Postpartum depression
Postpartum depression is a condition accompanied by intense symptoms that last for a long time. If you notice that your well-being after the birth of your baby is getting worse every day, this means that it’s time to turn to a psychologist for help.
Many mothers are confused and upset by the fact that depression appears after the birth of a child. They sincerely believed that the birth of a baby is a time filled with happy moments, then why, instead of joy, does it not leave you feeling depressed for a minute? The woman wonders: is this what she really wanted? When a mother falls into this trap, the main thing is to get out of it in time. Even a happy change is still a change. It takes time to adapt to these changes.
A little theory about the postpartum period
How long does postpartum depression last? Postpartum depression refers to mild mental and behavioral disorders of the postpartum period.
The incidence of postpartum depression ranges from 10 to 15%. But experts believe that the actual incidence of maternal depression, which has a significant impact on her life, is much higher. According to some estimates, five to seven out of ten women are susceptible to some form of postpartum depression. A woman in the postpartum period is very sensitive, and her psyche is very vulnerable. Therefore, the postpartum period is assessed by experts as a time of high risk for mental disorders.
- During the postpartum period, a woman may experience the following mental disorders:
- maternal melancholy;
- postpartum depression;
- postpartum psychosis.
Causes of postpartum depression
Postpartum depression - causes. According to psychologists, there are quite a few reasons for the appearance of postpartum depression. Your body has to go through a number of major changes, and after pregnancy ends with childbirth, hormonal imbalance occurs. A new family member appears in your home, sleep is disturbed, the usual way of life is replaced by chaos. It is difficult for you to cope with the problems that have piled up, while you need to recover after childbirth.
Although the cause of postpartum depression is not entirely clear, psychiatrists believe that it is the result of hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy and after the birth of a child. There are several symptoms that can determine whether you are more susceptible to developing postpartum or antenatal depression.
Test for postnatal depression
1. Has it ever happened that you felt so unhappy that you cried?
2. Do you enjoy the things you love?
3. Worried, did you worry about things unnecessarily?
4. Were you able to cope with the day-to-day tasks of caring for a child?
5. Have you ever thought about harming yourself?
6. How often have you been sad or sad?
7. Do you have a sense of humor these days?
8. Have you ever felt guilty for no good reason?
9. Have you been scared or panicked for no good reason?
10. Have you ever felt that you were so unhappy that you couldn't sleep?
Postpartum depression - symptoms and causes
There are several possible causes for the state of depression in which a woman finds herself after childbirth:
- Presence of mental health problems before pregnancy;
- Mental health problems during previous pregnancies;
- Lack of outside support, including an unsupportive partner;
- A stressful life event, such as the loss of a job or the death of a loved one;
- Your baby has health problems or problems with breastfeeding;
- Financial difficulties;
The best way to determine if you have the postpartum blues or postpartum depression is to evaluate your symptoms. The blues usually begin around the fourth or fifth day after birth, and can last up to several days or several weeks. Gradually, the symptoms decrease, your health returns to normal, and after about two weeks the woman fully recovers - this is the most optimistic picture of events. In reality, the blues can be heavier and last much longer.
Symptoms of postpartum blues include:
- Crying for no apparent reason;
- Irritability;
- Anxiety;
- Fatigue or, oddly enough, insomnia;
- Mood changes;
- Lack of ability to concentrate.
About 70 to 80 percent of new mothers experience the blues. Some dads even experience it too! If this condition does not go away on its own and is not treated, then the blues can develop into something more serious: postpartum depression, in which case it is necessary to seek treatment and help from a psychologist.
Symptoms of postpartum depression include:
- Feeling sad or depressed;
- Feelings of guilt or uselessness;
- Thoughts about harming yourself or your child and difficulties communicating with him;
- Loss of appetite;
- Fatigue, but at the same time problems with falling asleep;
- Withdrawal from friends and family.
Because the symptoms of postpartum blues can vary greatly, it is highly recommended that a woman experiencing these symptoms see a psychologist who specializes in postpartum depression for help. Treatment and psychological support for postpartum depression usually includes therapy and sometimes medications to help manage the condition.
Prenatal depression
You may not be familiar with antenatal depression, but it is another form of depression that can develop during pregnancy. The difference is that this happens before the baby is born. In essence, antenatal and postnatal depression are no different from each other, the only difference is when they occur.
As with all other forms of this condition, it is necessary to ensure timely treatment of antenatal depression, starting treatment on time if symptoms have already appeared. This form is often a prerequisite and possible cause for the development of a more severe emotional state, which will manifest itself later if you close your eyes to it and do not treat it.
Psychologists agree that about a fifth of new mothers suffer from prenatal depression. Some mothers believe that experiences during pregnancy are the norm, a natural part of the pregnancy process. Accordingly, such women, as a rule, do not seek help from a psychologist or appropriate treatment. They don’t even suspect that this could be the beginning of a psychological disorder. Therefore, you should pay attention to the appearance of symptoms and begin treatment promptly. Your gynecologist will likely be interested in asking how you are feeling. Be extremely honest, trust the hands of a specialist, let him tell you what to expect during pregnancy and what not, since it will be difficult for you to determine on your own how correct your assumptions are.
depression after childbirth how to cope
Many people tend to think that postpartum depression can happen to any woman, like Russian roulette. But this thought is far from the truth. Not every woman is susceptible to depression, just as not every woman has a difficult childbirth. Let's understand the terms.
The idea of depression has two options: depression as a bad mood with all its manifestations and depression as a severe diagnosis. 99% of people confuse these concepts. Depression, which is a clinical diagnosis, is one of the most serious personality disorders. It is determined by the search for the personality itself, this is its property. This means that if you as a person do not have a predisposition to depression, you will not have it in any case.
90% of people are not predisposed to classic depression. In addition, there are many varieties. Serious research work is carried out with one person, psychiatrists and psychologists work. There is practically no cure for depression; therapy is selected strictly individually and carried out under strict supervision. But there are many things that are not similar to depression because one of the manifestations of depression is physical weakness. But it is also characteristic of much less serious mental disorders.
We live in megacities, which, according to the World Health Organization, increases the likelihood of nervous disorders by 20%. We all have them: claustrophobia, panic attacks, psychoses, neuroses. It turns out that there are many such manifestations among absolutely normal people who simply find themselves in a difficult situation and cannot quite cope with it.
Considering that during childbirth, a woman, especially if she has not carefully prepared, falls into a state where the soul parts with the body. She simply fears for her life. But in fact, according to all medical indicators, nothing terrible is happening. Childbirth is a natural process for a woman.
Nevertheless, the fear of this state is fixed, the fear that you can die at any moment. This is called postpartum depression. Fighting any fear is very difficult. But, no matter how trivial it may sound, you need a positive attitude, an understanding that any experience is a positive experience. Understanding that you are a healthy person and you cannot die. If you feel apprehensive, afraid, then you need to undergo research and psychological preparation.
Osteopathic practice of reducing can also be useful in preparing for childbirth. It will not only allow all organs to be placed in the correct position (and also the fetus), but will also relieve emotional stress. This will help you “reconfigure” and allow you to mobilize mental and physical strength to successfully go through this difficult process, like childbirth.
Here are some possible treatment options:
Self-medication
To begin with, you can try self-medication, without contacting a psychologist, to make sure whether it will help or not. Try discussing with your partner the issues that are bothering you, or seek help from another family member or friend. Let them offer possible options for help, talk with you, allow you to do what you love. So, you will feel new strength and get on the right path.
Rest whenever possible and sleep when your baby sleeps. It will take some time for your baby to establish a “normal” sleep schedule, initially he will sleep a lot during the day and very little at night, so rest whenever possible, this way you can feel good when the baby is awake. Psychologists are of the same opinion; sleep will do you good.
Making sure you eat right is also important. Even if you don't have enough time to prepare healthy food while your baby is very small, remember that nutrition should be as healthy as possible. Instead of a candy bar, opt for a banana, and instead of a muffin, eat a protein bar.
Despite the lack of time, exercise. If the weather is nice, your baby will probably enjoy relaxing in the stroller while you walk around the area. Alternatively, it's a good idea to do yoga while your baby is napping.
Psychotherapy
If you have tried all the ways to help yourself, but have not found the optimal solution, and your health has not improved, try contacting a psychologist. The specialist will recommend an alternative course to solve the problem and help overcome difficulties. You will tell the psychologist about what worries you and understand what prospects await you.
Your psychologist may be able to arrange treatment using cognitive behavioral therapy. This is one of the types of therapy, the essence of which is to reprogram the brain, you will learn to react differently to difficult situations, and you will make important decisions more quickly.
For example, in a situation where you hear your baby crying, you feel angry, stressed or frustrated and find it difficult to understand and accept these feelings. With the help of a psychologist, you will be able to rediscover this world for yourself, you will understand that the child is otherwise unable to tell you what is bothering him, which is why he cries. He has no intention of causing you trouble. He needs something, and this is the only way he can express his needs.
Drug treatment
Sometimes depression is the result of a chemical imbalance, trying to influence the external signs will lead to nothing until you attack from within, because this is the only way you can feel better. This is where medications come in handy.
A psychiatrist may suggest treatment in combination with therapy so that you can attack the problem from different angles. He will prescribe medications to help you feel less anxious or sad. If you are breastfeeding and are concerned about the effects of taking medications on your baby, so that he does not get harmful substances through his milk, your psychiatrist will recommend a medication that is considered safe for use during lactation.
Myths about postpartum depression and its treatment methods dispelled
Postpartum depression is just as serious as other forms of psychological disorders, so don't let anyone minimize how you feel or try to convince you to just "shake it off." It is impossible to “shake off” postpartum depression due to a number of factors involved in the development of this disease.
A lot of research has been devoted to this issue, and psychologists have not found evidence that you can control postnatal depression and its development. The best thing you can do for yourself during pregnancy is to eat well, exercise, and live a healthy lifestyle (no smoking, no drugs, no drinking, etc.).
Remember that postpartum blues do not always go away within two weeks after giving birth. If you notice that your symptoms have worsened, there is a deterioration, then you should seek help from a psychologist, and as soon as possible. It is important to remember that if you feel unwell for any period of time, it is not right. And you shouldn’t wait “a few weeks” for this condition to go away on its own. Qualified psychologists are ready to help you today, don’t waste time, contact a Helppoint consultant, you will soon cope with postpartum depression, be able to enjoy motherhood and truly enjoy life!
Here are some more contacts where they can help you. And it's fast and free. Postpartum depression is a formidable and serious condition, do not underestimate it, take action - help yourself before it is too late!
- “Help for tired mothers” - 8-800-222-05-45
- “Crisis Center for Women and Children” - +7 (499) 977-17-05
- Helpline - 8-800-200-01-22
- Moscow service of psychological assistance to the population - +7 (499) 177-34-94 or 051
- Online psychological assistance service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia
