up to 20% of pregnant and
postpartum mothers experience
depression or anxiety
Shortly after giving birth, many women feel sad and moody. Even though they've given birth to a beautiful baby, they find themselves crying over things that usually wouldn't bother them.
Exhaustion, irritability, difficulty sleeping, and anxiety are expected. Appetites may increase or decrease, and mothers may worry about being a good mother. These feelings are all normal during the first couple of weeks after childbirth. If however, these symptoms are more severe and last for two weeks or more, mothers may be suffering from post partum depression.
Thoughts of suicide, waning to hurt their baby, uncontrollable crying, fatigue, feelings of detachment from their baby, and sometimes psychosis are experienced by 10-20% of women after giving birth. These feelings and behaviors can be dangerous and should be taken seriously. With the help of medication, psychotherapy, and a strong support network, the depression will pass. Without help, the consequences could be catastrophic.
Exhaustion, irritability, difficulty sleeping, and anxiety are expected. Appetites may increase or decrease, and mothers may worry about being a good mother. These feelings are all normal during the first couple of weeks after childbirth. If however, these symptoms are more severe and last for two weeks or more, mothers may be suffering from post partum depression.
Thoughts of suicide, waning to hurt their baby, uncontrollable crying, fatigue, feelings of detachment from their baby, and sometimes psychosis are experienced by 10-20% of women after giving birth. These feelings and behaviors can be dangerous and should be taken seriously. With the help of medication, psychotherapy, and a strong support network, the depression will pass. Without help, the consequences could be catastrophic.
building awareness and specialized training
My passion to build awareness about the debilitating symptoms of perinatal mood disorders began with one woman. That woman's mother called me because her daughter was severely depressed. She explained that her daughter had given birth three months ago and was struggling to get through each day. She didn't have the energy or mental fortitude to seek help on her own. She didn't want to leave her home. She was suicidal and didn't know what to do. The road to wellness was arduous and frightening, but three months after asking for help, she began to regain her confidence, bonded with her baby, and gained confidence as a new mother. She is a wonderful mother. Her mother is a wonderful mother. Her mother noticed that something with her daughter "wasn't right" and reached out for help. Because of that, her daughter is alive today.
My goal as a mental health counselor is to build awareness and alert caregivers and families to look for signs of perinatal mood disorders and to ask for help. Unfortunately, there is still a stigma around mental illness and many women are ashamed that they aren't the happy mommy we see in the magazines and advertisements. They can't "shake it off", because it's out of their control and it's not their fault. I recently completed a certificate training in perinatal mood disorders by Postpartum Support International, an organization founded in 1987 to increase awareness among public and professional communities about the emotional changes that women experience during pregnancy and postpartum. The extensive training focused on the silent suffering of women entering motherhood, signs and symptoms of the disorder, risk factors contributing to PPD, importance of support networks, and psychotherapeutic themes and models. |
Dedicated PSI members, leaders, and friends work tirelessly across all levels to meet goals of the shared PSI mission of support, education, advocacy, and research for people living with mental illness through various activities, including:
www.postpartum.net – PSI’s website receives more than 100,000 visitors a year who seek PSI for support, education and local resource information.
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