Insomnia, hormonal changes and the new stressors and worries of taking care of a new-born may cause some moms to experience irritability, anxiety and sadness. When those feelings become overwhelming and intense, however, this may be cause for major concern. Postpartum depression is a serious illness which affects approximately 15-20% of women in the population. Sometimes the symptoms you or your loved one are experiencing may be downplayed or considered not that severe, but when those symptoms start to greatly impair you, your baby and your family’s everyday life, then it’s time to take action.

Here are the signs of postpartum depression that need to be taken seriously, according to Web MD:

“-Totally avoiding family and friends.

-Not being able to take care of yourself or your baby.

-Trouble feeling close to your baby, or bonding.

-Fears that you’re not a good mother.

-Severe mood swings, anxiety or panic attacks.

-Too much or too little sleep.

-Lack of interest in daily tasks.

-Thoughts of harming your baby.

-Thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts.”

These symptoms can occur within two weeks after giving birth all the way up to 6 months or longer. Seek professional help if your symptoms last more than 2 weeks and are as severe as those listed above.

Some women suffer from a more extreme and uncommon illness called postpartum psychosis. This can occur within days of giving birth. Treatment is needed immediately since the symptoms may result in you hurting yourself or your baby. Web MD lists those symptoms as:

“-You can’t sleep.

-You can’t think clearly. -You’ve been hallucinating or having delusions, meaning you sense or believe things that aren’t real.

-You have obsessive and fearful thoughts about your baby.

-You’re paranoid — deeply suspicious of other people, and no one can talk you out of it.

-You refuse to eat.

-You’ve thought of harming yourself or your baby.”

Treatments for postpartum depression include anti-depressant medications, psychotherapy and support groups. Call 911, contact a mental health professional or your doctor, or call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) immediately if you experience suicidal thoughts or feel like you want to hurt or injure your baby in any way. Don’t feel hesitant to seek help due to feelings of shame and guilt. It is a condition which is not to be taken lightly so talk to a friend or family member about how you’re feeling.

If you think you or someone you love is suffering from postpartum depression, we are here to assist you. We provide individual and/or family therapy to help work through the feelings and symptoms associated with this condition. Give us a call at (954) 832-3602. We are located in Hollywood, Florida.

Alicia Emamdee is the author of the YA Romance novel, “Aloha Self-Esteem?” which is created specifically for teen girls and the challenges they face with regards to their self-esteem in our society today. Written as a love story, the book provides ways to help increase self-esteem and gain self-confidence.

References:

            -“How Many Women Really Get PPD?” Postpartum Progress. ©2004-2016 Postpartum Progress, Inc. All rights reserved. Web. 27th of September, 2016.http://postpartumprogress.org/2011/02/how-many-women-really-get-postpartum-depression/

           -“Postpartum Depression: Symptoms.” Mayo Clinic. ©1998-2016 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Web. 27th of September, 2016. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/postpartum-depression/basics/symptoms/con-20029130

            -“Postpartum Disorders.” MHA Mental Health America. ©Copyright Mental Health America, 2016. Web. 30th of September, 2016.http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/postpartum-disorders

           -“What are the Symptoms of Postpartum Depression?” WebMD. ©2005-2016 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved. Web. 30th of September, 2016.http://www.webmd.com/depression/postpartum-depression/understanding-postpartum-depression-symptoms#1