Why Postpartum Depression Therapy is Important for Mothers of 2020

Postpartum depression isn’t extremely easy to pinpoint because of the hormonal swings that occur before and after birth, but as about 10% of new mothers do get diagnosed, it’s important to note symptoms, and ultimately seek professional help if you feel you may be experiencing it. Postpartum depression therapy exists to help new mothers cope with the changes in their lives, and here is a deeper look at some of the parts of PPD and its treatments.  

Statistics

Anxiety following childbirth is very common, affecting about 1 in 5 first time mothers, but anxiety in any form can lead to more troublesome mental issues and therapy can help calm the anxiety. More than half of new mothers experience, at least, a short spell known as “the baby blues,” and PPD therapy at this stage can prevent it from growing. Additionally, frequent crying, losses of energy, feelings of guilt, withdraw, and irregular sleep habits are all symptoms of PPD and should be taken seriously if they persist after the first few days, a.k.a. “baby blues.”

What is PPD Therapy?

Postpartum depression therapy follows many of the same principles of other types of cognitive behavioral therapy and encourages a hands-on approach to dealing with the depression. Practices involve one-one-one psychotherapy sessions to increase though control and coping skills, and group therapies encourage mothers that they are not alone by allowing them to listen and share issues with other women suffering from the same things. 

Outside of the Sessions

In addition to in-person therapy sessions, self-care practices like exercising and maintaining a healthy diet are recommended as accents to therapy. Staying on a strict “mom schedule” helps overcome the natural thoughts that new often means difficult. Pursuing new hobbies, knowing it’s okay to get a babysitter and unwind, and spending time with the same people you spent time with before being a mother align with the mental exercises done in therapy sessions. 

What It Does

Ultimately, PPD therapy helps prevent common occurrences is postpartum mothers such as marital conflict, alcohol abuse, and negative thoughts about motherhood.  If parents aren’t taking care of themselves, newborn care is in even steeper challenge than usual, so the goal of maintaining a level mindset and overall positivity helps with all parts of postpartum life, especially the most important one: being a mother. 

Where to Find PPD Therapy

Your care provider should also provide you with ways of contacting mental health experts, especially those with a focus in postpartum depression. There are many online sources of information, too, including Postpartum Progress, the National Institute of Mental Health, and Postpartum Support International (PSI). It should also be noted that mothers aren’t the only ones who are susceptible to depression following the birth of a child, and fathers should be encouraged to look up therapy if they are experiencing similar thoughts and symptoms. 

The joys of having a child are truly endless and unparalleled, but in order to pursue and enjoy all that comes with having a newborn, parents need to be mentally prepared. Having the child is quite possibly the biggest change any given set of parents will experience in their lives, and accepting the negative thoughts that come with any change is the first step needed to ensure a positive mindset. If that mindset seems unachievable without help, starting PPD therapy immediately is the right think to do for both you and your family.