There are some topics that are interdictory. Especially when it comes to problems and awareness related to women. Now is the time that we should talk about them without hesitation. Some health and mental issues like postpartum depression are often ignored. It’s high time that we should spread awareness about it. It’s all about raising awareness for good.
What is postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a mix of physical, emotional, mental, and behavioral changes. These changes happen to be in some women after giving birth. You might have heard about ‘baby blues’. That’s quite common for new mothers to feel sad, anxious, fatigued, and worried. This feeling remains the same for about one or two weeks after the birth of the child. It is completely normal and it fades away with time. However, postpartum depression is severe and is different from baby blues. PPD is not only based on the time of delivery but also the severity of depression.
Causes of postpartum depression
PPD occurs because of chemical, psychological changes during the birth of the baby. The female reproductive hormones; estrogen and progesterone increase tenfold during pregnancy. However, because of chemical changes, they rapidly drop after the delivery of the baby. These hormones drop back to what they were before pregnancy within three to four days. The fact is, having a baby includes social and psychological changes that increase the risk of depression. Moreover, it might also include a history of depression prior to pregnancy. PPD may also occur because of the lack of sleep. The anxiety of taking care of the newborn can be a cause too. Whatever the causes are, they are harmful to women’s health.
Postpartum psychosis
Postpartum psychosis is the next level of PPD. It is a severe disease or illness. This serious mental illness can affect new mothers. Postpartum psychosis can happen quickly or after three months of childbirth. Its consequences are very harmful. Women can hallucinate things that aren’t actually happening. Moreover, they might go through visual hallucinations, delusions, and even insomnia. This disease is quite dangerous for both mother and baby. Women can end up hurting themselves or their babies.
Symptoms of PPD
Symptoms of postpartum depression are hard to decipher. Some women have the following symptoms.
- Trouble sleeping
- Severe fatigued
- Frequent mood changes
- Appetite changes
Cure of postpartum depression and psychosis
Both PPD and postpartum psychosis are severe. It’s not that they are impossible to cure. Every problem has a solution. These severe mental illnesses can be treated with proper medication and counseling. However, some patients need to be hospitalized and taken care of properly. The treatments can be different depending on the symptoms and their severity.
Raising awareness
People really need to normalize mental illnesses. Women need to be aware of severe mental illnesses. Spreading awareness will help several mothers who are going through this. These illnesses are frequently ignored and are marked unimportant. However, the consequences are tragic for both mother and the baby. Women of every culture, race, religion has a right to be aware of these diseases. Awareness is vital in order to treat these illnesses.
Influencing and changing attitude
The world needs to change the way of seeing things like mental illnesses. It needs proper awareness and counseling. Illness is not a crime whether it is physical or mental. Moreover, building awareness prevents tragedies. It aims to stand for what’s right. Increasing awareness about postpartum depression will improve the quality of care for women. We should start encouraging mental health professionals and spread awareness about it. People should ask new moms in circles if they are having any problems to avoid any mental issues.
Disclaimer: The information provided in the blog is for general information only. It is not intended as medical advice.
