Post Natal Depression

"A JOURNEY OF RESILIENCE AND SELF-DISCOVERY"

WHAT IS POST NATAL DEPRESSION?

Postnatal depression is a type of depression that parents can experience after having a baby. While it mostly affects mothers, it can also affect partners and fathers too.

If you think you’re suffering from postnatal depression, it’s important to seek help as soon as possible because the symptoms can have a significant impact on you and your baby. With the right treatment, most people are able to make a full recovery.

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SYMPTOMS OF POST NATAL DEPRESSION

  • Persistent feeling of sadness or low mood
  • Loss of interest in the world around you and no longer enjoying things
  • Lack of energy and feeling tired all the time
  • Feeling that you are unable to look after your baby
  • Problems concentrating and making decisions
  • Loss of appetite or increased appetite
  • Feelings of guilt, hopelessness and self-blame
  • Difficulty bonding with your baby with a feeling of indifference and no sense of enjoyment in his or her company
  • Frightening thoughts such as wishing to hurt your baby. These can be very scary and disturbing but they are rarely acted upon
  • Thinking about self-harm and suicide

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When should I get help for postnatal depression?

Having a baby can be a challenging experience and it can sometimes bring up experiences and memories from our early life. But just because you are struggling with becoming a parent doesn’t necessarily mean that you have postnatal depression.

Some of the most common signs of postnatal depression are: difficulties sleeping, lack of energy, feeling low in mood and tearful a lot of the time… Likewise, it is important that you seek help if you are noticing that you don’t feel attached to your baby in the way that you expected to before they were born and if you are no longer finding enjoyment in the things that once gave you pleasure.

What are the best treatments?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) and Schema Therapy are generally the most effective treatments for postnatal depression.

I’m struggling with being a parent but I’m not sure I need help for postnatal depression - should I still seek help?

Becoming a parent can be an unsettling time – both because of the changes to your life but also because of the different vulnerabilities it can trigger, depending on your own history. If you are struggling with any aspect of becoming a parent, seeking therapy can be incredibly helpful. Therapy will help you connect with your early experiences and empower you so that you can engage in parenting in a more meaningful and fulfilling way.

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