How Do You Know You Need Therapy for Postpartum Depression?
Many women feel the “baby blues” in the first days or up to a week or so after giving birth. This may include mood swings, crying, trouble focusing, and anxiety. That’s normal. For women who experience postpartum depression after giving birth, the symptoms tend to be more significant, and they don’t go away as readily. These two different conditions are often confused. If you have any of the following symptoms, it’s important to speak to a therapist today:- Depressed mood or mood swings that are severe
- Excessive crying
- Trouble bonding with the baby
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping all the time but still feeling a lack of energy
- Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, and shame
- Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
What Happens When You Need Therapy for Postpartum Depression?
When it comes to women’s mental health treatment, you should never worry about seeking out help. It’s there to support you as you take care of your child. It is not necessarily the case that your child will be taken from you or that your family will think less of you for needing help. What’s most important is to take the time to call for help. If you are feeling this way, it may not get better without therapy and support. The good news is many women see significant improvement when they reach out for support.What Happens In Therapy for Postpartum Depression?
Once you call and schedule a consultation, you’ll be able to come in to speak to a therapist one-on-one. You will get to learn more about the various therapies available and how they may help you. For many women with postpartum depression, a chemical or hormone imbalance may be behind some of those feelings. Your therapist will work with doctors to ensure this is corrected if it is a concern for you. Your therapist provides an assessment and then indicates what type of care may be best for you. This may include:- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Trauma-focused therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Holistic therapy programs
- Medications to manage mental health disorder symptoms
- Medications to help with chemical imbalances