Can you please help me with Post partum depression???

Hi Doc, I'm a mother to an 8 months old & I've been suffering from post partum depression. It makes me soo angry that i sometimes take it out on my child, husband and family. I'm also unemployed & i thnk it adds to it. I really need help & i feel no one understands me..
Asked by Mama
Answered
12/24/2020

Good afternoon and thank you for your question. I will present several perspectives pertaining to your concern; hopefully this will assist you in your process. Stress -- whether chronic, such as taking care of a parent with Alzheimer's, or acute, such as losing a job or the death of a loved one -- can lead to major depression in susceptible people. Both types of stress lead to overactivity of the body's stress-response mechanism. Sustained or chronic stress, in particular, leads to elevated hormones such as cortisol, the "stress hormone," and reduced serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain, including dopamine, which has been linked to depression. When these chemical systems are working normally, they regulate biological processes like sleep, appetite, energy, and sex drive, and permit expression of normal moods and emotions. When the stress response fails to shut off and reset after a difficult situation has passed, it can lead to depression in susceptible people. On the other hand, the birth of a baby can trigger a jumble of powerful emotions, from excitement and joy to fear and anxiety. But it can also result in something you might not expect — depression. Most new moms experience postpartum "baby blues" after childbirth, which commonly include mood swings, crying spells, anxiety and difficulty sleeping. Baby blues typically begin within the first two to three days after delivery, and may last for up to two weeks. But some new moms experience a more severe, long-lasting form of depression known as postpartum depression. Rarely, an extreme mood disorder called postpartum psychosis also may develop after childbirth. In general, stress is related to both external and internal factors. External factors include your physical environment, your job, relationships with others, your home, and all the situations, challenges, difficulties, and expectations you're confronted with on a daily basis. Internal factors determine your body's ability to respond to, and deal with, the external stress-inducing factors. Internal factors which influence your ability to handle stress include your nutritional status, overall health and fitness levels, emotional well-being, your ability to control stress through relaxation techniques or other strategies, and the amount of sleep and rest you get. Managing stress, therefore, can involve learning tips to change the external factors which confront you or the internal factors which strengthen your ability to deal with what comes your way. To conclude, I will strongly encourage you to seek option for you to find an option or options to manage these circumstance that are connected to your health, both physical and emotional. I will also encourage you to consider a consult with a mental health professional. It is possible that with this assistance, you could take care of yourself, plus acquire coping mechanisms to manage situations, emotions, and decisions. I hope the information I have presented assist you in your process. Good luck!