Postpartum depression isn’t real; it’s all in your head, just like PMS.”If someone said this to you, you might be tempted to hurl something in his/her way, even if you don’t have postpartum depression. You don’t even have to have a baby to be infuriated by such ignorance. Unfortunately, this sentiment is common. A devastated Chelsea Handler broke down crying on her Netflix talk show on Wednesday night while discussing Hillary Clinton's staggering loss to Donald Trump. Comedian Steve Harvey is a radio and TV show host who has also written relationship advice books. Comedian, actor, radio host, writer. Born Broderick Steven Harvey in. Learn More About MomsEveryday. Email us at [email protected] to learn more about becoming a partner, to ask questions about the site or to contribute content. Mothers themselves and even medical professionals often misunderstand postpartum depression. It could be a cultural issue as well. Mothers (or even fathers in some cases) need professional treatment for it, as it might not go away on its own. What Exactly is Postpartum Depression? Postpartum depression (PPD) is also known as postnatal depression. It’s a type of moderate to severe clinical depression that occurs after childbirth. It can affect both sexes, although mothers are more susceptible to it. According to American Psychological Association, some 9 to 1. PPD after childbirth. When postpartum depression reaches its extreme, it can turn into postpartum psychosis. It affects 1 to 2 out of every 1,0. PPD. The causes of postpartum depression aren’t 1. Forget teen pregnancies. Older moms are the new normal. For the first time in recorded Canadian history, mothers over 40 are officially having more kids than teens are.Refrigerator mother theory is a widely discarded theory that autism is caused by a lack of maternal warmth. Current research indicates that a combination of genetic. 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This is known as PPPD, or paternal postpartum depression. History of Postpartum Depression. Is postpartum depression a recent phenomenon, or has this always happened to women after childbirth? PPD has been around for a long time, although the term itself didn’t become mainstream until the mid- 2. In 2. 00. 5, actress Brooke Shields published Down Came the Rain, where she brilliantly compared her tears post- birth to the rain taking down the itsy- bitsy spider. The condition was further publicized in well- known verbal jabs exchanged with Tom Cruise. Earlier literatures suggest postpartum depression has always existed, even though the term was only recognized in the fourth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual in 1. Hippocrates mentioned “wandering womb” in the fourth century B. C., referring to the uterine fluid that could flow to the head after childbirth and cause psychosis. Jean- Etienne Esquirol was a physician from the nineteenth century who became one of the first physicians to acknowledge postpartum illnesses in detailed case reports. He reported postpartum melancholy, delirium, and mental disturbances in 9. So PPD is nothing new; it has been around for centuries, but it was hard to acknowledge and quantify. One reason is that many women dealt with “mild” cases of postpartum depression and sought to treat it at home. Also the stigma around feeling the way they did – because all mothers are supposed to love their newborns and be happy – probably prevented them from being vocal about their condition and seeking treatment. When not treated in time, PPD can become full- blown psychosis. Sometimes you watch the news or read about women who killed their own children. It’s highly likely that many of them were suffering from a case of postpartum psychosis. Now that postpartum depression is better known, treatment options are being expanded and more women and men can find support networks either online or offline. Causes. No doctor or researcher can pinpoint to one single cause that makes new parents susceptible to PPD. It’s widely thought to be a combination of physical and emotional changes. The reason women experience it more than men is because they’re actually going through physical changes. After childbirth, there’s a dramatic drop in estrogen and progesterone. Although breastfeeding a newborn can produce oxytocin, one of the “happy” hormones, it might not be enough to balance out the lack of other hormones. Emotional changes can be byproducts of physical issues. When you’re going through sleep- deprivation and immense overwhelm, it’s not unreasonable to think you’d have problems handling other day- to- day tasks. You might also not like your postpartum body or can’t get used to it. Top that off with confusion about your sense of identity and it’s no wonder you have depression. Symptoms. Postpartum depression symptoms are highly individual and range from mild to severe. It’s important to distinguish the “baby blues” with “depression.” The baby blues are common after childbirth and only last a few days to weeks. Some of the symptoms include: Anxiety. Crying. Irritability. Mood swings. Problems with appetite. Sadness. Trouble sleeping. Postpartum depression symptoms may be some or all of the above, but they’re more intense and last longer. Symptoms appear within the first few weeks after childbirth, but can also show up later – even after 6 months. If any of these symptoms persist weeks after giving birth, you might have postpartum depression: Difficulty bonding with your baby. Excessive crying. Recurrent thoughts of suicide or death. Feelings of shame, guilt, worthlessness. Fear that you’re not a good mother. Loss of appetite. Eating much more than normal. Loss of sleep. Sleeping too much. Panic attacks or anxiety. Fatigue or lack or energy. When you go too long without seeking treatment for these symptoms, your PPD may develop into postpartum psychosis. This is a rare condition that develops after the first week postnatal, but the symptoms, which may include hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia, are much severe. They can be life- threatening. Treatment Options. Can postpartum depression be treated? Or does it go away on its own? PPD is like any other clinical depression. It can be treated with medication and psychotherapy. But as the condition is highly individual, so is the treatment plan. What works for one woman may not work for another. In order to be treated for postpartum depression, you must first be diagnosed. Your medical professional will ask you to fill out a depression- screening questionnaire. You may be asked to undergo a blood test. There are currently two overarching treatment options for PPD: psychotherapy and antidepressants. Research often suggests psychotherapy should be the first line of treatment before medication. According to the in- depth report by The New York Times on postpartum depression, psychotherapy without medication should benefit patients within 8 weeks, with symptoms completely resolved by 1. If that doesn’t pan out, that’s when antidepressant drugs regimen starts. Psychotherapy is simply a fancy word for an opportunity to talk to a counselor, psychologist, or other trained provider. Because PPD is still under- diagnosed, you may fear judgment or lack of approval from your spouse, parents, friends, or other people in your life. By just talking about your concerns and feelings, you may be on your way to feeling better. In your therapy sessions, you should discuss any feelings of sadness, thoughts of harming yourself or committing suicide, feelings of overwhelm and disconnect from your baby, and anything else that are contributing to your depression. If therapy alone isn’t helpful, you may want to ask your doctor to kick it up a notch and put you on antidepressant drugs. This could become a concern if you want to breastfeed your baby. But between feeling better and breastfeeding, your medical professional will urge you to take the former option. There are two types of antidepressants: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). SSRIs are usually recommended first and include some famous brand names like Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), Celexa (citalopram), etc. TCAs are an older class of antidepressants and can be used if you don’t respond well to SSRIs. Because some of them, like doxepin, aren’t safe for breastfeeding, they’re not the first recommendation. But what can you do personally? Your entire life won’t revolve around visiting doctors and taking antidepressants. For one thing, it’s essential you don’t feel guilty or worthless over feeling the way you do. Contrary to the rosy picture of postnatal bliss that society paints, it’s perfectly normal and even expected you’d be overwhelmed by caring for a newborn. Postpartum depression isn’t caused by anything you do. You can get into some lifestyle habits that promote your physical and mental well- being. These include: Spending time in the sun: sunlight improves your mood, so get just a few minutes of sun each day. Asking for help: sometimes your spouse can be utterly unhelpful because he doesn’t understand postpartum depression. It helps to spell out exact things for him to do, like chores, preparing for meals, and setting aside time exclusively for your relaxation. Joining a support network: humans are naturally social beings. You may want to seek out a group of women dealing specifically with postpartum depression. It can be therapeutic to know you’re not alone in your suffering. Postpartum Depression Myths & Facts. Although most people are familiar with postpartum depression, the condition has only become front and center recently. As such, there is a lot of myth and misunderstanding that surround PPD. Here are the facts to dispel some common myths: Myth 1: Having postpartum depression is your fault. Fact: This is surprisingly wide in belief. After all, not all women experience it, so why do some get it? You’re the only one who can control your feelings, right? As mentioned earlier, postpartum depression can happen to anyone, particularly to those with high risk factors. While some of those risk factors can be controlled, others like genetic disposition can’t be helped. PPD is a result of rapid fluctuations in hormones. Some women are just luckier than others not to be predisposed to such a condition.
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