PPD can present itself in many different ways. Not all moms experience every symptom associated with the disorder, and a mother who was diagnosed with PPD after a previous birth may experience completely different symptoms after a subsequent birth – or no symptoms at all. These are some of the symptoms moms with PPD may experience.
Irritation, Anger, or Rage
When a baby cries, women with PPD often feel more irritated than moms without PPD. They can get angry at the baby when it's time to change another diaper or feel unadulterated rage when the baby won't go to sleep. Anger can extend outward to a woman’s partner, friends, family, and even strangers.
Overwhelmed
Women with PPD often feel overwhelmed by motherhood and the arduous task of parenting. Instead of recognizing this as a time of change and transition, they may view it as a personal failure. They can feel like an unfit mother because they struggle to stay on top of cooking, cleaning, and new parenting duties.
Lack of Connection
Women with PPD often feel withdrawn or like they are not bonding with their baby. They don't feel like doing things with other people and may cancel plans or avoid phone calls or texts. PPD sufferers may feel nothing at all or a total apathy about absolutely everything.
Sadness
Sadness is a more recognizable sign of depression, but this type feels bone deep. It feels like it may never end, and women with PPD fear they will never feel happy again.
Sleep Problems
The old adage "Sleep when the baby sleeps" isn’t always feasible for women with PPD. They struggle to sleep at night or nap during the day. Or, on the flip side, all they want to do is sleep, but it feels like no amount of sleep will help get them caught up.
Lack of Concentration
Women with PPD have difficulty focusing on tasks at work or at home. Completing a simple to-do list can feel insurmountable.
Anxiety
PPD and anxiety often go hand-in-hand. PPD sufferers may find themselves afraid to walk down stairs with their baby or may contrive worst-case outcomes for every scenario. They may feel paralyzed by fear.
Just know, that if you are a struggling mom with feel like you are suffering from postpartum depression and/or anxiety, you ARE NOT ALONE and you DO NOT have to suffer in silence, There is help out there and we can help. We have qualified counselors and consultants here at the Center for Personal Wellness who have experience working with moms with PPD/A, and we can even offer online counseling for certain clients. Research suggests that internet-based treatment could have a positive effect on postnatal depression as a whole, providing new moms with support at times which are convenient to them and allowing them to complete a course of therapy. Please reach out to us and we will help! (419) 628-6156
