Postpartum Depression and the Baby Blues

Having a baby can be very challenging for every woman, both physically and emotionally. The birth of a baby can trigger a mix of powerful emotions, from excitement and joy to fear and anxiety. It is natural for many new mothers to have mood swings after delivery, feelings of joy one minute, and moments of sadness the next. But it can also result in something one might not expect like the onset of depression. These feelings are sometimes known as the “baby blues” depression that normally fades away within 10 days of delivery. However, some women may experience a deep and ongoing depression which lasts much longer. This is called postpartum depression.

The earliest medical records about postpartum depression dates back to as far as the 4th Century BC. However, despite the early awareness about this form of depression, the postpartum sadness has not always been formally recognized as an illness. As a result, it continues to be under-diagnosed. There is no single cause for depression after childbirth. Physical, emotional, and lifestyle factors may all play a role. Unlike the ‘baby blues”, postpartum depression does not go away quickly. Very rarely, new moms develop something even more serious. They may stop eating, have trouble sleeping or develop insomnia, and become frantic or paranoid.

Postpartum depression affects 10-28% of new mothers. It can begin days, weeks, or months after delivery. Studies show that depressed mothers are less involved with their infant. They are also shows signs of inconsistentcy in terms of how they respond to their infant. They can be loving and attentive one minute, and withdrawn the next. In addition to the signs mentioned, some other symptoms of postpartum depression may include:

Exhaustion

Excessive sleeping but still feeling exhausted

Loss of sexual interest

Crying spells without obvious cause

Feelings of guilt

Sadness

Anger

Feelings of despair and/or worthlessness

Forgetfulness

Difficulty making decisions

Poor concentration

Treatment for postpartum depression can be as varied as the symptoms. Some of the more common approaches to therapy or treatment include:

Creating a supportive environment for the mother;

Self-Care;

Joining a support groups;

Counseling;

Psychotherapy; and

Medication

More often, postpartum depression is not recognized or adequately treated because some normal post-pregnancy changes which cause similar symptoms in new mothers. Moreover, some women do not tell anyone about their symptoms because they feel embarrassed, ashamed, or guilty about being depressed about their pregnancy and childbirth when the normal response would be that of elation or happiness.

Early detection and treatment of postpartum depression is critical not only for the mother but for the infant as well. It can also help if the father or another caregiver can assist in meeting the needs of the baby while the mom is depressed or is still recovering from depression. The less exposure the infant has to the mother’s depression, the lower the risk of long-term problems in the child.

Research shows that infants of depressed mothers are at increased risk of behavioral problems, emotional difficulties, and delays in growth and language development. If the mother’s depression is not treated promptly, the baby can be greatly affected. Women with postpartum depression may feel like they are bad or inefficient mothers and might become increasingly reluctant to seek professional help. It is crucial to remember that hope and treatment are available to them. With a combination of proper medication and therapy, a woman can overcome postpartum depression and regain the ability to love and care for her newborn child.

Anxiety And Depression

Anxiety and depression are two distinct mental disorders, but they co-exist in many people. If you suffer from anxiety disorder, chances are you suffer from depression and vice versa. In fact, studies show that 60-70% of the people that are diagnosed with depression also suffer with anxiety.

The combination of these two disorders can be debilitating. Relationships at work, home and other personal contacts will definitely suffer. In fact, if left untreated, anxiety and depression can take over your life so much that you can become unable to function in a normal capacity. This combination can also become deadly because it raises the risk for suicide. Read on to discover more about these two disorders and what you can do to treat them.

Anxiety can be characterized as feelings of panic. You may break out in a cold sweat, have heart palpitations and chest pain. You can experience feelings of dizziness and being out of touch with the people and things around you. On occasion, you may feel like you are losing your mind or that you are going to die. These attacks can happen in certain situations or they can happen for no reason at all. Anxiety disorder can definitely interrupt your daily life. A lot of people that suffer from anxiety will develop depression, also.

Depression is a feeling of shutting down. People with depression have feelings of hopelessness and despair. They may sleep too much, eat too much or cry a lot. They have constant negative thoughts and behaviors. People with severe depression may withdraw from life so much that they are unable to even get out of bed some days. Severe depression will also interfere with a person’s ability to hold a job, remain in a personal relationship or even perform simple everyday tasks.

People with anxiety will develop depression because the anxiety is characterized by chronic worry. Worry about finances, health issues, what the next day may bring, etc. These people will have anxiety about future events and fall into a depression because they feel that they are not able to handle what the future may bring. Their way of coping is to just shut down mentally and sometime physically.

Anxiety and depression can be treated with the right medication. If you suspect that you suffer from anxiety and depression, see your doctor as soon as possible. Not only will anxiety and depression affect you mentally, it can affect you physically by putting you at risk for certain diseases such as heart disease, digestive disorders and obesity. Stop living in the cycle of anxiety and depression and get treatment to get your life back.