Over the past few years, studies have shown that the majority of women now suffer from postpartum depression. This depression is mostly seen ranging from mild transient depression to neurotic or psychotic depressive disorders.
What is Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum depression according to https://www.webmd.com/ is a complex mix of physical, emotional, and behavioural changes that happen in some women after giving birth.
According to the DSM-5, a manual used to diagnose mental disorders, PPD is a form of major depression that begins within 4 weeks after delivery.
The diagnosis of postpartum depression is based not only on the length of time between delivery and onset but on the severity of the depression. Postpartum depression is linked to chemical, social, and psychological changes that happen when having a baby.
The term describes a range of physical and emotional changes that many new mothers experience. PPD can be treated with medication and counselling. To it, one must lookout for the signs and symptoms.
These symptoms or feelings mostly occur 1 month after delivery and for some as far as a year after.
signs and symptoms of Postpartum Depression
Below are listed some of the signs and symptoms to watch out for if you are wondering if you or any of your loved ones are currently going through the phase.
- Mood swings: Although mood swings vary especially for women because they deal with mood swings a lot once you begin to notice a consistent pattern in the moodiness then you should pay attention to see if more signs tally.
- Constant feeling of anxiousness or irritability is another reason to pay attention to you or your loved one.
- Feelings of tiredness overwhelm and helplessness is a call for the check.
- Loss of interest and connection to your child or feeling the child you bore does not belong to you is another overlooked symptom of it.
- Losing interest in relating or conversing with friends and families, especially in the things you enjoy doing is another crucial symptom to watch out for in postpartum depression.
- Stomach, head, and body aches that just won’t go away is definitely a sign to watch out for
The list is endless but observing at least four (4) of the above is a cause for alarm.
Note that postpartum depression can be treated and there is no point hiding it. If you or someone you know is suffering from postpartum depression kindly speak to a doctor about and they will work with you to figure out the best way to help you out.
Some of the ways postpartum depression can be treated;
To treat anything in life we must agree that the person involved must first acknowledge that they have a problem and they need a solution or must seek out a solution.
So therefore the first step to any treatment is Acknowledgement then. Seeking out help, after a doctor has been visited or spoken to then Therapy and Medication comes in to play their part.
Finally, studies have also shown that most mothers or fathers (Postpartum depression is not only seen in mothers but also fathers can be affected) start to think like terrible parents in this situation.
The truth is anybody can be affected by this and it sincerely says nothing about your capacity to be a parent, it just shows that you are human and you are allowed to be human, so do not be ashamed to speak up when you observe that you need help.
