How Can Male Postpartum Depression Affect Men’s Mental Health?
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While many societal conversations occur about postpartum depression for new moms, it's common for dads and non-gestational parents to experience postpartum depression (PPD), as well. Postpartum depression statistics show that an estimated one out of every ten fathers experiences PPD and anxiety before or after the birth of their child. This can be referred to as paternal postpartum depression.
Risk of developing perinatal depression
Pregnancy, birth, and significant lifestyle changes can put anyone at risk of developing prenatal and postnatal depression. Screening, recognizing signs and symptoms, and understanding the therapeutic options available may help you and those you love manage male postpartum depression with the appropriate resources and support during the postnatal period.
Understanding male postpartum depression
Postpartum depression is characterized as a period of major depressive disorder that happens around the birth of a child, with PPD, men or non-gestational parents start seeing symptoms around three to six months after birth. However, some experts use peripartum depression or perinatal depression to describe depression as early as the first trimester of pregnancy. Paternal postpartum depression is classified as a mental illness in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), similar to depression anxiety, or seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Dads and non-birthing parents of any race, gender, or financial demographic can experience PPD.
Risk factors for male postpartum depression
There are several risk factors for the development of depression symptoms in new fathers, including the following:
- Being a young parent
- A family or personal history of depression, anxiety disorders, or other mental illnesses
- A partner experiencing PPD
- History of poverty or current financial stress
- Inability to take at least 12 weeks of paid parental leave from work after childbirth
- Hormonal changes, including the decline in testosterone level that may occur in men shortly before or after the birth of their child
- Sleep deprivation
- Relationship difficulties
- Unintended pregnancy
- Inadequate social support
- A lack of access to healthcare
- A premature or colicky baby
Symptoms of paternal postpartum depression
The mental and physical symptoms of PPD that a new father may experience are often the same regardless of gender or sexuality. Common symptoms include, among other factors:
- Low mood
- Mood swings
- Frequent or extended periods of crying
- Difficulty bonding with your child
- Withdrawal from friends, family members, or a partner
- Changes in appetite or eating habits
- Changes in sleeping habits
- Lethargy or restlessness
- Loss of enjoyment in previously enjoyed activities
- Irritability and anger
- Excessive worry about parenting abilities
- Hopelessness
- Feelings of inadequacy, shame, or guilt
- Panic attacks or overwhelming anxiety
- Difficulty focusing or concentrating
- Thoughts of self-harm or harm toward others
- Thoughts of suicide
At times, symptoms may be masked by the lack of sleep and exhaustion that is expected following the birth of a child. However, PPD is not the same as "baby blues." Symptoms of baby blues may include feeling overwhelmed, irritable, or crying due to the significant lifestyle change, exhaustion, worrying over the baby’s health, and sleep deprivation that comes with a newborn – along with a fluctuation in hormone levels following childbirth. Symptoms of this type of depression in men may occur during the pregnancy (the prenatal period) or once the baby has been delivered (the postpartum period).
The stigma and stereotypes of postpartum depression in males
As a new parent, you might be worried that your symptoms of depression make you an unfit parent, which can make it difficult to openly discuss your feelings and well-being with loved ones or seek professional help.
- PPD can affect anyone
- Self-help is okay and not a sign of weakness or poor parenting
- Seeking help is often the first step toward recovery
- Your mental illness does not define you
- Having PPD does not mean you do not love your child or children
- PPD does not make you a bad parent
- There is no one-size-fits-all for PPD
- Although men face stigma about seeking support, you're not alone, and many men live with depressive disorders
How do mental health professionals address male postpartum depression?
Often, healthcare providers can conduct screenings for postpartum depression and other mental disorders. If these screenings indicate that PPD may be a factor in your symptoms, your medical practitioner can advise you on the next steps. However, if you are not screened for PPD, or if screening did not indicate PPD, you can still reach out for help. Below are a few treatment options for men who experience symptoms.
Psychotherapy
CBT and IPT can be conducted individually or as a part of relationship or couples therapy, based on your preferences and life situation. Your therapist may also lead support groups for men living with PPD, and it may be helpful to hear other people’s stories when experiencing PPD. Your therapist may also suggest that you join a support group for other new moms and dads or people experiencing PPD. This may help you feel less alone and give you an uplifting sense of community.
Pharmaceutical treatment from a medical professional or psychiatrist
Complementary mental health practices and self-care
Mental health counseling options
Online therapy support
Takeaway
What are the causes of paternal postpartum depression (PPD)?
Paternal postpartum depression (PPD) is a mental illness occurring after birth, especially for new dads. It may occur for anyone of any gender and may occur with adoptive or foster parents, as well. PPD causes in new dads can include:
- Hormonal changes in men after the birth of a child
- Difficulty bonding with a child
- Social pressure to provide for the entire family
- Stressors, such as being sleep-deprived from a crying baby
- A history of depression, either personally or within the family
- A diagnosis of another mental illness, like an anxiety disorder
- Substance use disorders
These factors may contribute to an increased risk of depression in postpartum men. Talk to a healthcare professional if you are concerned about any of these risk factors or if you experience depression. They may use the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to determine your likelihood of PPD. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale asks you to rate statements on how you have felt in the last seven days, and may also help identify signs of your partner's depression.
How long is the period of postpartum depression in men?
Paternal postnatal depression often begins within the first two weeks after birth and may last until six weeks after. PPD, however, may last up to a year or more after giving birth.
How do new dads cope with PPD?
New dads may be able to take a few at-home steps to improve prenatal and postpartum depression symptoms, including the following:
- Eat healthy and non-processed foods
- Exercise
- Rest as much as possible
- Avoid substance use
- Avoid reckless or risky behaviors
- Talk about your feelings with a friend, family member, or professional
- Consider journaling
How can you prevent PPD?
If you are concerned about developing prenatal and postpartum depression, your overall behavioral health and well-being, have a history of depression or other mental health conditions, or have symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider.
Many therapeutic modalities that focus on preventing or working through depressive symptoms may also be effective for PPD. If you or your spouse is pregnant currently, you might try relationship or couples talk therapy before the baby is born to prepare for potential depressive symptoms or feeling depressed, especially if you may be at risk for PPD, as women tend to be at higher risk.
Is it normal to cry a lot after having a baby?
Having a new baby may be overwhelming and emotional for many parents, and you might feel depressed or struggle to focus on self-care. Your behavioral health may be affected by these challenges. Crying after having a baby is normal and healthy, and you're not alone. However, if you're concerned about the amount you're crying, consider talking to a mental health professional.
How do dads feel when their baby is born?
Fathers may feel various emotions after a new baby is born; each father is different. Some may feel relieved, excited, or enthusiastic. However, you're not alone if you struggle to bond with your baby at first. Try to spend more time with the baby and get to know them. It may help to note that they're a person like you, and they'll grow a lot throughout their life with you.
Do newborns know who their father is?
Newborns may recognize their father's voice from inside the womb. They may become familiar with their smell days after birth if the dad participates in care and skin-on-skin bonding. Babies have blurry vision when they're first born, so they might not recognize your face at first and use other senses to connect.
More questions to explore in therapy:
How can a man recognize if he is experiencing postnatal depression?
Fathers and non-gestational parents may experience postpartum depression, just like mothers. Symptoms of paternal postpartum depression include persistent feelings of sadness or emptiness, fatigue, overwhelm, and other symptoms similar to those women experience with postpartum depression.
What are some common causes of depression in men after the birth of a child?
The common causes of male postpartum depression include difficulty getting adequate sleep, financial concerns, family history, hormonal changes, and more.
How can a family address and treat postnatal depression in men?
Developing healthy coping skills and practicing self-care may help address prenatal and postnatal depression in men. However, men tend to find self-care challenging, especially for new parents. With this, seeking support from a mental health professional is recommended.
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