Having a baby is one of a woman’s most joyous and significant life events. It can trigger a mixture of emotions, from joy and excitement to fear and anxiety. But it can also be challenging and stressful at times.
After giving birth, you may experience baby blues – a mild, brief depression. However, some women experience severe forms of depression after giving birth – called postpartum depression or perinatal depression – that alter their daily life. Others may develop postpartum psychosis, a rare but severe condition.
You might not even realize you’re depressed if you’re one of them. As a new mom, you might think you are experiencing the same feelings as all new moms do.
It’s normal to be tired when you have a newborn. But sadness or hopelessness indicates something is wrong.
Talk to your therapist or doctor immediately if you’re experiencing any early signs and symptoms of postpartum depression. It’s essential to seek treatment as soon as possible to return to feeling like yourself.
What Is Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common but serious medical condition that affects up to 1 in 7 new mothers after birth. PPD can start within days or weeks after giving birth and may last for months, if not years.
PPD can make you feel sad, hopeless, irritable, and unable to sleep. You may also have trouble concentrating, lose interest in things you used to enjoy, and believe that everything you do is wrong.
You may notice that you feel like your whole world has been turned upside down or like nothing makes sense anymore. You might think of harming yourself or your baby and feel like life isn’t worth living.
People of all genders and sexual identities can suffer from postpartum depression, including birth parents, surrogates, and adoptive parents. There is no one way to be a parent.
Depression during pregnancy or after birth is always normal and never your fault.
Postpartum Depression also is not caused by low self-esteem or poor parenting skills. It’s not caused by stress or lack of sleep, although those things can make it more likely to happen. Postpartum Depression isn’t something you can “get over” or “learn to live with.” It needs to be treated, and you must get treatment for yourself.
Postpartum Depression Signs and Symptoms
The symptoms of postpartum depression can range from severe to mild, but they are all linked to changes in the brain that lead to depression.
They vary from person to person, but they often include:
1. Feeling Sad or Crying a Lot
It’s normal to feel sad or cry a lot after giving birth. Approximately 80 percent of women are weepy and emotional after giving birth. But if your sadness or crying is severe or lasts for more than two weeks, it could signify postpartum depression.
You may experience crying episodes daily in response to feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or despair. You may also cry because you feel you aren’t taking care of your newborn appropriately or feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities of parenthood.
2. Having Thoughts of Hurting the Baby or Yourself
Suicidal thoughts, or thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby, are advanced signs of postpartum depression or even postpartum psychosis – a rare and severe mental disorder that happens with postpartum depression.
Many women report seeing images and hearing voices that seem to come out of nowhere. These thoughts often include harming the baby accidentally or intentionally.
Some mothers report bathing their babies and thinking, “What if I just walked away for a minute?” Or even, “What would happen if the baby slid out of my hands?” Or “What if I drive off the road with the baby?”
And the more they try to stop the thoughts, the harder the thoughts become disturbing. If you experience such thoughts, realize that you’re in a crisis and need to call your doctor immediately!
3. Difficulty Bonding With Your Baby
With postpartum depression, you may be so tired, dispassionate, and distressed that you cannot engage with your baby. Depression may make you incapable of providing for and nourishing your newborn. Not out of malice toward the infant, but rather because of overwhelming, inescapable depression and despair.
4. Sleeping Too Much or Too Little
Sudden changes in hormonal levels, accumulated tiredness in pregnancy, and the 24-hour requirement to care for a new baby can take a toll on you, and it’s common to lose energy and mood in the first few weeks after birth.
However, if you can’t sleep when your baby is asleep or you’re sleeping too much, that could be a sign of PDD. It could be because your mind is racing with scary thoughts about you, your child, or your other children.
5. Lose of Interest in Things You Enjoy
With postpartum depression, you may feel isolated and unable to have fun due to parental responsibilities. Depression also can deprive you of your motivation to engage in previously enjoyed activities, increasing isolation, fatigue, and depressed mood.
Can you still enjoy your favorite comedy? Are you still interested in your partner? Are you enjoying your favorite food? Do you even have an appetite? If your answer to these questions is no, visit your doctor and discuss these changes.
6. Trouble Making Decisions
If you’re having trouble making decisions, it could signify postpartum depression. You may not know what you want to do or where to go. You may be unsure about your feelings about a particular situation and therefore unwilling to act on them. Whether or not you should stay with your baby or go back to work. Even the smallest decision, like what kind of car seat you should use, can feel overwhelming with postpartum depression.
If you have trouble making decisions, seek help from a mental health professional who understands this type of depression.
Treatment For Postpartum Depression
Treatment for postpartum depression can range from medication to therapy and support groups. The type of treatment you choose depends on your symptoms and the severity of your depression, but typically, combining medication and therapy can be most effective.
Medications for Postpartum Depression
The most common medications for postpartum depression are antidepressants. Antidepressant medicines can help relieve symptoms of depression. A doctor will prescribe an antidepressant if you have symptoms of depression, such as feelings of sadness or hopelessness, loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy, and trouble sleeping or eating enough. You may also have trouble concentrating and thinking clearly or making decisions.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a type of counseling in which you talk with a mental health professional about how you feel emotionally and what causes these feelings rather than just listening to their words (e.g., “I don’t like this job”). Psychotherapy can help you learn strategies to manage stress and other issues that might be contributing to your PPD.
Research has shown that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) – a specific type of therapy, can significantly improve postpartum depression symptoms.
CBT is a therapy that helps you change the way you think, feel, and act. It’s based on the idea that your thoughts control your actions. If you have negative thoughts about yourself, others, or things in your life, they can lead to negative feelings and behaviors.
CBT aims to help you challenge these negative thoughts until they no longer have any power over you. This can help you feel better and cope with difficult situations better.
Support Group
New mothers feel isolated and alone during postpartum depression symptoms, but that should not happen. Look for postpartum depression support groups near you or Facebook groups that can help you connect with other women living with this illness. Also, reach out to family and friends who have gone through this illness and ask how they triumphed over it.
WE RISE THERAPY AND WELLNESS CAN HELP YOU FIND YOURSELF AGAIN
Getting help immediately after you experience the early signs of depression and anxiety while pregnant can help lower your risk of developing postpartum depression. Studies show that seeking help earlier speeds up the recovery process.
At We Rise Therapy and Wellness, We help pregnant, and new mothers in New Jersey regain their sense of self so they may resume living and enjoying life with their baby and family.
Our therapists can help you discover valuable strategies for enhancing your mood, understanding your challenges, and enjoying motherhood.
“Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into instant flame by an encounter with another human being.”
– Albert Schweitzer
We are dedicated to assisting moms and individuals, couples, and families in overcoming trauma, depression, and anxiety. Our goal is to support clients on their journey to healing by making them feel understood.
Our treatment approaches include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. In addition to advocating a holistic approach to therapy, we also consider the connection between the body, mind, and spirit.
To supplement your therapy, we suggest a variety of holistic solutions. We use highly personalized approaches to meet the unique needs of each individual.
Contact us today to rekindle your life and get back to feeling yourself with postpartum therapy.
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