One Mother's Experience Treating Post-Partum Depression With Cannabis

One out of every nine new mothers experiences postpartum depression (PPD); Celia Behar is one of those moms. After the birth of her first child, her symptoms set in. Behar sought help, and was prescribed a plethora of medications, including Prozac, Ativan and Valium. These pharmaceuticals offered both side effects and benefits, but she eventually kicked them in order to breastfeed. After she gave birth to her second child, her symptoms came back. It was then that she re-discovered cannabis.

Behar found cannabis to help curb her anxiety and reduce her insomnia. She kept her use — and her PPD — a secret, even from her husband. She eventually told him about her cannabis use, and said it has made her a better mother.

However, little scientific evidence exists on the effects of cannabis on depression. Medical professionals continue to recommend therapy and medications, such as Prozac, which are shown to treat PPD. But, as one medical professional in the article stated, “There is no scale for depression. You can only know what a woman is telling you she is feeling.”