Postpartum Depression Treatment

A woman’s hormones change after childbirth. Insomnia contributes to stress. Some depression and sadness after giving birth are normal, but if they persist for more than a few weeks, postpartum depression may be present. The levels of two hormones, progesterone, and estrogen, drop very fast after a new mom gives birth. Thus, this change triggers mood swings.

Causes and Risks of Postpartum Depression

Firstly, the exact cause is not clear, but there are some factors that may contribute to postpartum depression.

Physical Factors

The moment you are pregnant, your levels of estrogen and progesterone are higher than usual. Then, within hours of giving birth, hormone levels drop back to their previous state. As a result, this abrupt change may lead to depression. Some other physical factors are:

Emotional Factors

If you have had a mood disorder in the past or if mood disorders run in your family, you may be more likely to develop postpartum depression. Some emotional stressors may also include:

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression

It is normal to feel moody or fatigued after having a baby, but postpartum depression goes well beyond that. The symptoms of postpartum depression vary from person to person and even day today. Below are the indicators of postpartum depression:

These symptoms are most likely to start within a few weeks of delivery. In addition, postpartum depression sometimes does not surface until months later. Without postpartum treatment, these symptoms may continue to worsen.

How Do I Know If I Have Postpartum Depression? 

Some normal changes after pregnancy can cause symptoms similar to those of depression. Many mothers feel overwhelmed when a new baby comes home. But if you have any of the following symptoms of depression for more than 2 weeks, call your doctor, nurse, or midwife:

Some women don’t tell anyone about their symptoms. New mothers may feel embarrassed, ashamed, or guilty about feeling depressed when they are supposed to be happy. They may also worry they will be seen as bad mothers. Any woman can become depressed during pregnancy or after having a baby. It doesn’t mean you are a bad mom. You and your baby don’t have to suffer. There is help. Your doctor can help you figure out whether your symptoms are caused by depression or something else.

How Long Does Postpartum Depression Last?

The postpartum period generally includes the first 4–6 weeks after birth, and many cases of PPD begin during that time. But PPD can also develop during pregnancy and up to 1 year after giving birth.

Postpartum Depression Treatment Options

There are two main postpartum depression treatments: medication and therapy. It may take a few tries to find out what treatment works best for you. This type of depression can be treated with antidepressant medications, either alone or with therapy.

Medication

Antidepressants alter the chemicals that regulate mood. However, they will not work right away. It can take several weeks of taking the medication before you notice differences in your mood. You may have side effects while taking antidepressants as well. Side effects may include fatigue, decreased sex drive, and dizziness. If side effects are making your symptoms worse, tell your doctor right away.

In fact, some antidepressants are safe to take if you are breastfeeding, but others may not be. Be sure to tell your doctor if you breastfeed. For instance, if your estrogen levels are low, your doctor may recommend hormone therapy as well.

Therapy

A psychiatrist, psychologist, or several mental health professionals can provide counseling. In cases where both parents show signs of depression, couples counseling or family counseling may be good options.

Coping and Support

The already stressful, exhausting period following a baby’s birth is more difficult when depression occurs. But remember, postpartum depression is never anyone’s fault. It’s a common medical condition that needs treatment.

So, if you’re having trouble coping with postpartum depression, talk with a therapist. Ask your doctor or therapist about local support groups for new moms or women who have postpartum depression.

The sooner you get help, the sooner you’ll be fully equipped to cope with depression and enjoy your new baby.

8 Types of Psychotherapy for Postpartum Depression Treatment

 One of the best ways to treat a postpartum mood and anxiety disorder like postpartum depression is through therapy. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, OCD, and adjustment can be understood, worked through, and alleviated through psychotherapy, but what this treatment actually looks like can vary tremendously.

So, what is psychotherapy, exactly? While a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), Psychologist (PsyD or Ph.D.) can all provide psychotherapy support, what this support actually looks like may be different depending on that particular therapist’s approach to treatment. And so “I am seeing a therapist” can mean something very different for each person.

Below are different types of therapy that are most used in the treatment of a postpartum mood and anxiety disorder like postpartum depression:

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)

Interpersonal Psychotherapy is currently thought to be one of the most effective therapy models for treating PPD. IPT is based on the premise that postpartum distress is rooted in four “problem areas”: 

1. Grief: Acknowledging the losses that occur to a sense of self, changes in relationships, or more specifically loss.

2. Role Transitions: Life stage transitions and social transitions including loss of independence and changing social networks.

3. Interpersonal Disputes: Ones that frequently occur after the birth of a child including unmet expectations and intimacy struggles within partnerships.

4. Interpersonal Deficits: Looking at struggles with attachment in other relationships that may be causing distress.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is best known for its efficacy in treating anxiety including OCD. It works with the understanding that the way we think affects the way that we feel, and so treatment is focused on helping mom have control over her thoughts so that she feels more able to change them. A CBT therapist will work with a mom to identify and acknowledge her automatic thoughts, evaluate these thoughts, and become aware of when these thoughts are not helpful, explore and change underlying beliefs, differentiate between realistic and false threats, and develop new and more helpful perspectives. 

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

DBT began as a treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder but is now known to be effective in many instances where distress is prominent. Like CBT, DBT uses practice and homework as a part of its process. DBT teaches skills in the following categories: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. DBT is often supported through both group and individual therapy and follows a specific guideline for teaching skills to reduce symptoms related to distress.

We Level Up rehab centers treat the entirety of behavioral health disorders including secondary corresponding illnesses to improve long-term recovery outcomes. Get a free substance abuse and or mental health assessment and find out what treatment options are most suitable for you. Call to learn more.

Programs, services, and treatments vary. We Level Up rehab facilities do not provide EMDR therapy. Because patient stability should come prior to EMDR treatment. That’s why EMDR therapy to process trauma for patients actively drinking and abusing drugs should await their stability phase of treatment. EMDR phases 3 – 8 therapy is best enacted for patients that feel and experience a safer, trustful connection with their treatment team.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR is currently thought to be one of the most effective types of therapy when working through a traumatic experience and is being used more in the treatment of postpartum PTSD. This specialized type of therapy requires specific training and credentialing. EMDR uses elements of both CBT and Psychodynamic therapy along with specific techniques that are used to reduce the sensory impact of traumatic memories. 

Group Therapy

Group therapy uses the role of community in support. A true group therapy session is facilitated by one or more trained psychotherapists and uses the dynamics that occur between members of the group to help identify problem areas and interpersonal distress. 

Couples Therapy

Couples Therapy provides a space for partners to be heard during a time of crisis. In a couples therapy setting, recurrent negative patterns within the relationship will be addressed and couples will learn the communication and listening strategies necessary in working through these challenges. 

Medications for Postpartum Depression 

Antidepressants have a direct effect on the brain. They alter the chemicals that regulate mood. They won’t work right away, though. It can take several weeks of taking the medication before you notice a difference in your mood.

Some people have side effects while taking antidepressants. These may include fatigue, decreased sex drive, and dizziness. If side effects seem to be making your symptoms worse, tell your doctor right away.

Some antidepressants are safe to take if you’re breastfeeding, but others may not be. Be sure to tell your doctor if you breastfeed.

If your estrogen levels are low, your doctor may recommend hormone therapy.

For Men

Similarly, to new mothers, these “baby blues” are normal in men and tend to fade away as everyone makes the transition. Also, men can develop a type of postpartum depression too, called paternal postnatal depression.

Symptoms of depression are similar in men and women, but for new fathers, it is harder to recognize. New fathers do not have follow-up exams with doctors like new mothers do, so depression can go unnoticed. Another factor is that men are less likely to report symptoms of depression, even though first-time fathers tend to have a higher level of anxiety in the weeks following birth.

Postpartum depression in men may be related to lack of sleep, stress, and the changing family dynamics. Another risk factor is having previous depression or other mood disorders. If that is the case, you should talk to your doctor before the baby is born.

There are numerous potential risk factors that can also contribute to the development of postpartum depression in men. According to the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, some of the risk factors are a history of depression, marital discord, poverty, maternal depression, and unintended pregnancy. [3]

Further Postpartum Treatments

New fathers, like new mothers, should also try to get a support system such as joining a depression support group or spending time out with friends or family.

The We Level Up NJ treatment center provides world-class care with round-the-clock medical professionals available to help you cope. All working as a team providing primary SUD treatment along with primary substance abuse and co-occurring secondary Postpartum Depression treatment for successful recovery. Make this your opportunity to reclaim your life. Call today to speak with one of our treatment specialists. Our counselors know what you are going through and will answer any of your questions. Your call is private and confidential and there is never any obligation.