Mental Health Day

Postpartum Depression: It's Okay To Not Be Okay Because You Are Not Alone

Dr Priya R Nair, Consultant Psychiatrist

No doubt, your little one's birth is a joyous occasion where every family member is ecstatic. Holding your little one almost feels like a dream come true. So, why do some new moms feel bouts of depression? Before you go on a guilt trip, understand that it is common. The baby blues you experience include mood swings, anxiety, difficulty in sleeping, and crying spells that can last for a couple of weeks, and things start to get better after that. However, when the condition continues and starts getting more severe, it is probably postpartum depression.

And, before you jump into conclusions and beat yourself up thinking you are a bad mother or think it is a character flaw, let's stop you right there. It is merely an illness, a complication that some new moms suffer from after their child's birth. All you need is prompt treatment, and you will start feeling like your old self again.

What are the symptoms of postpartum depression?

Baby blues is something a new mom experiences for a couple of weeks, and the symptoms include;

• Sadness
• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Crying spells
• Unable to concentrate
• Appetite problems
• Unable to fall asleep

However, postpartum depression is more severe, and the symptoms include;

• Depressed mood
• Severe mood swings
• Problems bonding with the baby
• Putting a distance between family and friends
• Loss of appetite or eating more than usual
• Insomnia or too much sleep
• Fatigue
• No interest in activities that once enjoyed
• Fear that you aren't a good mom
• Unable to think clearly or concentrate
• Restlessness
• Thoughts of harming yourself or the baby
• Thoughts of death or suicide

When should you see a doctor?

Just like we give utmost importance to physical health, mental health is an area that you mustn't neglect too. The more care you invest, the happier your life can turn out. And unlike yesteryears, the stigma attached to mental health is slowly fading, and you have access to excellent therapists around you. So, even after a couple of weeks, you see the symptoms continuing or if it is getting worse, don't delay, visit a doctor, and no matter what you are going through, talk to your loved ones. Don't neglect it for fear of judgment. Please do it for the betterment of your family.

 

Dr Priya R Nair
Consultant Psychiatrist