TeamIt has been observed that every 20 out of 100 women face postpartum stress. Usually, the mother experiences incompetency in her behavior after giving birth. This change in behavior makes her fear that she can’t take care of her child. This proves to be a horrific experience for a mother. Nevertheless, it can be treated just with a little help.
What is Postpartum Stress?
Postpartum stress or known as PPD happens after a mother gives birth to her child. The woman who is diagnosed with PPD experiences physical, emotional, and mental changes in her behavior and attitude. The mother doesn’t feel any affection toward her child. Not only this but there are several other issues that postpartum stress creates for the mother.
If you’re feeling the symptoms of postpartum stress as a new mom, then it is completely okay. We want you to know that we’re here to help.
What are the Symptoms of Postpartum Stress?
Symptoms of Postpartum Stress differ from person to person. Every woman suffering from postpartum stress experiences the same form of emptiness and fatigue.
Feeling Overwhelmed
You feel overwhelmed with the changes happening to your body. You feel like crying all the time. Everything around seems like a burden.
Feeling as if you’re a Bad Parent
You feel you’re not worthy to be a mother. You lose interest in holding your baby. You find it difficult to show affection for your baby.
Constant Headaches
You feel nauseous all the time. Everything seems to get on your nerves. Stress and anxiety give you severe headaches. Sometimes your body also hurts a lot.
Losing Interest in Everything
You feel distant from everyone around you. You find it extremely difficult to be around people. You don’t like talking to anyone even if they are your family or friends.
Low Motivation
Postpartum Stress allows you to feel burdened all the time. As if there’s some heavyweight on your shoulder. You wish to stay in bed all day. You find it hard to get up to do chores or any housing activity.
Lack of Appetite
You lose your appetite while experiencing postpartum stress. Eating seems like a laborious task. You think of throwing up as soon as you eat anything. You find eating difficult and distressing.
Feeling Guilty
You feel guilty about not picking up your child. You feel helpless and sad. It seems that everything that you’re feeling is your fault. Above all, you feel worthless and hopeless.
Treatments for Postpartum Stress
Dealing with postpartum stress is not easy. It only gets harder with time. Keeping up with everything seems impossible. Don’t burden yourself, as it can be treated. We have come up with some of the best treatments for you. So, you can get better and feel healthy in no time.
Psychotherapy
Ask your gynecologist to suggest you a psychiatrist. Getting professional assistance is the best way to survive this condition. A trained mental health professional is certified to treat such cases. Psychotherapy works as any talking therapy. The psychiatrist helps you clear your mind and thoughts. Psychotherapy will help you understand what are the triggering factors causing stress. You will also be advised about different copying and problem-solving techniques. These techniques will help you in maintaining your calm. The main idea behind psychotherapy is to make you understand the rationales behind your stress.
Kinds of Psychotherapy
You can opt for individual, group, and couple’s therapy. Many support therapy groups can help you in this regard. Sharing your experience with people undergoing the same pain benefits you in many ways. Any way that makes you feel comfortable, go for it.
Using Medication
Antidepressants work as the best medicine to cure the symptoms of postpartum stress. The function of antidepressants is to enhance the chemical activity in your brain. The stability of these chemicals can balance your mood. These neurotransmitters increase the production of dopamine as well as serotonin. Epinephrine is also secreted in the blood because of antidepressants. All of these neurotransmitters relieve the level of stress and anxiety. Antidepressants help elevate your mood. They allow you to sleep peacefully. You also get a better appetite.
These medications should be strictly prescribed by the doctor. As unsupervised medicine can cause you harm. Keep in mind that the antidepressants will start working probably after one month. In case you’re breastfeeding, it needs to be taken more carefully. Ask about its side effects from your doctor and then use it.
Postpartum stress should not be left untreated. It must be considered as serious as any other medical condition.
