Bringing a new baby into the family can be challenging at the best of times. It is natural for new parents to experience mood swings, feeling joyful one minute and depressed the next. These feelings are sometimes known as the “baby blues,” and often go away soon after birth. However, some parents may experience a deep and ongoing depression that lasts much longer. This is called postpartum depression.
Postpartum depression may start during pregnancy or at any time up to a year after the birth of a child. Depression is a mental illness that affects a person’s mood—the way they feel.
Signs of depression include feeling sad, worthless, hopeless, guilty, or anxious a lot of the time. Some feel irritable or angry. People lose interest in things they used to enjoy and may withdraw from others. Depression can make it hard to focus on tasks and remember information. It can be hard to concentrate, learn new things, or make decisions. Depression can change the way people eat and sleep, and many people experience physical health problems.
If you think you may be experiencing post partum depression you should seek support. Our Registered Psychotherapist and Canadian Certified Counsellor may be able to help.