Do You Identify with These 7 Signs of Post Natal Depression?

1. Do You Identify with These 7 Signs of Post Natal Depression?

2. If you’re a new mum, you might be wondering why you’re not feeling overjoyed and thankful for the tiny new life you’ve recently been gifted with. Instead, you’re feeling exhausted, down, sad, and filled with intense guilt about your parenting skills, or lack of. While it’s perfectly normal to experience all of the above feelings when you’ve just given birth (and even for some months afterwards), if those feelings start to take over and impede your enjoyment of life, you could be experiencing postnatal depression. Affecting around 10% of all new mums, you certainly wouldn’t be alone. Below are 7 signs of postnatal depression, and if you identify with any of them, you should seek help from a medical professional:

3. 1.The baby blues simply won’t shift As many as 80% of all women experience the baby blues immediately after giving birth, and it typically lasts for 10 to 12 days. If your blues are continuing for longer, however, it could be a sign that you need help. 2.Feelings of sadness and guilt are consuming you Feeling down from time to time is absolutely normal with a new baby, as is questioning your parenting skills, but if these feelings are consuming you, you could be suffering from postnatal depression.

4. 3.You no longer feel like yourself As a new parent, it can feel as if you’ve lost part of your identity, and your own needs and wants are replaced with an all-consuming love for another being. This is of course, a wonderful thing, but to feel lost and no longer like yourself, isn’t normal and isn’t something you should be forced to endure. 4.Your sleep patterns are unhealthy Being a new mum is tiring, no doubt about that, and the advice often given is to ‘sleep when baby sleeps’. However, if you’re wanting to sleep for most of the time and don’t feel like you have the energy or desire to tend to the needs of your baby, this could be an indicator that something is wrong.

5. 5.You’re always irritable and grouchy Grumpiness and being short with the people around you, are common responses after giving birth, especially when you’re tired and not getting much sleep. But if you’re struggling to keep your anger or irritability in check for most of the time, you could benefit from professional medical intervention. 6.You’re always indecisive Early signs of postnatal depression can include a lack of decisiveness, especially when it comes to simple things such as what to have for dinner, or whether to change your baby’s diaper.

6. 7.You have thoughts about harming yourself or your baby An advanced sign of postnatal depression, suicidal feelings or thoughts about harming your baby should never be ignored, and while they may be frightening and make you feel somewhat ashamed, you should talk to someone about the way you’re feeling, right away. Remember that for every emotion you experience, someone just like you has experienced it too, and you should never feel ashamed about seeking professional help for your state of mind.

7. Giving birth and motherhood, is a wondrous journey, but it’s not always roses and champagne. If you’re struggling to cope with the way you’re feeling after having a baby, please seek professional help at the earliest; you deserve to enjoy motherhood, and to receive full support for the range of emotions you’re experiencing at this incredible, but intense, period in your life.

8. Doral Psychotherapy offers online individual therapy in Doral FL including therapy for Anxiety, Trauma, Depression, Grief, PTSD, anger management therapy in Doral FL . Gabriela is a licensed mental health counselor in Florida. If you’ve been feeling hopeless or lost lately, or struggling with a problem in your life that feels unsurmountable, individual counseling could help you. Our telehealth solution allows you to schedule an appointment directly online and have the entire therapy session take place digitally. If you are looking for trauma therapist in Doral, FL or online therapy for depression or anxiety or any kind of individual mental health issues, contact us at ‪(786) 843-9527‬.