Postpartum Depression: 5 Symptoms you Might not Recognize
Most people think they know what postpartum depression looks like—it’s just really intense baby blues, right? The truth is, postpartum distress shows up in a wide variety of ways. If you’re only expecting depression, you might miss some of the other signs that you have a treatable condition.
Signs of Postpartum Depression You May Be Missing
Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most commonly known struggle new parents face after giving birth, affecting up to 1 in 7 women. PPD can present itself as crying, depressed mood, fatigue, etc.—but it can also show up in a bunch of different ways.
For example, you could find yourself experiencing things like…
Hopelessness
It’s really common to feel overwhelmed after giving birth. But if you’re finding that your overwhelm is slipping into hopelessness, or a sense that things will never get better, that could be a sign of postpartum depression.
anger
The cultural narrative about new parenthood is that it’s a joyous and serene experience. Even if you’re tired, somehow those superparent hormones are supposed to kick in and make sure you still feel good. The truth is, you may very well feel irritation, anger, and even rage.
Shame, guilt, self-doubt
This is one that I hear all the time with the news I see in my practice. New mothers often have feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. They may feel guilty about their parenting skills and worry that they are not doing enough for their baby.
Maybe you feel guilty about certain decisions you made during the pregnancy or after giving birth. You may regret not breastfeeding, having a C-section, or not spending enough time with your baby.
Ongoing difficulty connecting with the baby
You’ve brought this new being into the world. So now you’re supposed to be overcome with a deep love and connection as soon as you see them, right? Well, not always. It’s normal to have some variation in connecting with your baby. However, if you find you continue to have little interest in the baby, this can be a sign of postpartum depression.
Other ways Postpartum Distress manifest
Postpartum Anxiety
There’s a lot to worry about as a new parent, but if you find yourself obsessively worrying about things you might be experiencing postpartum anxiety. You may experience intrusive thoughts about something happening to your baby, such as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or choking. This can cause you to check on the baby frequently, maybe preventing you from sleeping.
Another common way this presents itself if worrying excessively about your own health and safety, feeling afraid to leave the house or go out in public with your baby. You may feel like you need to be in control of everything, making it difficult to ask for help from family or friends.
Postpartum Obsessions or Compulsions
Similarly, some parents start to experience symptoms of OCD after pregnancy, even if they haven’t had this kind of issue before. This can look like the classic compulsions of OCD. For instance, you might find yourself needing to check the baby once every thirty minutes throughout the night. Or you could be going over-the-top with cleaning just in case your baby is exposed to germs. It could also look more like intrusive thoughts. For instance, you might find yourself having disturbing thoughts about suffocating, strangling, or sexually abusing your baby—even though you don’t want to do that, and never would.
Postpartum Posttraumatic Stress
Some people experience postpartum PTSD. This can happen as a recurrence of previous PTSD—if you’ve experienced trauma or abuse before, the experience of birth can bring it back to the surface. It might also be birth-specific PTSD, especially if you experienced a difficult or traumatic birth. This can show up as flashbacks, hypervigilance, avoidance of the baby, or nightmares about the experience.
When Should I Seek Therapy for Postpartum Depression or Distress?
You know yourself, your body, and your baby best, so trust your instincts. If you’re getting the feeling that things are starting to get out of control, or like your quality of life is being affected, it’s time to reach out to someone. It’s also ok to seek therapy just because you’d like to feel better than you do. You don’t have to wait until it feels like a crisis or an emergency to deserve support.
BEGIN ANXIETY TREATMENT IN WESTCHESTER, NY
I know that this can all sound really scary. But you don’t have to go through it alone. If you or your partner is struggling with postpartum distress, therapy can help. I work with new parents to support them through the postpartum period with as much grace and ease as possible.
I would be honored to support you from my Westchester, county therapy practice where I see women from Pleasantville, Chappaqua, Bedford, and Mt. Kisco., as well as remotely if you live in New York. To start your therapy journey, please follow these simple steps:
OTHER SERVICES OFFERED BY JOANNA N. ROSENBLATT
Postpartum depression and anxiety treatment isn’t the only service I provide from my Westchester, NY-based therapy practice. Other services include anxiety treatment, therapy for women, EMDR therapy, trauma therapy, and OCD treatment. Contact me today to learn more about how I can help.