Postnatal depression is a severe mental health condition that needs to be addressed. Affecting around 10-15 women out of 100, it is not a rare condition and can affect many new mothers in what is meant to be some of the happiest days of their lives. Postnatal depression can feel the same as a typical depressive episode with symptoms such as:

• Low mood
• Lack of energy
• Difficulty bonding with baby
• Lack of enjoyment toward the outer world
• Withdrawing from friends and family
• Distressing and harmful thoughts
• Appetite change
• Lack of sex drive

All of these symptoms may impact the way you look after yourself and the baby and must be addressed immediately to restore your health. PND can emerge from apparent reasons such as a distressing birth or, can simply just come over new mothers. In turn, women who cannot understand why they feel like this may feel guilt and stress, increasing the severity of their feelings. I know that motherhood is cracked up to be some of the best years of your life, but in reality, it will most likely be some of the hardest. Motherhood has always been glamorised. However, the tiring reality of it is left unspoken - hence why many mothers feel guilty for not enjoying being a mother. These feelings are normal, anyone who says they find being a mother easy must be superhuman. As for most of us, it can be a struggle that seriously impacts our mental health. Seeking help for PND is one of the best things you can do (LINK TO ‘Postnatal Depression: You're not alone’ BLOG); you may feel as though you are not worthy of speaking to a therapist for this. However, PND is just as detrimental as depression. Looking after your mental health should be a top priority as a mother. If you don’t look after yourself, how can you be expected to look after a baby? I want to break the stigma around PND and teach all mothers that seeking help during these difficult times is normal and should be openly accepted and talked about amongst new mothers. Furthermore, it is important to tackle PND before other mental illnesses arise. If left untreated, you could develop anxiety. Being a new mother offers lots of triggers for anxiety as it is a very uncertain time. Triggers for anxiety may include:

• Your baby being ill
• Baby not putting on weight
• Feeling like your baby is unsafe
• Feelings of harm towards your baby
• You will never heal after PND

All of these feelings are extremely worrying, and if you are experiencing any of the above, you should book a consultation with a therapist immediately. I promise you that although these feelings will never leave, you can overcome them, especially with the help of a trained professional.

What causes PND?

Whilst there are many possible causes for PND, each unique to you and your experiences, some people are more susceptible to PND, especially if they have experienced any of the below:

• Previous mental health problems such as depression
• Depression and anxiety during pregnancy
• Lack of support from partner, friends or family
• A recent distressing event such as the loss of a loved one
• Past traumas such as domestic violence

These are all examples of mental trauma which impacted you and could have caused PND. There can sometimes be medical reasons behind PND, such as an underactive thyroid or low levels of B12. If none of these reasons applies to you, then that is normal as well! Everyone reacts differently to pregnancy, and you shouldn’t undermine how you feel just because you don’t know why.

How can I prevent PND?

Setting up a support network during and after pregnancy is a great way of creating a trusting, safe environment that can help you when you are feeling low. For example, suppose you are experiencing feelings of anxiety or depression during your pregnancy. In that case, you should set up therapy appointments to ease this time - this will also help you in case you were to experience PND. The best way of treating PND is knowing you have someone there to listen and validate your feelings whilst also devising useful coping strategies to help alleviate your symptoms so that you can enjoy this amazing opportunity. If you are interested in setting up a therapy appointment to help you during your pregnancy or post-pregnancy, please do not hesitate to contact me today at Liddy Carver. I promise I am here to help you understand these feelings and help you recover. Thankfully, consulting the help of a therapist is a far more common practice these days; therefore, you have nothing to feel ashamed about if you need to seek help. Looking after your mental health is the best way to look after your baby. I can take online or in-person appointments to fit in with your lifestyle.