A new mother as she was, joy and excitement were the emotions expected of her. Much to everyones surprise none of these were depicted by her behavior, on the contrary she was a completely changed person who was lost in the blues. This may sound quite relevant to you, yes Maternity Blues or Postnatal Depression is what I am talking about and you are thinking of.
NHS says “Postnatal depression is thought to affect around one in 10 women (and up to four in 10 teenage mothers)”
But it is more surprising to know that many women who are getting affected by postpartum depression usually have no idea of whats happening to them, and some who are able to understand that they are going through depression, choose not to talk about it owing to the social stigma “Seeing a Shrink” brings.
What is Maternity Blues or Postpartum Depression And How to Spot It
The three main symptoms that are common to postnatal depression are feelings of unhappiness, poor appetite, loss of libido, insomnia and low self-esteem.
Other symptoms common to this condition are feelings of guilt, anxiety, tiredness and loss of interest in normal activities. You could also be suffering from impaired concentration or memory, over concern or not enough concern for the baby. If you are feeling any of these symptoms for longer than a month you should contact your health visitor or GP for advice.
You may have had depression during pregnancy, or perhaps the following symptoms have come up after you delivered your baby, but whatever the scenario be PND is not a good state of mind and if you are able to spot it you must try to get over it ASAP
If you Have Postnatal Depression You may feel
Sad about things that would have never bothered you otherwise
constant feeling of unhappiness
You start considering yourself an irresponsible or bad mother even though you are doing good as a new mom
Frequently crying without any reason
feeling detached with the baby, you may find yourself just doing the responsibilities towards the baby
over possessiveness for the baby
trying to stay aloof
finding it difficult to bond with baby
withdrawing from social connections
low self esteem
experiencing anxiety
Neglecting oneself, not bothering about physical appearance and tidiness
Blaming self for everything and persistent feeling of guilt
Losing interest in everything that once gave pleasure to you
Feeling lethargic and tired all the time
In more severe cases suicidal tendencies may also occur
These are some Signs and Symptoms of PND that can be spotted by own-self or by close family members/friends. But these signs if ignored, and if the post natal depressions persists for too long it may lead to some serious mental disorders as well.
PND Related Mental Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Postpartum Psychosis
OCD : Especially towards taking care of you baby
PND can impact everyone in a different way. But the crux of the matter is “Don’t Ignore Post Natal Depression” if you are experiencing few or many of these feelings constantly, or getting worse, its time for you to talk to your health advisor or a GP.
PND is not a condition that you can cope on your own,so don’t try to keep it a secret even after you have spotted it. The first step toward self-helping is to recognize that you have PND, and then talking about it to your close ones and the most important is to seek the expert help and treatment that you need to get over it.
So Don’t just suffer alone and sink in the blue, go ahead, talk about it ask family and friends to support you through PND.
If you are in The UK you may directly approach the charities that are working towards helping people cope with PND, some charities are
PND Support – House of Light: They offer support and counselling for Antenatal Post Natal depression and Anxiety
PANDAS Foundation : Providing advice and support for Pre and Postnatal depression
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