Most women have anticipated this moment since they were young. The time has finally come, and you are pregnant, an expectant mother of a yet to be born child.
The difficultly though, for some mothers they find they are unhappy and depressed while pregnant. For some, they just can’t seem to shake the blue feeling that has been lingering for some time. Why might you not feel happy? Well, because your body is going through a myriad of changes and as a result you are feeling at times hormonal and at other times wondering if you are up the the challenge a new born baby will bring. Around 13% of woman struggle with depression either during or after pregnancy. You are not alone though you may feel this way.
Many wonder whether or not the condition or feelings will leave. If you were feeling fine yesterday, but are feeling a little down today, a little blue, you can remember you have a lot of hormones changing and emotions that can run high at the moment – give yourself a little time to see whether your mood lifts again.
For some, the depressed feelings don’t fade away and tend to linger and stall. Let’s look at some of the symptoms that may indicate you are struggling the pregnancy depression.
If you feel you are having some of the noted symptoms below for a consistent period (e.g. more than two weeks), then it would be prudent to seek out counseling to help you navigate your emotions and identify solutions so you can get feeling better.
Symptoms
– You find you are crying more often, at time on the edge of tears for little or no reason
– Significant diet changes, over-eating or under-eating
– Feelings of sadness and marked hopelessness
– Your self-worth appears to have plummeted
– Your energy drops below what is normal for pregnancy women and you
– You begin to isolate yourself from close family or friends
– What was an enjoyable hobby or pastime is now something you have lost interest in
– You find yourself stuck in ‘thought spin’ thinking negatively most of the time
Are some women more at risk than others when it comes to depression, especially during pregnancy?
Symptomatic factors that may lead to depression:
– A family history of depression and/or anxiety
– Problems with a previous pregnancy or significant postpartum
– Relationship problems or problems related to marriage or children
– Lack of a supportive network of spouse, family, or friends
What should I do if I think I might be battling depression?
Some quick things you can do:
– Get adequate rest and sleep.
– Talk to your spouse or partner, a close friend or family member can help alleviate your hurt and sadness.
– Talk with other women, especially mothers who have had children and possibly can speak to what you are feeling.
– Make time each day to take care of yourself, do something you enjoy.
– Visit with a licensed therapist and counselor.
Counseling and Therapy For Depression
I’ve treated hundreds of people from all over St. George and surrounding areas for depression. Pregnant mothers are often blamed for being hormonal or that they are just irritable when in fact many of them were struggling with depression before they became pregnant and it went undiagnosed and the pregnancy seems to exacerbate the feelings of hopelessness and sadness. I’d be happy to work with you or others you love that may be depressed and struggling. There is hope. When you know better you feel better, and when you feel better you live better. Answers and peace can be yours, yet it often take a professional to help sort through the patterns of thinking and help you learn to think, feel, and live in a new healthy way.
