Inner Solutions Counseling

The following page has been excerpted from The Postpartum Stress Center's website at postpartumstress.com

Facts About Postpartum Depression (Kleiman 2008)

PPD is the most common complication of childbirth

During pregnancy and the postpartum period women are more vulnerable to emotional illness than at any other time during their life

It is estimated that 400,000 women in the US experience PPD

Over half of these women receive no treatment

Women who have experienced a previous PPD are 50-60% more likely to experience a recurrence

Early intervention will augment recovery

What Does PPD Feel Like (Kleiman 2008)

“Nobody would believe what an effort it is to do what little I am able.” Charlotte Perkins Gillman, The Yellow Wallpaper (1892)

        Weepiness, excessive worry, agitation, anxiety

        Feelings of inadequacy, hopelessness and despair

        Difficulty sleeping, insomnia, exhaustion

        Change in appetite, weight gain or loss

        Distorted negative thinking, rumination

        Scary thoughts about the baby

        Guilt, sadness, fear of being alone, irritability

        Difficulty concentrating, panic, anger

        Negative, intrusive thoughts about the baby’s safety

Could I have postpartum depression? (Kleiman 2008)

        Wonder if you’ll ever have time to yourself again?

        Think your children would be better off without you?

        Worry that your partner will get tired of you feeling this

   way?

        Snap at your husband and children over anything?

        Think everyone else is a better mother than you?

        Cry over the slightest thing?

       No longer enjoy the things you used to enjoy?

        Isolate yourself from friends and neighbors?

        Fear leaving the house or being alone?

        Have anxiety attacks?

        Have unexplained anger?

        Think something is wrong with you or your marriage?

        Feel like you will always feel this way and never get better?

        Have thoughts that scare you?

        Have trouble sleeping?

       Find that you’re exhausted most of the time?

      Notice a decrease in your appetite?

        Worry about little things that never used to bother you?

Many new mothers will experience some of these feelings. If you answered “yes” to three or more questions you may have PPD. It is a real medical illness and is very treatable. Do not deny yourself the opportunity to feel better. Once you decide to seek assistance, you are on the road to feeling better.

You may contact Lori Brinkley at lori@innersolutionscounseling.com