Select Page

Emotional Recovery and Postpartum Depression

 

EMOTIONAL RECOVERY AND POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

Motherhood is an invaluable gift of life. It brings you joy, comfort, and amazement and walks you through an otherworldly period. However, it can also cause upheaval and make you feel puzzled, uncertain, or frustrated. Your sleep is scarce, the daily routine isn’t relevant, and guilt constantly eats you up. The old life doesn’t feel familiar, and it takes some time to adjust to the new phase.

It’s all good until you’re coping well and have an empathetic support system alongside. If you add to the postpartum condition, it can get debilitating.But having a road map and with the right help, you can get back to wellness.

depression

  At C-Section Recovery Center, we help our patients with their roadmap to recovery. If you’re a new mom and need guidance, speak up – we’re here to help you fight back and find joy.

WHAT IS POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION (PPD)?

If pregnancy is an emotional roller coaster, PPD is a tornado. It’s a real condition to deal with and a form of clinical depression that every one in five mothers experience. Different degrees of PPD show up usually around the 4th week after childbirth.

You first experience baby blues starting from the 3rd or 4th day after delivery, which may disappear in a week or two. But things can get severe if the condition’s left untreated. PPD can occur at any point during the initial years of motherhood. You feel you’ve lost your identity, and other symptoms may include:

  • Blown out highs and lows
  • Sadness and irritability
  • Crying spells
  • Eating and sleeping concerns
  • No or over interest in baby
  • Feelings of worthlessness and guilt
  • Fear of hurting yourself, baby, or both
  • Lack of concentration
  • Anxiety and exhaustion

Women who’ve also had a miscarriage or abortion are at the risk of having PPD alongside their  partners.

HOW DOES PPD AFFECT YOUR LIFE?

Caring for an infant is challenging for most new parents, and it brings chaos to the household. You cannot sleep well, hormones are causing havoc, new responsibilities feel drowning, you might be disappointed with how your labor went, and you’re confused, tired, and giving up. It’s a time for significant mental, physical, and social changes.

It isn’t your fault.

But withdrawing from your social circle or relationships can affect your interactions with your partner, other kids at home, friends, and family. This is why we always recommend getting treatment early to shorten the duration of depression.

SIX STAGES OF POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

PPD isn’t like you take an antibiotic, and days later, you’re ready to roll. It’s a process starting from denial to final retrieval. So here’s what you must expect:

  1. Denial

The first stage is what new motherhood looks like. You’re excited to start the brand-new phase of your life, but you deny the signs of depression. You feel you’ll be alright, it’s just for a few days, and enough rest may be the cure. Sure, rest helps, but denial enters you into a more stressful period.

  1. Anger

Stage two takes you a step closer to the severity of PPD. Denying the symptoms all this while fills you with negative emotions. You feel you don’t deserve this, and no one understands you. You’re reluctant to speak to an expert, go for therapy or treatment, or take the necessary medications.

  1. Bargaining

Now is the stage where you start trading – if I exercise a little more, then I’ll be fine. If I eat well, this will wear off soon. I’m not mentally ill, and I need to get a little closer to the divine power. The bargaining tactic isn’t going to help, especially if you don’t see the expected results.

Working hard to perfect your diet and lifestyle will keep you in good shape, but you certainly need assistance with your mental health. Consulting a specialist or finding a support group is the way forward; else, things turn the other way round.

  1. Depression

This is the toughest stage as the symptoms of depression hit you harder. You get thoughts of leaving your partner, your family, even your child. You think they’d be better off without you and having to deal with your emotional turmoil. It’s even natural to feel the baby doesn’t deserve circumstances like these or a mother like you.

Most people assume the depression would never go away, they’re mentally unstable to care for the child, so there’s no point in going any further. But with constant familial support, you would come across the next stage.

  1. Acceptance

Acceptance can be more challenging than feelings of depression. It’s extremely painful to accept the difficult things and that we lack somewhere in life. However, it’s the act of acceptance that brings about real changes. It gives you peace and allows you the opportunity to better yourself.

Without acceptance, you wouldn’t move forward and eventually stench like stagnant water.

The goal isn’t to get over it but accept the tough times, feel those, and get through it – “it isn’t my fault, it isn’t normal, cannot ignore anymore, it’s okay to discuss the problem with a doctor, and it’s okay to ask for help.” PPD doesn’t define one’s personality – sure, it’s a temporary and treatable condition. Still, you’re only dodging your chances of recovery by not asking for professional help and keeping things to yourself.

  1. PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

It’s a long, painful journey, from denial to acceptance. But it’s the only way towards emotional recovery. What worries you despite recuperating is the PPD phase hitting you back. You always need a shoulder. One bad day and you feel you’re going back. You don’t feel confident, and you worry about hurting your child.

We’ve seen patients with a severe PTSD condition that’s usually after their treatment is complete and they’re ready to leave a happier life. Happy life seems to be a distant dream for some. You may start feeling better, but it never feels 100%. Even years after getting better, you would need time to get comfortable in conquering motherhood.

YOU’RE NOT ALONE, CLING TO HOPE, AND SEEK HELP.

C-Section Recovery Center experts believe you shouldn’t ever be comparing your life’s pace with others. Don’t expect to get better in no time because someone you know got well pretty soon. Also, don’t give up – you’ll get there, and you’ll only get there with patience, persistence, and practice.

There’s an army at C-Section Recovery Center who cares for you and can help you get better. We’re just a call away. There’s no embarrassment in seeking help. Get in touch with us today at 972-630-4855 for a free consultation. You can trust our therapists, and they won’t let you down.

Contact us

Call Us

E-mail Us

Our Location

1620 Custer Rd #1C
Plano, TX 75075

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

 

Follow Us On Social Media