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Postnatal Depression

Postnatal depression is not the same as the baby blues. It is natural for mothers to feel weepy, moody or anxious after the birth of their baby. However this generally passes within a few hours, or days following the birth. Approximately one in eight mothers suffers from postnatal depression. The effects of which are significant and are often underestimated.
The signs of postnatal depression are varied and it affects each person differently.

Symptoms of postnatal depression include;
  • Constant negative thoughts and feelings
  • Feeling that you are a hopeless mother, even though you are doing well
  • Feeling anxious about things which normally would not bother you
  • Not enjoying your baby, feelings of hostility towards your baby, partner or other children
  • Anxious about the health of your baby even though he is healthy
  • Worried that you might hurt or harm your baby
  • Not wanting to see friends or family
  • Finding it difficult to concentrate and focus
  • Finding it difficult to remember things
  • Being very indecisive
  • Feeling constantly sad or low
  • Feeling exhausted and lacking motivation and energy
  • Feeling tearful and irritable
  • Having suicidal feelings or the urge to self-harm
  • A low sex drive

Physical symptoms of postnatal depression include;
  • Difficulty sleeping including vivid nightmares and/or waking early
  • Panic attacks which cause rapid heartbeat, sweating, sickness or fainting
  • Stomach pains
  • Headaches or blurred vision
  • Loss of appetite or urge to over eat
If you only experience a few of the above symptoms you probably don’t have postnatal depression. Being a mother is both a physical and emotional rollercoaster where you experience both highs and lows. If there are no highs to balance the lows and you persistently feel low you may have postnatal depression.

Who gets postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety and why?
First of all, anyone can get these either. It doesn’t matter how smart you are, how talented you are, how strong you are, how successful you are, where you live, how religious you are, how tough you are, how much money you make or how happy (or not) your life has been up until now.
There are many risk factors.  What leads one woman to end up with postpartum depression or another perinatal mood or anxiety disorder may not be what leads someone else to get it. The risk factors for PPD can include:
* A history of depression or anxiety in you or your family members
* A previous experience with a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder like PPD
* Treatment for infertility
* Childhood Trauma
* Problems with your thyroid
* Mothers of multiples
* Teen moms
* If you have diabetes (type 1, 2 or gestational)
* History of physical or sexual abuse
* Poverty/Low Income women
* A perfectionist personality
* An unplanned pregnancy
* Traumatic childbirth
* A previous miscarriage
* A fear of childbirth
* A recent major stressor such as a house move, job loss, job change, etc.

How can therapy help?
  • Explore and work through complex emotions that can overwhelm a mother. Feelings can be expressed and explored without judgement.
  • The past can be delved into to see if there are any underlying issues that still need expression. 
  • We will look at your  resources and explore ways to get support and help while you recover. Group support is also very successful and this may also be incorporated into treatment.

Contact

Deirdre Ferguson
BA in Counselling and Psychotherapy
I.A.C.P. Acrediated
3 Manor Street
Stoneybatter
Dublin 7

Phone: 0868303058
Email : [email protected]

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