Thursday, March 22, 2012

Treatment for Postpartum Depression Supporting The Parents

By Jenifer Colins


Treatment for postpartum depression varies depending on the individual. Postpartum depressive episodes happen when a woman has just given birth. The woman may or may not have had a baby before. Some women experience the condition after every pregnancy and need help to get over it. Other women may have the condition only once, with their first baby, and do not have to deal with it again. For the best recovery, signs and symptoms of depression must be noticed and dealt with in the early stages.

There are various theories about the type of help that works best. Counseling may be person-centered, cognitive behavioral, gestalt or several others. A counselor will allow the individual to talk through her thoughts and feelings and then paraphrase them so she can hear what she said. It may help her feel more capable of coping with difficulties and finding a way forward. Counseling sessions are structured and typically last for about 50 minutes.

Friends and family might not understand why the woman is so unhappy. After all, she has just had a new baby and many people think she should be at her happiest. However, being a new parent brings many challenges and it is not easy to adjust to a new life style. The worst thing that a loved one can do is to suggest that she pull her socks up and get on with it. The new parent needs help and quickly if she is to have a good chance of recovery.

A woman might feel as though she hates the child and wishes she had never had it. She might feel guilty about having feelings like this, but these feelings are part of the depression. She may lose her self confidence and start to believe that she is a bad person.

In some cases, a new mother will require hospitalization until the depression lifts. During a hospital stay, she will be encouraged to explore her feelings and emotions in depth. Counseling will be available on a regular basis and prescription drugs may also be prescribed.

While the excitement of child birth is an amazing pleasure for many mothers, for some it is not all rosy. In fact, for some, it can be a time of great inner turmoil. Adjusting to being a parent is hard work; nothing will ever be the same again. The baby is reliant on its parents for everything and needs them to be there for him/her.

Some mothers do not have a partner to help them cope with the demands of a new baby. It can be especially hard to cope as a single parent without any extra support. Family and friends can help take the pressure off by helping with the baby. Younger adults struggle to cope with being a parent versus the desire to go out socializing with their friends.

Treatment for postpartum depression is necessary for parents struggling to cope with the demands of a new born baby. Therapy may include taking medication or following a range of natural treatments. Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Acupuncture and/or others may be good therapy choices for new parents. Some parents find it helpful to keep a diary of their emotions and how they feel on a daily basis.




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