How to Effectively Deal with Postpartum Depression
How to Effectively Deal with Postpartum Depression
Majority of women want to raise their own family; that's why the birth of a baby is considered a blessing. But not all new mothers celebrate. Several of them have to deal with an emotional and even mental struggle known as postpartum depression.
What is postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression is defined as a moderate to severe kind of depression that occurs after pregnancy. It may surface after three months of delivering the baby or after a year.
There are plenty of reasons why a woman may suffer from postpartum depression. For one, she has been diagnosed as clinically depressed. This mental illness doesn't go away immediately, so there's a huge chance it goes on even after the pregnancy.
The physical changes that are happening in a woman's body may also trigger it. Usually, a mother suffers from hormonal imbalance, which alters the way neurons work or communicate. Stress is also one of the leading factors. A baby's presence means lack of sleep and time for oneself.
Emotions can go high and low after childbirth, but it may fall to a critical level if the mother doesn't have full support from her loved ones, especially from her partner. Worse, anxiety may make her feel incapable of taking good care of her own child.
What are the signs of postpartum depression?
You likely have the illness if you develop the following postpartum depression symptoms:
Weight loss or gain
Change in your appetite
Feeling of guilt or worthlessness
Lack of self-esteem
Mood swings or irritability
High level of anxiety or panic
Lack of concentration
Insomnia
Lack of interest toward the baby
There are also symptoms that are considered so severe you definitely need to see a doctor right away. These include accommodating suicidal thoughts or thinking about inflicting harm on the baby.
How do you deal with postpartum depression?
If you're suffering from postpartum depression, don't be ashamed. More than 11 percent of new mothers and pregnant women suffer from it.
What you should be concerned about is how to deal with it. Here are some steps:
1. Talk with your doctor. Your doctor can prescribe medications and supplements that can help control or greatly reduce the symptoms. Based on several studies, omega-3 fatty acids are excellent for women who have postpartum depression.
2. Get full support. You need an emotional uplift from the people around you. Discuss your issue with friends and family members, particularly with your husband. There are also plenty of support groups for new moms, even for those who have the disorder.
3. Use subliminal messages. Subliminal messages can be used to change your perception on giving birth or motherhood. Some affirmations you can use are the following:
I am blessed to have a child.
Every child is a gift.
I am worthy to receive this child.
I deserve to be a mother.
I am a good mom.
A lot of the subliminal messages are now available in mp3 formats. This way, you can listen to them over and over all throughout the day.
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