In every woman’s life, bringing a new life into the world is often portrayed as the most joyous event. The symbolism of a baby is about love, hope, and endless possibilities. Often depicted in media, the journey of motherhood is not always filled with the happiness and bliss. It is difficult to navigate. The reality can be more complex, involving emotional challenges, for some new mothers. The most common but often overlooked challenges is postpartum depression (PPD).
It is a mental health condition that affects most women after childbirth. Recognizing its early sign can make a difference in how a mother recovers and find support. Let’s explore in this blog, the symptoms of postpartum depression, and its importance of seeking help and the crucial role of how therapy for postpartum depression can be a crucial role in the healing process.
What is Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum depression is different from “baby blues”, experienced by many women shortly after childbirth. Although it is normal to feel bit tired and overwhelmed but after giving birth to a child, PPD is a severe condition that can affect women’s life emotionally and physically, also her ability to take care for her child.
Although not knowing the cause of PPD entirely, factors like hormonal fluctuations, physical changes, emotional stress, and a lack of social support. History of mental health issues and sleep deprivation, increases the risk of developing PPD.
Symptoms of Postpartum Depression
It’s important, we recognize that PPD can be manifested in many different ways. Symptoms of which can be varying from women to women. Some women face it silently by isolating themselves, not sure where to run for help. Other’s may face it by expressing, which may interfere in the daily life.
1. Anxiety and Persistent Sadness
One of the most prevalent signs of PPD is Persistent sadness, which doesn’t go away easily. The feeling is the overburden of the motherhood duties, along with the feelings of fear concern or anxiety, with the company of grief.
2. Severe exhaustion or low energy
Many new mothers feel exhausted, after giving birth but PPD make it more intense. It can permeate every aspect of the existence, and can feel like unbreakable fatigue. It will be hard to do easy chores like getting up from or taking care of the child.
3. Declining Interest in Activities
It can tend the mother to lose interest in things that used to make her happy. The Mother can even quit doing things, that used to make her happy about herself, like her hobbies and might even stop spending time with people.
4. Feelings of inadequacy or guilt
It is common to have strong emotions of guilt, among women suffering from PPD. They starts to believe that they are not good enough and are failing as a mother. The intense emotions could be the feeling of shame and self-blame.
5. Sleep or Appetite Changes
PPD can affect the severely on sleeping and eating pattern. While some women spend their life by sleeping, in order to avoid their emotions, while others may feel difficulty sleeping even when the child is asleep.
6. Feelings of Endangering Yourself or Your Child
Sometimes, the emotional level of PPD leads to suicidal thoughts and thoughts of hurting the unborn child. These leads to a mother’s sense of loneliness and frequently terrified. It’s important to get help from a healthcare provider immediately, if you know that someone has ideas about it.
When to Get Postpartum Depression Help
The question is when should I ask for help? which most mother’s ask themselves. It’s often difficult to ask for help, but essentials too for the health of mother and unborn child.
1. If the symptoms last longer than two weeks
If you have PPD that lasts longer than two weeks or get worse over time, it’s crucial that you should take help. Although some moderate mood changes and sorrow in the first few weeks after giving birth is normal.
2. If You Have Trouble Bonding with Your Baby
If you feel cutter off from your child, that’s detected as early signs of PPD. The health link decides the emotional health of the mother and growth of the child. It’s important that you speak to your therapist or physician if felt disconnected from your child or overwhelmed with the idea of taking care of the child.
3. If you’re thinking of hurting yourself or your child
Please get professional help if ever you have the thoughts of hurting your unborn child. This is a serious PPD symptom that needs special attention and must be treated immediately.
4. If You Believe You Cannot Handle Everyday Duties
If you notice that you don’t like to do simple things like showering, cooking or cleaning up, can be an indication of depression interfering in your daily life.
Postpartum Depression Therapy: A Way to Recovery
It possible that we can treat PPD, and the sooner you seek for help, the better the situation gets. For many women, PPD is a crucial part of their rehabilitation. A professional therapist can offer a secure and encouraging environment to speak about it freely and discuss the emotional difficulties.
Various advantages of therapy are:
1. Be Aware of Your Feelings
You can achieve judgement-free understanding of the feelings through therapy. A counsellor can teach you, on how to cope up with your feelings and manage the difficult emotional like guilt, fear and frustration in a better way.
2. To Develop Coping Mechanisms
In order to help the new mothers to cope up with the challenges as a parent, therapist can teach the coping mechanisms. One of these could be cognitive behavioural strategies to face negative thoughts and focus on relaxation methods.
3. To Establish Support System
In addition to being assisted by therapist to connect with other mother’s feeling the same experience like circumstances. In order to face those feelings, it’s important that you create a network of people who can understand and relate to the challenges and be an aid to therapy.
4. Dealing with Fundamental Problems
In certain instances, underlying problems like a history of anxiety or depression may be connected to postpartum depression. These problems can be addressed and a long-term mental health management strategy can be developed with the aid of therapy. Support groups, individual therapy, and other therapies including medicine may fall under this category.
Alternative Therapies
PPD can be healed with the benefits of medication, if the symptoms are serious. Depression can be lessened with the anti-depressants and an occasional hormonal therapy. Please talk to your healthcare, and develop a treatment plan to overcome it.
Asking for assistance shows strength rather than weakness.
Do remember that seeking out for help for PPD is a sign of strength and not a weakness. Asking out for help guarantees the best version of yourself as a mother and being able to cope up with the mental and physical health.
Never hesitate to get assistance from someone who understands PPD. There are numerous numbers of tools, that guide you through the path of recovery and strength. It’s never a sign of weakness.
Conclusion
However, it’s never easy to be a mother but a life changing experience in women’s life. PPD is real and common and can feel like a burden to your shoulder. So, to overcome the difficulties of PPD, get back to the state of happiness and connect with your kid, recognize the postpartum depression symptoms and get professional help and assistance.
Remember you are not alone, if you are suffering from PPD. You can get the help and come out stronger and a brighter side.
