Many new mothers experience depression after pregnancy. It is important to know the signs of postpartum depression, and seek help if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. Postpartum depression affects about one in six women who give birth each year. Symptoms can vary greatly from person to person, but some common ones include feeling sad or hopeless, feeling unmotivated or lacking interest in things that were once enjoyable, having trouble sleeping or concentrating on tasks, and thoughts of harming oneself or the baby. If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself, it is important that you reach out for support as soon as possible so that your feelings don’t worsen.
Postpartum depression can be a hard thing to live with. The more you talk about your feelings, the better. There are many ways to get help with postpartum depression including talking therapy (such as cognitive behavioral or psychodynamic), medication prescribed by doctors and breastfeeding support groups that offer peer-to-peer assistance in hospital nurseries abroad where mothers who don’t know what they’re doing can learn from experienced moms going through similar situations as them – it’s called “infant sharing”.
- The first step is to talk about it
- Seek professional help from a therapist or psychiatrist
- Join a support group for mothers with depression
- Exercise regularly – try walking, jogging, or swimming
- Eat healthily and avoid junk food as much as possible
- Keep your home organized to help you stay focused on the task at hand instead of feeling overwhelmed by clutter
