Knowing the Signs of Postpartum Depression
Know the Signs of Postpartum Depression: by Ashley Ramsey
1 in 7 mothers, and 1 in 10 fathers experience depression or anxiety after the birth of their child. This is a striking statistic. Most folks believe the early days and months of postpartum will be a wonderful and loving time to bond with their infant, but this isn’t always so. Life stressors, traumatic birth experiences, mental illness, difficulties breastfeeding, hormonal imbalance, and lack of adequate support systems in their community can all play a role in the development of postpartum depression and severe anxiety.
Noticing the signs of postpartum depression is the first step in seeking help and treatment. Once these signs are observed it’s time to speak to your loved ones and call a doctor and/or a therapist. Therapy is a proven ways to treat postpartum depression, and is sometimes combined with medication, to help the mother or father reach full recovery and bond with their child. If you or a loved one is experiencing any of the following symptoms, please seek help and know that they can be supported towards a path of recovery.
9 Symptoms of Postpartum Depression:
Are you feeling sad or depressed?
Do you feel more irritable or angry with those around you?
Are you having difficulty bonding with your baby?
Do you feel anxious or panicky?
Are you having problems with eating or sleeping?
Are you having upsetting thoughts that you can’t get out of your mind?
Do you feel as if you are “out of control” or “going crazy”?
Do you feel like you never should have become a parent?
Are you worried that you might hurt your baby or yourself?