Do you think you may be suffering from postpartum depression in Houston, Texas?
If so, you’re not alone. Postpartum depression is very common among women who just gave birth. In fact, approximately 1 in 7 women experience postpartum depression. Luckily, the condition is treatable and curable. But, you first need to know the signs of the disorder.
Read on to discover the top signs of postpartum depression in Houston, Texas.
What is Postpartum Depression?
Before we dive into the signs of PPD, we first need to answer the question, “What is postpartum depression?”
Many people refer to postpartum depression as “the baby blues”. However, these are two different things. The “baby blues” describe the feeling fo sadness, anxiousness, stress, tiredness, and loneliness that some women experience after giving birth. For most women, these emotions are short-lived and go away on their own.
Postpartum depression involves this same set of feelings, however, it’s a serious mood disorder that does not go away on its own. Some women experience PPD for weeks or even months, and the disorder can make it very hard to get through the day. PPD is a mood disorder that can affect any woman, regardless of the type of pregnancy she had.
Symptoms of Postpartum Depression
So, what are the symptoms of postpartum depression? Here are the top symptoms to look out for:
- Trouble bonding or feeling close to your baby
- Feeling moody or restless
- Having the desire to avoid family members or friends
- Getting too much sleep or too little sleep
- Thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts
- Thoughts of harming your baby
- Fearing that you’re not a good mother
- Lacking interest in daily activities
- Experiencing severe mood swings, anxiety, or panic attacks
- Not being able to take care of your baby or yourself
- Having little energy or motivation
- Eating too much or too little
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Experiencing headaches and other aches and pains that won’t go away
- Crying a lot
- Feeling as if your baby is someone else’s baby
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Having trouble focusing and making decisions
- Experiencing racy, scary thoughts
Typically, postpartum depression symptoms occur within the first four weeks of being birth. However, they may present themselves later on and they can often last up to a year or more.
Signs of Postpartum Depression: Are You Ready to Seek Help?
If you’ve been experiencing any of these symptoms for two weeks or more, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor immediately. He/She will be able to get you on a treatment plan that will help you feel like yourself again.
Also, as we mentioned earlier, any woman can experience postpartum depression, and there’s no reason to feel embarrassed about your symptoms or like you’re a bad mom. The important thing is to get help as soon as possible so you can begin your recovery.
If you’re experiencing postpartum depression in Houston, Texas, contact us today to schedule an appointment.
