环球英语 — 108：The Baby Blues: Treatment

　　Voice 1
Thank you for joining us for today’s Spotlight¹ program. I’m Joshua Leo.
Voice 2
And I’m Liz Waid. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
For thousands of years, doctors have recognized that childbirth can have a big effect on a woman’s mind and body.
Voice 2
You may have heard a Spotlight program about the baby blues² and postpartum depression³ before. In that program we described the signs of these mind sicknesses. In today’s Spotlight program we will share some ways to treat these sicknesses. The baby blues and postpartum depression affect new mothers. But they also affect whole families. You can help women suffering from the baby blues or postpartum depression.
Voice 1
Doctors do not know the exact cause of postpartum depression. But they believe that an imbalance of brain chemicals is probably the cause. Hormones⁵ are natural body chemicals. They affect a person’s emotions. During and immediately after pregnancy⁶, a woman’s hormone⁴ levels change a lot. So, a woman’s emotions and ways of thinking also change a lot.
Voice 2
Other brain chemicals also influence the way a person feels. They physically⁷ affect the brain. They make a person feel depressed⁸. There are ways to fix and balance these brain chemicals.
Voice 1
Some medicines, called anti-depressants, can help to treat postpartum depression. But these medicines may cost a lot of money. And not all people can get them. However, there are ways that women may be able to treat and recover from these sicknesses without medicine.
Voice 2
If you are a new mother suffering from the baby blues or postpartum depression you should know that you are not alone. There is hope. Other women have had the same experiences. They have lived to have happy and healthy lives. If you are a husband, friend, or family member of a new mother, you should know that you can help! You can support the new mother. You can share this information with her. You can help her find hope. Here are some ideas that other women have found helpful.
Voice 3
Remember that you are not alone. Find a support group in your area. Talk with other new mothers who have similar feelings and pressures. Find someone to talk with about your feelings.
Voice 4
Do not be afraid to ask for help. Ask someone to help you with your responsibilities⁹. New mothers need rest. Remember that you do not have to be perfect.
Voice 3
You might feel like there is too much work for you to do. It is normal to feel this way after a new baby is born. Childbirth is a life-changing event.
Voice 4
It may be hard for you to imagine doing everything you need to do. So, if you can, do only one thing every day, even if it is hard for you to do. Small successes can encourage you. Do not get angry with yourself if you cannot get everything done.
Voice 3
Do one thing every day just for yourself. If you like to make art, then make art. If you like to sing, find a time for you to sing. If you like to spend quiet time to yourself, then spend quiet time with yourself. This is important.
Voice 4
Finally, if you can, visit a doctor or health worker. Be honest about your thoughts and emotions. A doctor or health worker may give you advice or medicines that can help.
Voice 1
These are only a few of many ways to help a new mother.
Voice 2
Joanne suffered through postpartum depression after two [2] of her pregnancies¹⁰. Here is Joanne’s story.
Voice 5
“My first experience with postpartum depression was with the birth of my second daughter in 1995... The first few days were great. My husband’s mother stayed with us for the first week, and immediately after she left, the blues began. I was tired, my oldest daughter was full of energy, my body was in pain from the birth, and I began to be afraid and concerned. My fear of being alone was more than I could bear. I spent the majority of the day crying and wishing I had never decided¹¹ to have a second child. I had no energy, no desire to leave … my home, and no idea what I was experiencing.”
“I finally visited my doctor. I found out then that I had postpartum depression. My doctor gave me medicine to treat it. And he asked if it would be possible for my mom, dad or sister to come and stay with me. They did come, and they stayed with our family for seven [7] weeks. They would take the baby at night and let me sleep. And I would look after her during the day.”
“My postpartum depression was hard on my relationship with my husband too. He did not understand why this was happening. . . I am sure at times he wondered where his wife had gone. There were times when he would get angry when I cried. And it was hard for him to understand that sometimes I just needed him to hold his arms around me.”
Voice 1
Many people around the world are not able to visit a doctor like Joanne did. They may not have enough money. They may not be able to get medicine. But there are many things that any person can do to help a new mother deal with these sicknesses.
Voice 2
Joanne asked her family for help. Some women may not want to ask for help. They may believe that it makes them look weak. This is often the case in developed countries. Women in the United¹² States report more cases of the baby blues than in other countries. In some developing¹³ countries, though, there is more support from family and friends. However, the WHO observes that cities are spreading. And systems of support for new mothers are also changing.
Voice 1
One place Joanne found help was on the internet. She found a website where many mothers met to tell about their experiences with postpartum depression. Other women’s stories helped Joanne to see that she was not suffering alone. Joanne has also written her story on the internet. At the end, she writes:
Voice 5
“To all of you suffering, or wondering if you have postpartum depression, I hope my story will help you. Finding¹⁴ a support group helped me. I could see that I was not alone in this, and that many others had ‘been there.’ ... The sooner you seek help, the sooner you will recover. Seek help from family and friends, support groups - whatever it takes - and be open about the thoughts you are having . . . From my experience, it does and will get better. There is hope - AND YOU ARE NOT ALONE! I found hope - and you will too.”
 

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

3 depression   

n.压抑，抑制，沮丧；萧条，衰退

参考例句：

• During a depression money circulates slowly.在商业萧条时期，货币流通滞缓。
• He suffers from acute depression.他患有严重的忧郁症。

4 hormone   

n.荷尔蒙，激素，内分泌

参考例句：

• Hormone implants are used as growth boosters.激素植入物被用作生长辅助剂。
• This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body.这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。

5 hormones   

n. 荷尔蒙，激素 名词hormone的复数形式

参考例句：

• This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body. 这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。
• The adrenals produce a large per cent of a man's sex hormones. 肾上腺分泌人体的大部分性激素。

6 pregnancy   

n.怀孕，怀孕期

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕早期常有恶心的现象。
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.怀孕期吸烟会增加流产的危险。

7 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

8 depressed   

adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的

参考例句：

• When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
• His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。

9 responsibilities   

责任( responsibility的名词复数 )； 职责； 责任感； 责任心

参考例句：

• the disproportion between the extra responsibilities and the small salary increase 额外的责任与小幅增加的薪金之间的不相称
• The job encompasses a wide range of responsibilities. 这项工作涉及的职责范围很广。

10 pregnancies   

怀孕，妊娠( pregnancy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Since the wartime population needed replenishment, pregnancies were a good sign. 最后一桩倒不失为好现象，战时人口正该补充。
• She's had three pregnancies in four years. 她在四年中怀孕叁次。

11 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

12 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

13 developing   

adj.发展中的

参考例句：

• Transport has always been the key to developing trade.运输一直是发展贸易的关键。
• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。

14 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。