTSTRAPPING going on here? You should be able to guess. There is a "study", or "findings", that parents with "depression" don't make good parents, and that therefore this absurd overreaction is FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE POO OR CHILDREN. I want a study about how bad off the "poor children" are if their parents drive them to distraction with all of these absurd worries (unless--obviously--the mother suffers symptoms she is having trouble handling). Nope. I do NOT think the mother is EVER excused by post-partum depression for KILLING her baby (don't laugh--this almost seems where we are headed--where if a mother kills her baby, it is OUR FAULT for not making sure she got help).

By the way, what happens if the "screening" shows "depression"(which you would guess would happen in about 3 out of every one real case of depress on, if not more than that)? Do we really know how to "cure" depression"? Do we really know the difference between "depression" caused by lack of sleep, and other real problems, and irrational depression? Yes, I am fully aware there IS a difference--in obvious cases--but there are enormous gray areas. Do we have a study showing how much better off the "poor children" are when their parents are under treatment, and when they are not? 40,000 people still die in automobile accidents each year. 16,0000 or so are murdered each year in the United States. Is "depression" really a bigger problem than parents with drug problems, money problems, personality problems, pre-existing mental problems, or any number of other outside problems ms? I don't think so. And just how worried are we about the "poor children" when we are reaching the point that a child is equally as likely--with all other things being approximately equal, or even slanted a little toward the heterosexual parent--to be given to a normal heterosexual parent as to a homosexual parent (in a custody battle--my nephew is in one with a wife how has "discovered" she is homosexual)? And we won't even discuss adoption by homosexual parents.

No. "Depressed" mothers are just NOT a big problem. Remember, we are not talking about the normal "depression" that we all can handle (like new BRIDES seem to often experience right before the wedding, and even right after, or as normal WOMEN may suffer during their period, or other hormone imbalances). We HAVE to get over the idea that every single "problem" requires professional mental health care. Se just can't go there, as a society.

What is the "magic wand" theory? It is that all government--or medical people, in combination with government, in this case--have to do is wave a magic wand and the "problem" is SOLVED. It is simply not true, and absurd. In this case, I would hope doctors warn pregnant women about the possibility of post-partum depression, and the need for help if it gets severe. But I reject the idea that we need to turn ourselves into a SICK society over "problems" that have existed--and been dealt with--since the beginning of time. If we do that, then we truly are SICK--although doctors, mothers and even husbands should obviously be aware of the need to take action if something is truly wrong. Nope again. I REJECT the idea that the only way to know if something is "wrong" is "screening" (government mandated "screening"?).

We won't even get into the amount of mental health care needed because of BULLYING (defined in such a way that f100% of people have been both the victims and "perps" of "bullying").

We have gone NUTS, and it is depressing me. Should I be "screened". lest I "infect" others with my untreated problem?