Mental Health Counseling
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WHAT IS POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AND POSTPARTUM ANXIETY, ALSO KNOWN AS PMADS?
Being a parent is hard and rough days are to be expected. Postpartum depression and anxiety are not just rough days. Women with PMADS have symptoms like the ones listed below much of the time, for a period of at least 2 weeks or longer, and these symptoms make it feel very hard to live and enjoy your life each day.
The symptoms include: social withdrawal, change in eating habits such as not eating or overeating, deep sadness, crying for no reason, hopelessness, excessive worrying or “what if” thoughts of harm to me or baby, irritability, anger or rage that is not normal for me, mood swings, racing thoughts or can’t sit still, feeling overwhelmed by everything, difficulty making decisions, exhausted but trouble sleeping, and thoughts that I’m not a good mother or that my baby would be better off without me.
A woman experiencing postpartum depression may have a couple of these symptoms or may find themselves relating to many. Onset of symptoms usually begin within the first two weeks but symptoms may present anytime within the first year, and for some even during pregnancy.
WHAT CAUSES POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY?
Postpartum Depression is said to be experienced by 1 in 7 of all moms.
The exact cause of PMADs is unknown. However, we can recognize some common risk factors. These include: family history of mental illness, personal history of depression, anxiety, or postpartum mood disorders, prior history of trauma or loss, high stress, difficulty or high risk pregnancy, unplanned pregnancy, birth trauma, special needs child, baby with colic, acid reflux, or other health concerns, perinatal loss or death, conflicts with spouse or partner, financial struggles, and limited family and social supports.