Postpartum depression involves frequent crying, guilt, and anxiety accompanied by trouble caring for your baby. The treatment for this type of depression is through medication and counseling.
Having A Baby Is A Life-Changing Milestone
Becoming a parent is exciting, but it can also become overwhelming. It’s completely normal to have anxious feelings and doubt, especially for first-time parents. But if you start to feel extreme sadness, loneliness, anxiety, severe mood swings, and frequent crying, you may have postpartum depression.
Postpartum can impact surrogates and adoptive parents, too. It’s often accompanied by hormonal, physical, and emotional changes that can cause the symptoms. If you’re experiencing postpartum depression, it’s important to understand that you’re not alone and that the right help is out there.
Key Takeaways
- Postpartum depression involves feelings of sadness and loneliness, paired with severe mood swings to the point where new mothers can have difficulty taking care of their babies.
- Identifying the type of postpartum condition is critical for effective treatment.
- Postpartum depression should be treated with medication and/or talk therapy.
The Types Of Postpartum Depression
There are three main types of postpartum depression:
- The Postpartum Blues or Baby Blues: This can affect between 50% and 75% of women after they give birth. This includes frequent and prolonged bouts of sadness and crying that occur for seemingly no reason. This version of postpartum can typically subside in a few weeks without treatment.
- Postpartum Depression: This is more serious than the baby blues, and still impacts roughly 1 in 7 new mothers. This can include emotional highs and lows, frequent crying, irritability, fatigue, guilt, anxiety, and the inability to properly care for your newborn or yourself. This can last up to a year after the birth of your child. The good news is that psychotherapy and/or antidepressants can be very effective.
- Postpartum Psychosis: This is an extremely severe version of postpartum depression that can require emergency medical attention. Luckily, this version is the rarest form, affecting 1 in 1,000 women. The symptoms can include severe agitation, confusion, feeling hopeless, insomnia, paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, hyperactivity, or mania. There is also an increased risk of suicide or risk to the baby with postpartum psychosis. The treatment includes hospitalization, psychotherapy, and medication.
The Symptoms Of Postpartum Depression
You may feel like a bad mother or feel ashamed for feeling the way you do, if you are experiencing postpartum depression. But it’s important to recognize that you’re not alone, and that it’s a common affliction. Below are some of the symptoms:
- Excessive worrying or anxiety
- Loss of interest in other hobbies
- Changes in appetite
- No energy or motivation
- Difficulty with sleep
- Difficulty focusing
- Suicidal thoughts
- Lack of interest in the baby
- Feelings like you don’t want your baby
If you’re feeling any of the above symptoms, it’s definitely time to seek help for your depression.
Book A Psychotherapy Appointment For Postpartum Depression Today
Postpartum depression can be serious. If you’re a new mother and you’re feeling any of the above symptoms, it’s important to seek the help you need. Book a therapy appointment with one of our team members today.