Is it hard to help your wife with postpartum depression?
Not to toot my own horn here, but I literally write about being a good husband for a living, and I still made many mistakes in helping my wife with postpartum depression. The reality is that supporting your wife during this time is hard. It is hard to be the one who always has to keep your cool and remain encouraging.
When to seek help for postpartum depression?
If You See Any of the Signs Past Here, Seek Help Immediately! Call your family physician or pediatrician, or in extreme cases, go to the emergency room. Current estimates state that around 600,000 moms will develop PPD every year in the US. A very small percentage of those women will develop scary, life-threatening symptoms like the ones below.
Will my wife's depression go away on its own?
Research has shown us that a woman's depression will improve markedly with the consistent support of a significant other. The longer you pretend that the depression will go away by itself or deny it is happening, the longer her recovery will take.
How long can postpartum depression last without treatment?
Only 15% of women who develop PPD will ever seek treatment. Postpartum depression is said to last up to 12 months, but if left untreated it can and often does turn into full-on clinical depression which can last years. Symptoms vary widely, especially if you include postpartum anxiety and postpartum psychosis.
How to help my wife with postpartum depression?
1. Make sure she is getting the help she needs. It is difficult to overcome postpartum depression without professional help. With the help of a mental health professional and your wife’s healthcare provider, you and your wife can find the recovery option that’s best for her. This may include: Medication.
How long does it take for a wife to recover from a cancer diagnosis?
2. Support her treatment – even if you’re skeptical. Recovery can take from several weeks to several months. The more supportive you are of this process the faster recovery will be. Even if you’re skeptical about the diagnosis or treatment, your support (or lack of support) will directly impact your wife’s recovery process.
How to help someone who is feeling overwhelmed?
It’s more important that you listen than it is for you to try and fix everything. When she’s talking about her feelings, try phrases like “It sounds like you’re feeling really ______.” (frustrated, unsupported, overwhelmed) then give her the opportunity to keep talking. In many instances, just being heard and understood can help alleviate negative feelings (and bring feelings of connectedness).
What to say when your wife is ruminating?
It may help to agree upon a “secret code word” or phrase that you can say when your wife is ruminating to signal the repetition.
How to make your wife a good mother?
Help your wife see her “wins” each day. Remind her she’s a good mother and help her see everything she’s doing each day despite feeling lousy . Even if her depression is debilitating and she’s unable to care for your child, remind her that the baby is receiving love and comfort while she gets better, and her working through her depression to get better means she’s a good mother.
How to help your wife with her burden?
Ask your wife if she’s having these thoughts and reassure her they are normal. Often just talking about these feelings can help decrease their burden. Don’t be frightened or protective when she shares these thoughts as they’re not actually an indication that she will act on these actions. Remind her that they’re just thoughts and that you trust her and know she won’t act on them.
Is postpartum depression a thing?
Postpartum depression should be taken seriously; it shouldn’t be something you ignore and hope goes away on its own. Remember, your support and comfort are essential to your wife’s recovery. If you can be there for her and be supportive, understanding, and loving, recovery will be a faster and smoother process.
What is postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression is like wearing blinders. You can’t see where you’ve come from or where you’re going…. All you see is the darkness right in front of you. Depression defines your entire reality; it tells you that all of your past happiness is a lie and all your future happiness is never coming.
How long does postpartum depression last?
Postpartum depression is said to last up to 12 months, but if left untreated it can and often does turn into full-on clinical depression which can last years. Between our bio daughter and our former foster son, my wife struggled with PPD for approximately 2.5 years.
What is the most powerful weapon against postpartum depression?
A supporting husband is one of the most powerful weapons against postpartum depression.
What is the sadness of PPD?
The type of sadness that women with PPD experience is deep. It is heavy . It feels like your insides are being sucked into a black vacuum of despair. It is physically tiring.
Why don't women admit to PPD?
Some women already know, deep down, that something is wrong. They don’t want to admit it’s PPD because of the stigma attached to mental illness. They might not say this out loud, but the thought is, I’m better than this, if I just try harder I’ll be better, depression doesn’t happen to me.
What does it feel like to have PPD?
They may feel anger rising every time the baby cries, every time she wakes up from a nap, every time something gets messed up.
Is postpartum depression worse than untreated?
The longer postpartum depression goes untreated, the worse it gets. The longer postpartum depression goes untreated, the worse it gets. There is no rock bottom; it just keeps getting harder until you get help. Past here, we’re going to start looking at some very scary symptoms of postpartum depression.
How to talk to husband about postpartum depression?
One of the best ways for a husband to learn about postpartum depression is to speak directly with the physicians or mental health professionals treating your wife or partner. This way, a husband can understand the specific details regarding his wife’s condition including the severity of her symptoms, her treatment course and her recovery progress.
What to say to a woman suffering from postpartum depression?
While it may be difficult to know exactly what to say when your loved one is suffering from postpartum depression, the most important thing is to reinforce your support and encouragement. While many women experience anxiousness and destructive thought patterns, husbands, partners and spouses can provide encouragement by supporting her treatment and reminding her that the symptoms will eventually go away.
What is Jenna Carberg's diagnosis?
Written by: Jenna Carberg. Jenna Carberg was diagnosed with postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter in 2016. It was a healthy birth but in following days, Jenna's mood changed quickly. Doctors suggested that it might be the "baby blues", but her husband Chris suggested she seek a second opinion.
How long does postpartum depression last?
There is no way to know how long a woman’s postpartum depression symptoms will last . This is why it is critical for husbands, spouses or partners to seek their own support as soon as possible. Support and other resources provide them with an outlet through which to better understand postpartum depression and seek help for their own struggles during this time.
Why does postpartum depression make you feel rejected?
This is a natural reaction when the mental and emotional well-being of your loved one is at stake. Because postpartum depression causes withdrawal, it can cause the woman’s significant other to feel rejected, hurt and more stressed.
What is the best support for husbands during postpartum depression?
A critical support element for husbands and partners during postpartum depression is their own self-help practice. By consciously developing healthy practices, husbands can ease their own stress and improve their well-being while still supporting their family.
What is postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression is a condition that affects everyone close to the person who is suffering. For husbands, spouses or partners it can be extremely difficult to see their wife struggling with postpartum depression. It may be shocking, confusing and create feelings of helplessness. This is a natural reaction when the mental ...
What was Alexis' first appointment with a psychiatric OB?
In her first appointment, Alexis was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from the delivery.
What did Alexis do to help her OB?
Alexis started researching alternate treatment options and made an appointment to review them with her OB. She also wanted to level with the doctor — Alexis wanted to say she felt abandoned in the delivery room, and tell her about the PTSD diagnosis.
What does Adriana feel when she has a tickle attack?
Every night, after tickle attacks and belly laughs, Adriana complains of a stomachache, sore throat, or headache. She becomes restless and her breathing becomes heavy. The symptoms she’s experiencing are from anxiety. Adriana lost so much at such a young age.
Is postpartum depression exclusive to women?
It’s important to note that postpartum depression isn’t exclusive to women.
Did Alexis believe Adriana had brain damage?
Alexis was so convinced that Adriana had brain damage that we had neurological testing done. The testing proved Adriana was fine. Alexis refused to believe it.
What are the challenges of postpartum depression?
Often, both the mother and her spouse feel neglected, confused, unsupported, burdened or exhausted. These feelings can lead to ongoing struggles that further add difficulty to being a new parent.
How does PPD affect marriage?
How PPD Affects Marriage. It is common for couples to face marital problems during their first year after welcoming a new child into the world . Postpartum depression can make this lifestyle change even more difficult. Depression of any kind can seriously strain a relationship. However, postpartum depression is directly linked to an increase in ...
What is Jenna Carberg's diagnosis?
Jenna Carberg was diagnosed with postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter in 2016. It was a healthy birth but in following days, Jenna's mood changed quickly. Doctors suggested that it might be the "baby blues", but her husband Chris suggested she seek a second opinion.
Why is it so hard to make time for your partner?
When women are struggling with postpartum depression , they may find it difficult to want to make time for their partner. This is because a common symptom of postpartum depression is isolation . To the other partner, this can seem hurtful and confusing. This creates a greater divide between the couple and spurs more postpartum depression marriage ...
Why do couples lose intimacy during postpartum?
Due to emotional pressures, many couples lose intimacy during the postpartum period. This happens for many reasons, such as a lack of communication and not spending enough time alone together. Lack of intimacy in a relationship triggers a set of additional postpartum depression marriage problems.
Why are couples not prepared for a new baby?
Financial Constraints. Along with not being prepared for an increased workload, some couples are simply not prepared financially to deal with a new baby. Money problems create significant stress between a couple. Combine financial constraints with the symptoms of postpartum depression, and it further creates a problematic household environment.
How to bring your partner closer together?
Support Each Other: It is natural for people to become so focused on their own feelings that they forget about their partner feels. Showing support and concern for your partner can help to bring the two of you closer together.
How to help someone who is sad?
The single most important thing for you to do to help is to just be with her . Sit with her. No TV, no kids, no dog, no bills, no newspaper. Just you and her. Let her know you're there. This isn't always easy to do, especially with someone who seems so sad or so distant. Five minutes a day is a good place to start.
When should decisions that cannot wait be made together?
Decisions that cannot wait should be made together, whenever possible.
What happens if you tell her she's beautiful?
If you tell her she's beautiful... she could assume you're lying. If you tell her not to worry about anything... she may think that you have no idea how bad she feels. If you tell her you'll come home early to help her... she could feel guilty. If you tell her you have to work late ... she might think you don't care.
Does depression go away by itself?
Research has shown us that a woman's depression will improve markedly with the consistent support of a significant other. The longer you pretend that the depression will go away by itself or deny it is happening, the longer her recovery will take.
Can you live with someone who is depressed?
It can be extremely frustrating to live with someone's who's depressed. This is especially true when you have a new baby and the house seems crowded with things that need to get done right now. When it comes to helping a partner manage depression, however—particularly postpartum depression —what you do matters significantly.
Can postpartum depression go away?
You cannot make it go away. In the cases of postpartum depression, no matter how hard you try or how much you love your wife, recovery takes longer than you want it to. You must be willing to wait this out with her. These suggestions may help.
How long does it take for anxiety to go away after postpartum?
Let them know that treatment is not only possible, it’s usually very successful and that in many cases they can begin feeling relief in as soon as two weeks.
How many mothers in Utah have postpartum depression?
Since the majority of cases go undiagnosed, this number is estimated to be closer to 17-20%. That means the majority of women suffering from postpartum depression are suffering silently. Since postpartum depression is incredibly treatable, with many mothers’ symptoms beginning to ease in as soon as 2 weeks and overall treatment success rate over 80%, there’s no reason a mother should have to suffer on her own. However, due to stigma or fear of judgment, many mothers choose to hide their symptoms or refuse treatment. To have a positive conversation with your spouse or loved one about postpartum depression or anxiety, it’s important to be non-judgmental and to reinforce that it is not her fault. If you’re skeptical, make sure to do your research beforehand to understand the physiological causes of postpartum depression before approaching your loved one.
Can a mother feel like she is having a failure?
A mother suffering from postpartum depression or anxiety may feel like a failure or an anomaly for having the emotions she’s having. It can be helpful in your conversation to be prepared with statistics about postpartum depression. It’s possible your partner: