The Britney postpartum depression theory makes sense.

SO - terrible disregard for HIPPA aside (but then, what average rehab facility orderly wouldn't violate a little thing like patient confidentiality for the chance to sell Britney's diagnosis to gossip websites and tabloids in exchange for more money than they'd bring home in a month or twelve), this postpartum depression diagnosis theory makes sense. Ok, so it's a little spooky that she has a "death list" of her "enemies" (she's a washed-up teen pop-star. Do teen pop-stars have enemies......? of course they do - how else do I suppose Law & Order comes up with those fantastic plot lines about sociopathic cheerleaders and homicidal has-been child actors if pop stars didn't have enemies. how naive of me....) and I still can't quite reconcile the tattoo compulsion on the heels of the head-shaving ordeal, but I have an idea that it was a misguided Brit-Attempt to add a little happiness and joy to her otherwise overwhelmingly overexposed existence...hey, they said she was reading Brooke Shields' book in rehab...I think I smell an attempt to champion a popular cause in the works. Her comeback will follow her stint as a motivational speaker as the voice of underrepresented new mothers the country over (which will necessitate another Matt Lauer interview) .

Makes sense, though, doesn't it? This type of depression (though widespread...Postpartum Support International estimates 1 in 8 mothers suffer from a postpartum mood disorder of some sort) seems to go undiagnosed and unrecognized until something high-profile (and usually tragic) happens to bring some legitimate recognition to the condition - most of Britney's bizarre behavior seems in step with someone trying to self-medicate for depression - drinking, drugs, avoidance, emotional instability, unpredictable behavior...the suicide watch (which may or may not be true, but if extreme postpartum mood disorders play any part in driving a mother to kill her own children, stands to reason it could also drive a mother to kill herself).
Frankly, if it does turn out that Britney's battling extreme depression (and is open to receiving treatment to help heal and work toward being a responsible, caring parent) then I think she stands to accomplish more for postpartum depression than we've seen so far - if it could happen to this pop princess, it could happen to anyone (seeing public service announcements playing in my mind now...).

Here's my optimistic shout-out to Britney...may she receive the help she needs and get back to being a mom. Even a bald mom. That would be the ultimate come-back. Careers may come or go, but children need their parents for the long haul (shoot, I'm well on my way to grown-up and couldn't make it through a week without my mom!)