You Can Survive Postpartum Depression and Anxiety

Postpartum depression is very different from the "baby blues," a normal period of emotional fluctuation and tearfulness in the first few weeks following the birth of a child. However, for 10 percent (or more) of new moms, symptoms become worse over time and signficantly interfere with caring for themselves and their new babies.

Here are a few tips to remember when coping with postpartum adjustment issues:

*Feelings of anxiety, sadness, or detachment don’t make you mean, crazy, or a bad mother. Pregnancy and the postpartum period are a melting pot of new sensations, emotions, and situations. Even the most well-adjusted woman can experience intense, contradictory thoughts and feelings. These can be caused by the physical challenges of breast feeding, healing from labor and delivery, and the lack of sleep. Changes to your relationship with your family, friends, and partner can also leave a postpartum woman feeling isolated and alone.

*Postpartum Depression/Anxiety can strike anytime within the first year after the baby is born. Too often women who don't start to feel bad until months after the baby is born delay getting help because they believe (or may be mistakenly told) that postpartum mood disorders only occur immediately after the birth.

*Medications are only one option. There is no perfect solution in regard to taking medication while breastfeeding. Though most research indicates that it will not harm the baby, choosing to take meds while nursing is a highly personal decision. Women should know that starting medication to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression does not mean they must stay on that medication forever. When the symptoms have abated, you and your doctor can talk about a time table for weaning from the medication if that seems appropriate.

*Counseling can help provide information, support, and reassurance for woman and their families. Both individual and couples therapy can help pinpoint sources of anxiety and sort out solutions for a better future. Some counselors also provide group therapy for women with postpartum adjustment concerns. These groups can serve as a place to connect with others experiencing the same thing. However, most therapists will require an individual evaluation first to determine a woman's appropriateness for the group. -Holly Cox, LMFT