Postpartum Depression Treatment

Postpartum Depression or PPD is a form of clinical depression which can affect women after childbirth. PPD is a moderate to severe form of depression and usually occurs within the first four weeks after delivery of the baby. More than half of women will experience mild depression after pregnancy and women commonly have mood changes during pregnancy, many of which are considered normal. These mood changes are even expected since having a baby leads to a significant change in their lifestyle.

These normal feelings associated with pregnancy can include anxiety, irritation, tearfulness and restlessness and are often called postpartum blues – they usually go away.

Postpartum Depression is much more serious and it may be necessary to find professional help. PPD has been shown to occur in about 10 to 20 percent of women. The  symptoms of PPD can include agitation, irritability, decreased appetite, a hard time thinking, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, feeling withdrawn, socially isolated, lack of pleasure, loss of energy, negative feeling toward the baby, thoughts of death or suicide, and trouble sleeping. If postpartum depression is left untreated, it can last for months or even years and can eventually lead to substance abuse and addiction. This may cause the mother to be at risk of harming herself, the baby or both. What starts as occasional substance abuse can lead to more serious and damaging problems and in extreme cases death.

Postpartum depression treatment should be encouraged to any woman that seems to be exhibiting the symptoms of the diseases. Symptoms, even mild, should not be ignored as the consequence of severe PPD can include harm to mother or child. Those women who are also abusing drugs or alcohol along with their PPD need to be admitted to an experienced dual diagnosis program like Destination Hope’s. Postpartum depression treatment combined with effective substance abuse treatment can effectively stop the disease in its tracks, allowing mothers to return to their children and lead a normal life. If the substance abuse is caught early, the effects to mother and child can be curtailed and a return to normalcy is quicker.

Women with postpartum depression must be taken seriously and should receive treatment immediately. PPD is not something that can be easily overcome by oneself, but rather needs clinical treatment. There is no shame in admitting that you have a problem. Postpartum depression treatment is not something to avoid, rather something to embrace as the effects of doing nothing can be far worse. Further at a licensed treatment center like Destination Hope, women suffering from PPD and alcohol or drug related addiction know that they have a partner to trust. Enlisting the support of partners, friends and family combined with a solid therapy program can help mothers overcome this very dangerous disease and return to their loved ones. We are here to help and understand how hard it is to pick up the phone. Please know that we have specialists waiting to speak to you and discuss whether you may have a problem in complete confidence.