Matthew Kelzer

There is no one answer to this question, however there are a number of common antidepressants that might be helpful for you. My typical first recommendation is Fluoxetine, also known as Prozac. Fluoxetine has been in circulation for decades, has known positives and negatives, works consistently well for a great many people, and is very affordable to just
about everyone (on most $4 lists). This, among other SSRI antidepressants may be a good fit for you. I recommend contacting your family medicine or primary care provider to discuss options. Many OB/GYNs will also take care of these prescriptions for new mothers, so this may be a good option for you given the circumstances. Please remember that depression is a very real illness, and you are not alone. If you have any concerns at all about your safety or the safety of others do not hesitate to reach out to your local emergency room for immediate assistance.
Hope this helps.

Matt Kelzer, PA-C

There are a few possibilities. The most common are tension headaches, caused by spasm of the muscles of the head and neck. Some can be resistant to OTC medication. Aggravating factors are psychological stress, dehydration, sleep loss. Other potential diagnoses include migraine headaches and cluster headaches, which often don't respond to OTC medication, either. I recommend visiting your family or primary care practitioner for evaluation and possibly a prescription depending on the diagnosis. Daily headaches are universally considered irregular and should be worked up to determine the cause.

That's a question I hear often that doesn't have an easy answer. The long-term solution requires very deliberate and consistent changes to your mental process. I recommend seeking help by way of a certified therapist, many of which practice Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT. CBT is known to be a very effective process that focuses on your thoughts/anxiety (the cognitive portion) and changing how you react to them (the behavior part). It can be a long process, but the length of time from start to results is decreased the more you practice, and it certainly takes practice.

Beyond this, short-term solutions can include medication, and there is no shame in making use of this tool in the short term. These medications can have side effects, so I recommend consulting your family practice provider about this for more detail. In my experience, both are viable options, but long-term change will almost certainly require work on the cognitive-behavioral chain. Both often work better together than either separately. Don't be afraid to ask for help. This problem is much more common than anyone your age will let on. It gets better.

This is a difficult situation to cope with, even at the best of times. I recommend searching out a local counselor who specializes in pediatrics. An independent 3rd party can be very helpful.

Yes, Zoloft, also known as Sertraline, is an SSRI, a common group of antidepressant medication.