Postpartum Depression
When you are pregnant or after you have a baby, a lot of factors can impact how you feel - hormones, sleep, your identity changing, relationships changing, and more. Some people get depressed, which can look like losing interest in activities, feeling detached from your baby or people around you, frequent crying or tearfulness, or feeling like you don’t want to be around anymore. You might also have a lot of worries, or scary thoughts that pop into your head, or other concerns.
What is postpartum depression? What are other ways my mental health might be impacted?
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The “baby blues” typically refers to a one to two week period after birth when hormonal changes are the most dramatic, and many people experience feeling sad or frequent crying during this time, but it goes away on its own. Postpartum depression lasts longer than one to two weeks, and may need therapy or medication to get better. In the beginning, it might be impossible to tell the difference between baby blues and depression. It’s okay to decide to get help at any time, regardless of if it might go away with time.
What’s the difference between postpartum depression and “baby blues?”
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What if I’m pregnant and I feel down, sad, or depressed?
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It’s actually just as common to experience depression during pregnancy as it is postpartum, for many reasons! You’re not alone, and therapy can help.
How can therapy help?
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There are several therapy approaches that are evidence-based for perinatal depression, anxiety, and other concerns. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is one of the most commonly studied effective treatments, along with interpersonal therapy.