What Role Does Therapy Play in Preventing Postnatal Depression?

Having a baby is one of the most beautiful feelings ever for every couple. Isn’t it? However, sometimes, parents might experience conditions that no one has expected – Depression. This mental condition of depressive episodes in parents followed by childbirth is known as Postnatal Depression. However, this condition is quite normal but serious as well, and so must not be overlooked. In this blog post, we will discuss this mental condition in detail, learn about the causing factors, the signs to watch for, and most importantly, the therapies that play a vital role in preventing this depression.

You can book a free session with Reflect Within for professional therapy services. Contact at +91 8928467288.

Postnatal Depression – What’s This Medical Condition All About?

Postnatal depression is a severe condition among new parents right after delivering a baby, which makes both a new father and mother experience mood swings, sadness, loneliness, emptiness, emotionless, anxious, and sometimes critically depressed. It has been observed that 1 in 7 new mums and 1 in 10 dads critically develops postnatal depressive conditions after having their baby. In addition, this condition also changes mood and triggers exhaustion, overthinking, and a sense of hopelessness about the baby’s future for a long time.

Apparently, new mothers and fathers also undergo sadness and feel empty, fatigued, or moody for a few days after having a baby. This condition is recognised as “baby blues.” Well, the notable symptoms of postpartum depression are more intensified, last longer, and are enough severe than those of the baby blues.

According to the healthcare experts, new parents shouldn’t take the severe developing postpartum depression symptoms lightly. They must visit a therapist or health experts to then and there start the treatment. Notably, postpartum depressive episodes are severe, but with the available therapies, one can overcome this condition. Most importantly, all the new mums and dads need to know that they’re not alone and professional help is always available. For this, you can also contact Reflect Within at +91 8928467288 and book a consultation session for professional help.

Watch for Notable Postpartum Depression Symptoms

After delivering a baby, new parents must watch for the below-listed postpartum depression symptoms. These signs will help a couple take immediate diagnoses and choose the most suitable therapy treatment. Have a look:

Symptoms of Baby Blues in New Parents

• Continuous anxious feelings and panic attacks are some of the common signs.
• New parents may feel low or sad throughout the day and continue to overthink about the infant.
• Even minor things tend to feel irritating.
• Frequent feelings of overwhelming.
• Oftentimes, crying at minor things or for no reason.
• Inability to properly concentrate or pay attention to any specific task.
• Another common symptom of baby blues is an eating disorder, including emotional eating, overeating, binge eating, or loss of appetite.
• Insomnia or too much sleep can also be considered a prominent sign of baby blues right after childbirth.

What are the Severe Signs of Postpartum Depression?

• Episodes of anxiety, frequent restlessness, and fatigue.
• Sleeping disorders, including insomnia, are also a sign of postpartum depression. However, this sign gets more intensified and severe than the condition of baby blues.
• Severe mood swings and depressive episodes are again prominent signs of postpartum depressive episodes.
• Another sign that can be noticed is isolation from own family members, spouse, and friends. Also, a new mother or father may start maintaining distance from the newborn baby.
• Overthinking or fearful feelings regarding not becoming a good parent.
• Unable to feel love or any bond with the newborn baby.
• Pessimistic thinking pattern and negative thoughts of self-harming or hurting the baby.
• Taking less interest in the favorite tasks or activities.
• Not able to make the right decisions and think properly.
• Continuous feelings of guilt, shame, and unhappiness after becoming a new parent.
• Terrible thoughts of committing suicide.
• One may start being more aggressive, pessimistic, and short-tempered.

Possible Factors Causing Postpartum Blues and Depressive Episodes

However, there’s no evident reason for experiencing postpartum depressive moods. But, here, we have specifically explained possible reasons for developing postpartum blues in new mothers and fathers. Take a look:

Factors Causing Postpartum Blues in Mothers:

• Emotional factors, such as too much stress, pessimistic thoughts, overthinking, and unexpected or heavy breakdowns, can apparently give rise to the possibilities of developing the severe postpartum depression. It may happen due to situations like recent divorce, financial crises, losing your spouse or loved one, relationship issues, etc.
• Hormonal change is another evident factor that may give rise to the condition of perinatal depression or signs of baby blues. It’s because, during pregnancy, the levels of progesterone and estrogen exceed the usual levels. As a result, this hormonal change impacts one’s mental health, resulting in depression and anxiety issues.
• Physical factors, including sleeping disorders, severe medical conditions, low thyroid hormone levels, drug and alcohol consumption, etc., can also bring conditions like perinatal depression to the new mums and dads.

Reasons for Undergoing Perinatal Depression in Fathers:

• If a person comes from a family background with members having severe symptoms of postpartum depression, it could be an apparent reason. As a result, it could be genetically transferred to the next family member as well.
• Facing drastic or frequent emotions of sadness and emptiness, carrying pessimistic or negative thinking patterns, or being over-impulsive and hyper-sensitive can also trigger the above-given signs of depression in new dads.
• Just like new mothers, the fathers can also suffer from hormonal changes, which eventually develop postpartum depression symptoms. After having a newborn baby, the levels of hormones, including cortisol, testosterone, estrogen, vasopressin, and prolactin, change as well.

How to Cope Up? Here are the Postpartum Anxiety Treatment Therapies

If you’ve also noticed the postpartum depressive symptoms within yourself, you must contact a healthcare professional or a therapist. Moreover, the following therapies can be effective for postpartum anxiety treatment. Have a look:

Hormone Therapy

As briefed above, the level of sex hormones progesterone and estrogen changes after delivering a baby. This drastic change plays a vital role in triggering the perinatal depression and baby blues among new mothers. Even in new dads, the changes in the level of cortisol, testosterone, estrogen, vasopressin, and prolactin can develop depressive episodes. Here comes the role of hormone therapy, which is effective in managing depression and baby blues.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

One of the popular and effective therapies, cognitive behavioral therapy, helps new parents change their thinking patterns, identify distortions in thinking, and replace negative thoughts with positive ones. The therapy makes this achievable by allowing people to learn techniques and strategies, use problem-solving skills, and deal with difficult situations with greater confidence. Eventually, these techniques may become stress busters for people with depression.

Talk Therapy or Psychotherapy

In this therapy, mental health professionals are involved in talking with people having postnatal depression psychosis. This therapy mainly focuses on the emotional distress that is causing baby blues or postnatal symptoms in new parents. During the sessions of talk therapy or psychotherapy, therapists provide a safe space to people, allowing them to freely express their feelings and emotions and discuss what they are going through. By listening to and understanding one’s feelings, the therapists implement strategies to help one overcome depression.

Psychodynamic Therapy

This therapy is also considered talk therapy and is based on the concept that talking about problems means solving those problems. During the sessions of psychodynamic therapy, the postpartum therapist helps people embrace the multifaceted aspects of life, allowing them to understand unconscious or unknown motives behind the painful feelings of childbirth and depression. The therapist offers a safe space for the new parents undergoing depression and allows them to talk about their issues, which helps them feel relaxed and better.

Book a Session with Reflect Within Today!

Postnatal depression is a common but severe mental health issue that affects nearly 1 in 7 new parents. However, it’s important to know that no one has any control over such situations, but with professional help and effective therapy sessions, one can overcome the severe symptoms of postnatal or postpartum depression. If you’re someone who’s dealing with any of such depressive issues and looking for professional help, connect with Reflect Within. You can call us at +91 8928467288 and book a consultation session.