Perinatal depression occurs during and sometimes up to one year after pregnancy...
Perinatal depression occurs during and sometimes up to one year after pregnancy. During pregnancy, it's natural for women to experience changing hormone levels that cause mental, emotional, and physical changes. However, the signs and symptoms are often severe but there is support for perinatal depression available. There are common signs of perinatal depression similar to other forms of depression, including fatigue, lack of mental clarity, changes in appetite, and weight gain. Other common symptoms of perinatal depression include insomnia, mood swings, irritability, headaches, chest pains, and hyperventilation. Let's examine five, unique signs of perinatal depression.
A person suffering from perinatal depression often questions their ability to carry a baby to term. Obsessive fear of miscarriage or birth defects is a common sign of perinatal depression. Normally, these fears may stem from past miscarriages or a family history of troubled pregnancies, but with perinatal depression it's different. However, in cases of perinatal depression, a woman may experience paralyzing, obsessive fears for no justified reason. The unborn baby and mother may receive a clean bill of health from the doctor. But perinatal depression causes the mother to fear regardless. Additionally, a woman suffering from perinatal depression often questions their ability to be a good mother, once the baby is born. She may deny her ability to be a good mother. She may feel extreme guilt for even being pregnant. Perinatal depression makes a person question their self-worth and be extremely self-critical. Doubt and self-criticism related to perinatal depression may have extremely damaging consequences for both mother and unborn baby. Perinatal depression often causes the mother to neglect herself and thus the unborn baby, believing she is unworthy of motherhood.
Overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and guilt caused by perinatal depression may cause a person to entertain or act upon thoughts of self-harm. Obsessive self-criticism often leads to self-harm. It is common for those suffering from perinatal depression to contemplate hurting themselves, and even their unborn. When an expecting mother experiences obsessive feelings of guilt, it often leads her to feel she needs to be punished. A common sign of perinatal depression is when the expecting mother puts herself down. She may predict mistakes she will make after the baby is born, or talk about how the baby should have a better mother. She may obsess over mistakes she made in the past that might complicate pregnancy. Remember, an effective form of self-punishment and harm is to torture yourself mentally and emotionally. Self-harm may also include physically harming one's body or in extreme situations, thoughts of suicide or infanticide. If you or someone you know is experiencing perinatal depression during their pregnancy, seek professional treatment from a licensed counselor.
A person suffering from perinatal depression often becomes disinterested in motherhood or the pregnancy altogether. When struggling with perinatal depression, an expecting mother may simply lose interest in the pregnancy. She may not want to talk about or acknowledge the baby. She may avoid activities other expecting mothers enjoy such as: choosing a baby's name, knowing its gender, receiving updates from the doctor, etc. In fact, in some cases, those suffering from perinatal depression may act as if they are not pregnant. A person suffering from perinatal depression may cut themselves off from family and friends, or even their partner- anyone who wants to discuss the baby. Many who suffer from perinatal depression express resentment, regret, or anger towards their unborn baby. Disinterest in motherhood is a dangerous, debilitating sign of perinatal depression.
Extreme irritability and severe mood swings are signs of perinatal depression. Everybody has their moody moments, especially as hormone levels change during pregnancy. However, a sign of perinatal depression is ongoing mood swings, fueled by anger and rage. Rage caused by perinatal depression can wreak havoc on relationships. What should be a joyous time for both partners is poisoned by toxic rage and anger. A person suffering from perinatal depression doesn't have to possess a logical, rational reason for being angry. Perinatal depression is often defined by irrational behaviors. There is no reasoning for someone suffering from perinatal depression. There is no winning argument and no apology that can make it all better. And when an expecting mother with perinatal depression feels she can rage no farther, often she will flee. Fight or flight. A sign of perinatal depression is often a desperate, persistent desire to escape the home. Escaping the home may represent escaping the pregnancy and all the negative feelings perinatal depression has associated with it.
Another sign of perinatal depression is when an expecting mother focuses blame where it doesn't belong. Instead of focusing on the needs of herself and the baby, she focuses on other people or issues. For example, she may become obsessed with another person's pregnancy. Or she may obsess over personal finances, household cleanliness, news events, etc. A sign of perinatal depression is an irrational, neglectful focus on details that don't pertain to the pregnancy. Unnecessary focus on either trivial or irrelevant issues may cause the expecting mother to neglect the important issues. She may also obsess over placing blame on irrelevant people, situations, or circumstances. For example, she may blame a friend for her fatigue, or a family member for recurring headaches, or a partner for insomnia. Irrelevant focus due to perinatal depression can be damaging to all aspects of the expecting mother's relationships.
Perinatal depression is a serious, debilitating condition that requires treatment by a licensed professional. The consequences of suffering from perinatal depression and leaving it untreated can have long-term effects on the psychological health of the mother and baby. In the end, perinatal depression will hurt all parties involved. Seek immediate treatment for perinatal depression from a licensed professional counselor. With their professional help and experience, there can be healing and hope, in the face of perinatal depression.
https://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Perinatal-Clinical-Psychology-Quatraro/dp/0367369389/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3EPSI0A81F480&keywords=perinatal+depression&qid=1659323619&s=books&sprefix=perinatal+depression%2Cstripbooks%2C97&sr=1-3
https://www.amazon.com/Interpersonal-Psychotherapy-Perinatal-Depression-Postpartum/dp/1544924038/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3EPSI0A81F480&keywords=perinatal+depression&qid=1659323655&s=books&sprefix=perinatal+depression%2Cstripbooks%2C97&sr=1-4
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, and owner of Overcomers Counseling. I'm dedicated to helping individuals find strength and healing through life’s challenges. With a deep understanding of mental health and years of professional experience, I specialize in fostering hope and resilience while equipping her clients with tools to thrive. Passionate about empowering others, she creates a safe, supportive space where everyone feels seen, valued, and capable of overcoming obstacles on their path to well-being.
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