Sheelah

Sheelah Kolhatkar Cold Shoulders “Women can always show their shoulders because they never gain weight there,” said Donna Karan on April 20 to 400 or so fashion-design students at Parsons, her alma mater.

The Transom 2006

When I met with Sheelah, it was clear that she was in the midst of a major clinical depression that would require treatment with medication.

Shouldn’t I Be Happy? M.D. Shaila Misri 1985

Sheelah began to have negative feelings towards everyone around her—the baby, her husband, and her widowed mother-in-law, who lived in a suite in their house.

Shouldn’t I Be Happy? M.D. Shaila Misri 1985

As her recovery progressed in hospital, Sheelah had the opportunity to talk with other health care professionals—nurses, occupational therapists, social workers—many of whom were mothers themselves.

Shouldn’t I Be Happy? M.D. Shaila Misri 1985

I gave Sheelah a prescription for an antidepressant and scheduled an appointment for the next day.

Shouldn’t I Be Happy? M.D. Shaila Misri 1985

The family had three children, all daughters, and when Sheelah gave birth to a son, her parents were ecstatic.

Shouldn’t I Be Happy? M.D. Shaila Misri 1985

Sheelah had to be placed on major tranquilizers, and she remained in hospital for six weeks—completely separated from the baby whom she had refused to stop nursing.

Shouldn’t I Be Happy? M.D. Shaila Misri 1985

They must barely have reached home when I received a phone call from Sheelah saying she would not be in the next day and that she felt she could handle her own problems.

Shouldn’t I Be Happy? M.D. Shaila Misri 1985

Sheelah, a 24-year-old Indo-Canadian woman came to Canada with her parents when she was three years old.

Shouldn’t I Be Happy? M.D. Shaila Misri 1985

Their approach, both as professionals and as women with the similar experience of motherhood, helped Sheelah find some balance in her feelings towards her baby.

Shouldn’t I Be Happy? M.D. Shaila Misri 1985