Sorrow's Web: Hope, Help, and Understanding for Depressed Mothers and Their Children [Paperback]

One of every four women suffers from depression at some point in her life, often during the prime childbearing years, yet most fail to recognize the telltale signs of this common, treatable illness and its potentially negative effects on the children of all ages. Drawing on her experience as both a child of a depressed mother and as a depressed mother herself, as well as on extensive research by experts in psychiatry, psychology, and child development, Books for a Better Life award winner Anne Sheffield offers advice on how to:

• recognize the symptoms of depression and protect children from their impact
• choose among the range of medical and psychotherapeutic options available
• outline a strategy for fathers that will help them and the marriage weather the crisis
• ensure that the illness does not return

As the first book to demystify, destigmatize, and humanize a long-taboo subject,Sorrow's Webpoints the way to sustaining and regaining a loving relationship between mother and child.Anne Sheffield,formerly director of development for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the International Planned Parenthood Federation, is also author of the award-winning bookHow You Can Survive When They're Depressed.She lives in New York City.Chapter 1

Shedding New Light on an Old Problem

An eminent child psychologist once observed that all children need at least one adult who is irrationally enthusiastic about them. I lacked such a parent because my mother suffered from a chronic depression that prevented her from feeling enthusiastic about anything, including me. Neither she nor I is alone in the brand of lasting grief her depression caused us both. One in every four women will suffer from this illness at some time during her life, often during her childbearing years. Although depression is not contagious in the sense that measles and tuberculosis are, its presenclCR