Dr. Deepak Raheja Talks About Postpartum Depression Article

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Dr. Deepak Raheja Talks About Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression is an aberration in mood which occurs after child birth. The main causal factors that have reportedly been researched include hormonal fluctuations and the endocrine disturbances that determine the behavioral response of an individual.

Author: Deepak Raheja

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The depressive episodes have an insidious onset beginning three to four months after child birth.

This is distinguished from maternity blues since the latter does not impair functioning and generally occurs in fifty to eighty percent of women postpartum. The symptoms can be extreme ranging from guilt to an obsession to protect/harm the child. Postpartum depression is more debilitating than the "blues." Women with this condition suffer despondency, tearfulness, feelings of inadequacy, guilt, anxiety, irritability and fatigue. Physical symptoms include headaches, numbness, chest pain and hyperventilation.

A woman with postpartum depression may regard her child with ambivalence, negativity or disinterest. An adverse effect on the bonding between mother and child may result. Because this syndrome is still poorly defined and under studied, it tends to be under reported. Estimates of its occurrence range from 3% to 20% of births. The depression can begin at any time between delivery and 6 months post-birth, and may last up to several months or even a year. There is an absence of major symptoms like insomnia, melancholia and neurasthenia which is observed in postpartum depression. On the other hand, maternity blues may vary from crying, irritability and euphoria.

The course also varies, being three to ten days postpartum in case of maternity blues and six to nine months in case of depression following child birth. Pharmacological intervention (treatment with medication) is not usually warranted for maternity blues but is an important treatment modality for postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression is an illness, like diabetes or heart disease. The symptoms of postpartum depression affect your quality of life and include:

* Feeling sad or down often
* Frequent crying or tearfulness
* Feeling restless, irritable or anxious
* Loss of interest or pleasure in life
* Loss of appetite
* Less energy and motivation to do things
* Difficulty sleeping, including trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep or sleeping more than usual
* Feeling worthless, hopeless or guilty
* Unexplained weight loss or gain
* Feeling like life isn't worth living
* Showing little interest in your baby

Reassurance, support and psycho education are interventions that work best with problems resulting due to maternity blues.

About Author

Dr Deepak Raheja an eminent Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist Chairman and Executive Director of Foundation Hope.

Foundation Hope is a client centered facility based on respect and compassion. The respect, the dignity and worth of each person is valued so that they do not carry the stigma of mental illness through their lives.

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