How to cope with depression after childbirth?

Posted onApril 17, 2019

Postpartum depression is a condition that occurs in a woman after she becomes a mother. What causes it to appear? What is the effect of depression on the psychology of mother and child? Answers can be obtained from this article.

Factors affecting the development of depression

A young mother after childbirth may be depressed if there is one or more factors in life that lead to a depressed emotional state.

Psychological reasons

  • Accidental, undesirable, difficult pregnancy. In this case, the woman could not unconsciously accept the fact of the development of the pregnancy and the fact that she would soon become a mother. Perhaps she was frightened by the difficulties that she might encounter after the birth of the child, she had no support from loved ones or a willingness to become a mother.
  • Conflicts in the family or with a partner. When relationships in the family are not established – the spouses often quarrel, there is no intimacy between them, there is no understanding – then often the woman’s strength and energy goes to experience and excitement. Constantly thinking about relationships, she is not able to rejoice at the birth of a child – to wait and love him, to accept after birth the way he is, to be brought up.
  • Emotional fatigue. This happens if the mother already has one or more children, there are financial difficulties in the family, there is no help and support from close people. In this case, the woman understands that she does not have the strength to communicate with the baby, care for him and bring up.
  • Unverified expectations. It happens when a child is born of the wrong sex, or at the wrong time. Perhaps the woman had certain expectations from pregnancy and the birth of the baby, and when they are not justified, she experiences experiences.

Physiological causes

  • Changes in hormonal background. Childbirth, as a process, is already a stressful factor that can lead to the development of depression. After the baby is born, a woman may feel bad – she is dizzy, unwell, and the work of some internal organs is disturbed. Against this background, it is difficult for a young mother to feel cheerful and happy.
  • Difficulty in breastfeeding. Lack of milk, cracks in the nipples, the need to transfer the child to artificial feeding can cause depression.

Signs of depression in the mother

Sometimes depression can be hidden behind bad mood, general fatigue, irritability, nervousness. Signs in the behavior of a woman who should alert her and her close people in order to prevent the development of the disease and help the young mother in time to help include:

  • Weeping and melancholic behavior. This condition is accompanied by complaints of chronic fatigue, a pathological feeling of loneliness, perhaps a manifestation of panic attacks, various anxieties and fears – for oneself, the child’s life, his health and condition.
  • Guilt. It can be so intense that a woman literally “lives” in him – she scolds herself for not having a good enough mother, can not give the child everything she needs, makes mistakes when she takes care of him or brings him up.
  • Irritability, aggressive behavior. A woman when her first signs attack   depressed after childbirth, may manifest unwarranted outbursts of anger towards the baby or close people. As a result, quarrels often break out in the family, ending in women’s tears, tantrums, and in some cases suicidal thoughts or attempts to end up with life.
  • Sleep disturbance, loss of appetite, increased feelings of panic and anxiety, illogical behavior, provoking conflicts and scandals.

Often, close people who are close to the young mother have the feeling that she is consciously behaving in a strange and unrestrained way. Then they can make claims to her, respond with aggression, move away from contact. Such behavior can lead to increased depressive thoughts in a young mother and to the deterioration of her condition. In order for this not to happen, you should study the information on how it can occur   postpartum depression   with the goal of helping the woman in time and adjusting her emotional background.

Psychology of communication between a woman and a child

When a child is born, a rainbow and happy atmosphere reigns around him – the mother and close relatives carry him in their arms, buy toys, beautiful clothes, and equip the children’s room. Adults are pleased that their family has increased, and in a hurry to share this joy with others.

However, as practice shows, this is not always the case. Sometimes a young mother is not able to enjoy the birth of a baby with others. Anxieties and fears bother her. On their background, depression can easily develop. What is a woman afraid of after she became a mother?

For the life and health of the child. The baby is born small, dependent and defenseless. Seeing and understanding this, a woman may worry that something will happen to him – he will get sick, he will have problems with digestion, nervous system, speech, mental or physical development.Every woman has her own reasons for the development of such fears. If you do not get rid of them in time, anxiety will have a negative impact on communication between mother and baby.

The child, even if he was recently born, intuitively reads the psychological state of the mother, which means that all anxieties and fears are transmitted to him. Due to strong experiences, a woman cannot freely communicate with him, rejoice, care, dream of a happy future.

When   child   grows, then in all relies on the mother and her emotional state as well. Therefore, in order for him to develop in accordance with the norm, it is vitally necessary for him to be with his mother, who is confident, calm, happy and relaxed. A woman will reach this state if she trusts in the people around her and shares what is happening to her – perhaps her family or her husband will dissipate her anxieties, calm her, give her support or help.

Also, a mother can get rid of depressive thoughts, if she applies for psychological help on time.

How to treat depression after childbirth?

  • Therapy by a psychologist or psychotherapist.
  • Maximum care about your emotional and physical condition, peace of mind, well-being.
  • The use of drugs – neuroleptics, tranquilizers, antidepressants.
  • The maximum help and support of the young mother from her close ones — perhaps, while the woman is being treated, they will have to take the bulk of the responsibilities of caring for the baby.

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