For most women, pregnancy is considered a beautiful journey to becoming a mother. However, not all 21st century women feel the same and their reasons are indeed justified. Firstly, childbirth is accompanied with changes in the body, hormonal changes which causes unpredictable mood swings, possible complications in pregnancy, labour pain, postpartum depression and other postpartum complications. All of these above changes happen to a woman who is expecting a baby and among them postpartum depression is one of the toughest to deal with.
Postpartum depression typically hits after three months of giving birth. The duration may vary from woman to woman, research says that it can up to few weeks or even a year. PPD is also very hard to diagnose and according to experts, most women do not get diagnosed and that means they also do not receive proper treatment. Untreated postpartum depression is dangerous for both the baby and the mother. It can lead to chronic depression, have negative effects on the mother’s connection with the baby and also on the mother’s health.
What Are The General Signs Of Postpartum Depression?
These are the general symptoms of postpartum depression which can become severe at any point. It can even become as extreme as suicidal thoughts or chronic depression:
- Severe and unpredictable mood swings
- Women may experience scary thoughts about your baby
- Fatigue and tiredness
- Anger
- Feeling disconnected from your baby
- Sleep disturbances
- Feelings of intense guilt or shame
- Loss of appetite and more
Impacts Of Untreated Postpartum Depression
Even today there are a lot of stigmas attached to postpartum depression and its treatment. Because of this very few women actually opt for a test of go for therapy. This can have devastating impacts on their health.
- Substance Addiction: One of the first impacts of untreated postpartum depression is substance abuse. Women may become prone to depend on alcohol, smoking followed by cannabis to feel better. This is a coping mechanism and it is dangerous. A woman is bound to get addicted to these substances eventually and it will only make their condition worse.
- Suicidal Thoughts: Postpartum depression can lead to chronic depression which in turn can cause suicidal thoughts in a woman.
- Disconnection Between Parent And Child: A mother may feel disconnected from their baby as well as everyone else. This is dangerous because it may lead to guilt, shame, resentment towards the baby. This can have devastating long-term impacts on the bond between mother and child.
- Low Self-Esteem: Low self-esteem is a common effect of postpartum depression in mothers.
- More Anxiety And Depression: Symptoms of postpartum depression may become more severe without diagnosis and treatment and this can lead to chronic depression, stress and anxiety.
- Personal Health Risk: If a woman is struggling with depression, she is not paying attention to her own health. She may not be eating properly or staying healthy which can be very harmful for her overall health.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not vetted by an expert. If you are experiencing any signs of postpartum depression, you must consult a psychologist.