Postpartum Depression (PPD)
YOU MAY BE EXPERIENCING:
Crying that feels uncontrollable and at times random
Sadness most of the time
Severe mood swings
Having a hard time bonding with your baby
Feeling you aren’t a good mother
Lack of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
Lack of energy or feeling tired all of the time
Withdrawing from others
Change in appetite
Lack of sleep or sleeping much more than usual
Feeling agitated or angry
Hopelessness
Worthlessness or feeling you are not good enough
Feelings of guilt or shame
Lack of concentration and forgetfulness
Feeling on edge or having a hard time sitting still
Feeling severe anxiety and/or experiencing panic attacks
Thoughts of harming yourself and/or your baby
Thoughts of death or suicide
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Hotline for free at 988 in an emergency
DO I HAVE TO EXPERIENCE ALL OF THE SYMPTOMS TO HAVE POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION (PPD)?
You may not experience all of these symptoms, but if you do find yourself experiencing a handful of these symptoms and for months after giving birth, then you are probably depressed. You may actually also start to experience these symptoms while pregnant, before giving birth, and it could last through the birth and for months after. It is most common to experience baby blues after birth and then these more severe symptoms develop and last for months after.
Another possibility is that Postpartum Depression may start to develop and show farther out after giving birth, such as a year later. A big indicator that you are experiencing Postpartum Depression is that it has a negative consequence on your daily life.
Some examples of PPD life disruptions are:
You are not able to do your work at your job
You feel you cannot take care of your home or family like you usually would
You distance yourself so much from others that you do not feel like yourself anymore
This is why it is important for all moms to know the signs and symptoms of Postpartum Depression so that they can notice it within themselves or in others. The sooner you seek help, the sooner you can get treatment and feel better.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BABY BLUES AND POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION?
After you have a baby, you will experience a lot of heightened emotions. A lot of these emotions are positive, but since your hormones are so heightened and out of whack, it is possible that you will feel some negative emotions as well.
Baby blues are very common, where you may feel sadness, mood swings, anxiety, and have trouble sleeping during the days after giving birth. This is normal for a mother to feel and can last up to a few weeks.
Postpartum Depression will last much longer than a few weeks and will feel much more severe. Postpartum Depression is a version of clinical depression that will greatly impact your life in a negative way. If it goes untreated, it will also last for months on end. PPD is very common for moms who recently gave birth, so it’s important to know the signs and symptoms so that you can seek treatment for it right away.
Postpartum Depression is looked at as a complication that may come along after giving birth. Just like you may get an infection or physical problem after giving birth. This is a mental health condition that could follow and if it goes untreated it may cause major problems in your life.
Since a lot of moms get baby blues symptoms, they may become nervous that they are experiencing PPD, so it can be important to know the differences between the two.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BABY BLUES:
Mood Swings
Sadness
Anxiety
Change in appetite
Agitation
Hostility
Lack of sleep
Feeling on edge
Increased stress levels
Feelings of being overwhelmed (e.g., you think that you cannot properly care for your baby)
Crying spells
Lack of concentration
Anger
Hard time resolving issues or making decisions
Loneliness or isolation from your friends and family
These symptoms will usually last a few days after giving birth and up to about 2 weeks. You are able to still take care of your daily tasks even while experiencing these symptoms, as they are not severe. You just may need some extra help at this time from your support system such as your partner, family, friends, and/or a professional postpartum therapist could help.
CAN PARTNERS EXPERIENCE BABY BLUES?
Of course. This mostly will occur in partners three to six months after a baby’s birth. It can also take up to a year to fully evolve.
The following can contribute to baby blues for both parents:
General stress
Relationship problems
Little to no sleep
For male partners, they may experience a dip in their testosterone levels and a boost in their estrogen levels which can trigger baby blues. All of these changes can contribute to baby blues.
Some signs that your partner may have baby blues includes if they are:
Feeling anxious
Having difficulty sleeping
Constantly wanting to be alone
Losing passion for their hobbies and/or job
Having a hard time resolving problems
Feeling overwhelmed or desperate
Feeling hostile or angry
Acting unpredictable
Easily getting sad or feeling defeated
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO GET HELP IF MYSELF OR MY PARTNER IS STRUGGLING WITH BABY BLUES OR POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION?
Typically, medical treatment is not needed for baby blues since it normally goes away in one to two weeks. If your symptoms persist longer than two weeks, it is very much possible that you are starting to experience symptoms of Postpartum Depression. PPD is more severe and lasts longer.
It is highly recommended that you contact your health care provider and seek postpartum treatment from a perinatal therapist if your symptoms persist. Postpartum Depression is a medical condition that women experience after birth.
The following intense feelings can occur with Postpartum Depression:
Sadness
Worry
Tiredness
Traditionally, it begins one to three weeks after having a baby. It can be very difficult to get through PPD alone. Proper postpartum treatment with a licensed therapist can be a huge help. While many women experience Postpartum Depression within the first few weeks after delivery, it can occur up to a year after the birth of your baby.
I AM A NEW MOM. DO I NEED SUPPORT?
All moms need a support system. Even if you are just experiencing baby blues for a few days, it is still recommended that you seek support. You can find a moms group in your community that you can connect with about anything and everything mom related. You can use your own family for support, since they raised you, and if you’re close to them, then this is a great supportive option.
You can talk to friends who are mothers as well. You also may find it helpful to find a professional postpartum therapist near you who specializes in seeing moms. It would be helpful to have that support system in place even before you have a baby so that if you are feeling overwhelmed after having a baby then your therapist and/or support system will easily notice something is off and help you through. You can start to address the symptoms as they arise with your support system already in place.
HOW CAN A POSTPARTUM COUNSELOR AT ANCHOR THERAPY HELP ME?
If you do notice these Postpartum Depressive symptoms in yourself and you do not already have professional support, then it is time to find a Postpartum Depression counselor. You could ask your OB/GYN doctor, your child’s pediatrician, or your primary care doctor what they think about your symptoms and if you need a referral to a postpartum therapist, or you can contact us below by filling out the form which sends an email to our intake coordinator who can assist setting you up with one of our PPD therapists.
Our maternal mental health therapists will review your symptoms and help you figure out if you are experiencing postpartum anxiety or depression. It is always a great idea to meet with a professional perinatal mental health therapist rather than just talking to friends/family/support groups about your struggles with motherhood, since this would be someone who is trained to notice warning signs of a bigger issue, such as Postpartum Depression.
IS MEDICATION NECESSARY FOR ME TO MANAGE MY PPD?
After your intake session, your therapist for Postpartum Depression would then recommend a course of therapy treatment and/or make a referral to a psychiatrist for a further evaluation and to discuss possible medication that is needed to help the depressive symptoms. Not everyone is in need of medication, and it is possible that therapy will be helpful enough to get you to feel back to your best self so that you can be the best mom you can be.
The earlier you detect Postpartum Depression symptoms, the sooner you can get the help that is needed. Once you start treatment, you are already on track to feeling better and being able to better care for your family.
If you find yourself, or someone you care about, experiencing PPD symptoms then I urge you to seek help. Sometimes it can feel daunting to find a prenatal or postnatal depression therapist who can help with Postpartum Depression. But once you do find that help, it will really make a huge difference in your life.
You need to treat Postpartum Depression just as you would a severe clinical depression diagnosis. The sooner you get help the better. And if you are a mom who is struggling with the huge life change of becoming a mother, you can also reach out for help since every mother needs a great support system! Fill out the form below to directly email our intake coordinator to find out more information on how we can help you.
FLEXIBILITY OF SESSIONS:
We are aware that parents have a lot on their plates, and sometimes it is hard to come in for therapy when you have children to take care of at home. This is why we provide not only in-person counseling sessions at our downtown Hoboken, NJ location but we also provide phone and video online sessions for anyone who resides in New Jersey, New York, and Florida.
Anchor Therapy provides perinatal mental health counselors who are trained and specialized to help moms with a multitude of issues. We will help you, and your family, so that you can lead a higher quality of life.
It is recommended to start therapy once a week in order to build a relationship with your postpartum therapist and to get a jump start on your goals and feeling better. Over time you and your perinatal therapist may agree that you are ready to transition to biweekly postpartum counseling sessions and then maybe monthly sessions to maintain the positive changes and new coping skills that you have formed in PPD therapy. It is also typical for someone to attend sessions for about 3 months and feel good enough to “graduate” from counseling. They may then return in the future if a new stressor arises in their life or if they are in need of new coping skills or accountability. We are here for you whenever you need.
THE STEPS OF POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION COUNSELING AT ANCHOR THERAPY:
WORKING WITH US IS EASY
Fill out the contact form below.
Our intake coordinator will get back to you with more information on how we can help and to schedule an appointment. We will set you up with an experienced licensed therapist who specializes in what you're seeking help with and who understands your needs.
You’ll rest easy tonight knowing you made the first step to improve your life.
