Williamsburg Therapy Group
What is a Helicopter Parent and How It Impacts Your Child’s Life
Helicopter parenting or helicopter parents are topics frequently discussed across different forms of media, and most of us have a vague idea of what...
Everyone's heard horror stories of postpartum depression.
But the reality of postpartum depression is that, given the right treatment plan, its symptoms and effects are usually highly manageable.
The key here, as it is with most psychological conditions, is early detection and professional help.
Let's learn about postpartum depression and investigate the best treatment options for Brooklyn residents who are concerned about their postpartum mental health.
Postpartum Depression Resources on This Page:
Postpartum Depression vs. Baby Blues: How To Know Which One You're Experiencing
How do I know if I have postpartum depression?
Can postpartum depression affect my baby?
Treatments for Postpartum Depression
Get Help for Postpartum Depression in Brooklyn: Williamsburg Therapy Group
Postpartum Depression vs. Baby Blues: How To Know Which One You're Experiencing
If you have concerns about postpartum depression, your first step is to enlist the help of a licensed mental health professional.
One of the first questions you and your chosen mental health provider will explore is whether you are diagnosable as having postpartum depression or if what you are feeling is a common and fairly harmless phenomenon called the baby blues.
Typically, the distinction between these two concerns is the timeline of symptoms. The baby blues, often caused by hormonal processes related to childbirth, typically only last a maximum of two weeks. The baby blues are characterized by mild to moderate restlessness, fatigue, sadness, or emotional numbness that usually lasts for a few hours each day.
Postpartum depression, by contrast, can last for up to a year and is typically accompanied by more severe symptoms of depression.
How do I know if I have postpartum depression?
The only way to know for sure if you have postpartum depression is to talk to a licensed mental health professional about your symptoms and experiences.
They have the training and expertise necessary to ensure the correct diagnosis is made and that the recommended treatment plan will be safe and as effective as possible.
If you feel any of the symptoms below within a few days of childbirth, get in touch with a child and family therapist immediately.
- Consistent fatigue
- Constant worry or anxiety
- Thoughts of neglecting or harming the baby
- Restlessness
- Listlessness
- Prolonged sadness
The above symptoms can indicate postpartum depression, so you should talk to a therapist as soon as possible. While postpartum depression is often very treatable, it can also turn very dangerous.
Are some women more at risk of postpartum depression?
Your risk of postpartum depression varies primarily depending on your natural propensity for depression as well as the circumstances of your child's birth.
Postpartum depression is more common for:
- Women under 25
- Women who have just had their first child
- Women who have just had twins
These groups tend to have higher rates of postpartum depression, but note that it can affect anyone.
Postpartum Depression Symptoms
Postpartum depression symptoms are very similar to those of standard depression but often relate more closely to the child.
For example, some people with postpartum depression experience feelings of total frustration or hopelessness regarding the care of their child.
For others, postpartum depression can manifest as a hatred for their child that feels truly real.
A mental health professional needs to treat postpartum depression regardless of where you fall on the severity spectrum.
Postpartum Psychosis
The most severe postpartum psychological disorder is postpartum psychosis.
An extremely severe and dangerous disorder, postpartum psychosis is characterized by delusions or hallucinations as well as manic mood swings and paranoia.
Postpartum psychosis left untreated is extremely dangerous not only for the parent but for the child as well.
If you are concerned about postpartum psychosis or depression, speak with a licensed therapist.
Can postpartum depression affect my baby?
While no psychological disorder is directly contagious, the effects of postpartum depression can certainly have an effect on your child.
Many parents with postpartum depression struggle to bond with their child for the duration of their symptoms.
In some cases, postpartum depression can lead to neglect or feelings of distaste or disdain for your child. For this reason, postpartum depression is considered a very serious condition that must be treated by a mental healthcare professional.
Treatments for Postpartum Depression
While postpartum depression is serious, it's also often highly treatable.
There are several postpartum depression treatments that have helped millions of new parents settle into a healthier state of mind after childbirth.
Therapy
Therapy can help with symptoms of postpartum depression. The most common form of therapy used for postpartum depression is cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT.
Postpartum depression is often accompanied by trains of thought that both come from and, in fact, feed the depression. This creates a cycle of negative, unhealthy thought patterns that can be very difficult to escape from.
CBT uses cognitive restructuring to identify and change these thought cycles so that they can be interrupted and then reconfigured into healthier, more productive thoughts.
Many new parents also attend marriage and family therapy to learn coping techniques and methods for supporting one another during the postpartum transition.
Medication
Medications like SSRIs and SNRIs may be able to help keep symptoms at bay while you address the root cause of your postpartum depression (or until it passes on its own.)
While medication alone is not enough to understand why you are feeling the way you are, it can reduce distress enough to keep disordered behavior and thought at manageable levels.
Typically, a therapist will recommend that you see a psychiatrist if he or she feels that it would be the best course of medical action. Conversely, if you see a psychiatrist for your postpartum symptoms first, they may recommend therapy along with medication.
Help with Childcare
Being a new parent is, by its very nature, very difficult. Add postpartum depression on top of the standard smorgasbord of parenting struggles, and things can get exponentially harder.
This may contribute to severe or worsening symptoms of depression. Some new parents opt to get some help caring for their new child.
Time away, as hard as it may be, can work wonders for your mental health. Even if it's just one night a week, taking some time to be yourself as an individual may help your symptoms.
Get Help for Postpartum Depression in Brooklyn: Williamsburg Therapy Group
As the home of Brooklyn's premier child and family psychology department, Williamsburg Therapy Group is the go-to for new parents in the New York City area.
Our team of world-class family psychologists is on hand to help you address your postpartum depression symptoms in a safe and healthy manner.
Give us a call, and our dedicated patient coordinator will assist you in finding the right therapist for your unique situation.
Are My Parents Manipulative? Signs and Strategies to Cope Effectively
An emotionally manipulative parent can create a number of challenges in a child's sense of self, their relationships, and their daily functioning...
Understanding Why I Feel Paranoid Often and What to Do About It
"Paranoid" is a word that is often thrown around casually in conversation, but paranoid personality disorder and paranoid delusions can be quite...