Postpartum depression (PPD) is a condition that many new mothers tend to face after the birth of their child. It is a serious mood disorder and often debilitating condition, and many women avoid seeking treatment for it for fear of being judged by others. It often contributes to feelings of anxiety, guilt, and depression.
For some women, postpartum depression begins while they are pregnant and becomes worse after the delivery of their baby. For others, it develops during or right after childbirth, and for others still, it develops later during pregnancy or after delivery but then becomes worse than usual after giving birth.
While the treatment for postpartum depression can be effective, there are times and situations when it might not be the best option. In such cases, counseling can help you through a difficult time. In this article, you will get insights into how counseling can help with postpartum depression.
In addition to counseling, there are many other resources available for women experiencing postpartum depression. Many states offer programs that provide therapy, medication management, and support groups all under one roof.
If your state does not offer such a program, your OB/GYN or general practitioner may be able to refer you to a therapist or psychiatrist who specializes in treating postpartum. You can also avail yourself of a high-efficiency mental health and brain health coach in case of postpartum depression that will help you achieve lasting wellness for body, mind and spirit.
How counseling can help with postpartum stress?
A counsellor will provide support and guidance for managing your feelings of depression. One of the biggest challenges of postpartum depression can be isolation. It’s easy to feel alone in your struggle. But the truth is that many women experience PPD, so you are not alone.
Talking with a counselor can help to normalize your experience, combat feelings of isolation, and provide you with a place where you can feel safe to talk about what you are going through. Counselors are also trained to help clients identify underlying issues that may be contributing to their symptoms.
In addition to providing support for the challenges of PPD itself, a counselor can help you treat some of the other issues (including substance abuse or trauma) that may be contributing to your depression. If you or someone you love is suffering from postpartum depression, here are some ways that therapy can help:
1. Steer positive thoughts
Having a baby is a huge life change. It’s easy to be hard on yourself when you are experiencing PPD. A trained counsellor can help you identify negative thinking patterns and help you challenge them with positive thoughts. By overcoming negative feelings at the moment you come up with ways to deal with stress.
Controlling negative thoughts also helps you to improve your emotional health and mood swings. Talking with someone else about what’s going on inside your head might be better than suffering alone. Journaling, exercising regularly, or meditating are all great ways to steer positive thoughts and distract your mind into something useful.
2. Incorporate self-care
If you have recently had a baby, you may feel overwhelmed. Your days are full of new and often exhausting responsibilities that can lead to PPD. An expert counselor can help you find ways to incorporate self-care into your daily routine and create a plan for when you are feeling overwhelmed. It’s a great way of reducing your symptoms of postpartum depression.
Taking part in enjoyable activities will help you to boost your mood and make you feel better about your situation. Being kind to yourself and making self-care a priority is an important part of managing PPD. This practice helps you build a positive mindset and recognize the good in your life, even when it feels like there isn’t any.
3. Work on your feelings and emotions
PPD is one of the most serious health issues facing new mothers today. Counseling can help you work through your feelings and emotions related to the depression, set goals and activities to help you start feeling better, and develop new skills that will help you manage your depression once therapy is over.
It is an opportunity for you to share your thoughts and feelings in a safe, supportive environment. Working with a professional can help you gain insight into your thought patterns or behaviors while providing effective tools and techniques that you can use to improve your mental health.
4. Set goals and activities, and develop new skills
Postpartum depression can be difficult to deal with and counseling can be an important part of your recovery. Counseling can help you set goals and develop new skills that will enable you to overcome the challenges of PPD and move forward into a happier life without it.
One of the best things about counseling is that you get to decide what your goals are, whether that means learning how to cope with stress more effectively or developing healthier habits, like getting more sleep or eating more regularly throughout the day.
Then, once you have your goals in place, your counselor works with you to create actionable steps for getting there and then helps you practice those steps until they feel more natural. Do more positive activities like spending time with family and friends who can support you during this difficult time.
The Bottom-line
The postpartum period is a very special time in a woman’s life. It is the time when she becomes the mother of her child. It is natural for her to feel happy and excited about this new phase in her life, but if she is not careful, she can experience Postpartum depression.
With postpartum depression, however, symptoms can last for months. The good news is that with treatment, including therapy, the vast majority of women are able to overcome postpartum depression. If you suspect you are suffering from postpartum depression, consider visiting a counselor who specializes in mental health or treating patients with postpartum depression.
