Postpartum Depression Can and Is A Problem

Symptoms and Treatments of Postpartum Depression

Having a baby is one of the most joyous things that can happen in a woman’s life — at least, this is the typical perception of childbirth. But for women who are going through postpartum depression, happiness is the furthest thing that they are feeling shortly after giving birth. It hasn’t been easy for the public to accept postpartum disorder as a mental disorder.

In fact, there are still a lot of people these days who don’t believe that this is a disorder at all, believing instead that it is the mother’s irresponsibility that is causing the problem.

However, it has already been proven that postpartum depression is indeed a disorder, and one that is actually quite serious.

Statistics show that as many as 5% to 25% of women may have these feelings of depression. If left untreated, it can be dangerous for both the mother and the new baby. During pregnancy, a woman experiences fluctuations in her hormone levels and this is said to be the main cause.

Oftentimes, postpartum depression sets in shortly after the woman has given birth. Some of the most common symptoms of this difficult condition include the refusal of taking responsibility for the newborn, a complete lack of interest in the child and being irritated upon hearing the baby cry.

Symptoms

Some of the symptoms include sadness and fatigue, reduced libido and anxiety. In addition to these, following are more symptoms of the condition:

• Sleeping disorders and change in eating habits
• Failure to care for the baby
• Constant feelings of misery and irritability.

It is quite interesting to note that even the women who experience severe cases of postpartum depression show absolutely no signs of problems during the nine months of their pregnancy. In fact, these women may even be very happy with their pregnancy, only to end up feeling miserable and even suicidal soon after childbirth.

Not many people may want to talk about it but the dangers are very real and should be brought to public knowledge. There have been cases where new mothers suffering from this condition have dealt physical injuries to their own babies, albeit without intending to do so. Many  of them claim to have no awareness of what they are doing, which makes it all the more dangerous for the baby, as well as other children in the house.

Treatments

It is for these reasons that postpartum depression should really be treated as soon as possible. It is not the mother’s fault if she is going through this problem but it is her responsibility to herself and her children to seek help right away if she realizes she has a problem. There are many possible ways to help someone with this disorder, but probably the most effective is to show the new mother a lot of support from family members and friends. Don’t let them feel they are alone and without help. Be there for them.

Depression In Teenagers – The Symptoms and Help

Helping Depression In Teenagers

Depression in teenagers is more common than many people realize. It is a serious problem that impacts every aspect of a teen’s young life. If left untreated, depression in teens can lead to problems at home and school, drug abuse, self-loathing and even irreversible tragedy such as suicide or homicidal violence.

Although depression is highly treatable, experts say only 1 in 5 depressed teens receive help. It is therefore important to learn what depression in teenagers looks like and what to do if or when you spot the warning signs.

Teen depression can be instigated by the many pressures teens face, from the changes of puberty to questions about who they are and where they fit in and parental conflict as teens start to assert their independence. With all this going on, it is not easy to differentiate between depression and normal teenage moodiness.

Teen Depression Symptoms

It is difficult to explain how depression feels, and different people experience it differently. There are however some common problems and symptoms that teens with depression experience. Here are a few of them:

• Constantly feeling irritable, sad or angry.
• Things he or she used to enjoy do not seem to be fun anymore.
• He or she feels bad about themselves accompanied by feelings of worthlessness and guilt.
• Other signs of depression in teenagers include oversleeping or not sleeping enough.
• Frequent unexplained headaches and/or other physical problems such as weight gain or weight loss and
• a lack of concentration in school and at home.

If you miss these symptoms in your teenager, you may want to take a look at the effects of depression. Teens tend to act out in an attempt to cope with their emotional pain. Many rebellious and unhealthy behaviors or attitudes in teenagers are actually indications of depression.

The following are warning signs to look out for. Running away or talking about running away-many teens resort to this as a cry for help. Depressed teens may also turn to internet addiction, drugs and alcohol abuse, reckless behavior, violence and self injury.

So how do you go about handling depression in teenagers?

Well, it is very important that parents or guardians try not to increase pressures on their teen. These teenagers need to be listened to and accepted. Be there as a parent to let them know you are there for them, to support and help them whenever they are ready. Teens are not necessarily looking for someone to give them advice but rather to know they have unconditional love and support (especially through traumatic or stressful times).

Once your teen begins to convey their feelings, let them talk. Be a good listener without throwing out a lot of counsel or blame. Let your teen know the possibility they may be depressed and discuss getting the help they need.

If you see depression’s warning signs, seek professional help. Make an immediate appointment for your teen to see the family physician for a depression screening. As part of the depression screening, the doctor will give your teenager a complete physical exam and take blood samples to check for medical causes of your child’s symptoms. The doctor will then recommend specific treatments for your child.

You should however be very careful that your child does not resort to abuse of any prescription medications. A regular counseling session should also be established for your teen.

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