When Should You Get Help for Postpartum Depression?
It happens to many moms; one moment you’re pregnant and the next moment, you are postpartum. There is no trial run in between. It is overwhelming right away to say the least. This can make it difficult to recognize signs that something isn’t quite right and you need to get help with postpartum depression.
Not all moms will experience postpartum depression symptoms the same. The most important thing for you to do is talk with friends and family (aka people who know you) to have them help you recognize if things are off with you. The sooner you can get help for postpartum depression, the better off your maternal mental health will be in the long term.
What are the Signs of Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum depression symptoms are similar to just everyday overwhelm as a mom. There are mood changes, unrecognized behavior (such as anger), fatigue, loss of appetite, unwanted thoughts, trouble sleeping, and more. You can find a whole list of the signs of postpartum depression.
Postpartum depression can be scary to experience, but it doesn’t have to be. A great thing you can do for yourself is keep a written or audio journal. In your journal, notate how you are feeling, what you have been experiencing, and just keep track of your day-to-day. This will help you best to spot behaviors that aren’t normal for you and notice any changes.
5 Signs It’s Time to Get Help for Postpartum Depression
If you have been noticing you aren’t feeling right after having a baby, then it is time to get help for postpartum depression. The sooner you can get help, the better your chances are of surviving postpartum depression with less trauma.
Trouble Bonding with Baby
It’s not always rainbows and sunshine when your baby is born. Some moms report that it wasn’t love at first sight for them and that is okay. It can take some time to fall in love with this sweet bundle. The bonding does kick in, you get to know each other, and the love overflows.
Unfortunately for moms struggling with postpartum depression, they find themselves having trouble bonding with their baby. If this is you, please know that this does not make you a bad mom whatsoever. It is a sign that you need to work through some mental health challenges as you transition into this new life with a new baby.
Crying Behind Closed Doors
Life can get hard and overwhelming in general so crying behind closed doors does happen. But if you find yourself trying to hold your feelings in secret without letting anyone know you are struggling, that is a sign there may be something deeper happening. This is especially true if you’ve never been one to shut the door to cry.
Everyone wants to be this vision of a perfect mother. The truth is no one is and we all learn along the way. Let go of that expectation for yourself and get help. Postpartum depression can truly take you down a deep rabbit hole if you aren’t careful.
Living in Fear that Someone Will Take Your Baby
This is a huge fear so many moms have. They feel if they admit to struggling with postpartum depression, someone will find them unfit to care for their baby. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Especially as new research comes out establishing how common postpartum depression is among new moms, society and the medical field are learning that more resources are needed for mothers who are struggling.
Don’t stop trying to get help for postpartum depression. You will be all the better for it and so will your sweet baby. If you are living with this constant fear, it’s time to talk it out with a professional.
Becoming Angry for No True Reason
This could also be known as postpartum rage and it is actually a sign of postpartum depression. When you feel you are having sudden outbursts of anger or rage over little things or for no reason at all, then it is time to get help for postpartum depression.
This doesn’t mean you are an angry mom or that you’ve suddenly become an angry person. It just means there is something more happening that needs to be addressed.
Feeling “Outside” of Your Body
Many moms describe having out of body experiences of emotions and acting in ways they wouldn’t normally. They feel like they can see themselves outside of their body and they can’t stop their actions. It’s painful to watch and feel everything happen in that moment, but not be able to stop it. This is an ultimate sign that it is time to get help for postpartum depression.
Getting Help is a Sign of Strength
Contrary to popular belief that asking for help is a sign of weakness, it is actually a sign of strength. When you can identify that things aren’t the way you want them to be, but you don’t know how to change them, that is a sign that you are listening to your body. The most important thing a mom can do is become in tune with her body so that she can understand it better.
If you are someone who needs to get help for postpartum depression, you are not alone. I offer services specifically for moms like you to help you dive into your maternal mental health so that you can reach a level of confidence in this new phase of life. Postpartum depression doesn’t last forever. But the way you respond to it will impact your future.
Getting help from a therapist like me could be exactly what you need to start experiencing joy in motherhood. Don’t suffer in silence anymore. Let’s start with a complimentary consultation to get you on the right path to healing.