DepressionMental Health Issues / Mental Illness

Message to you if you have post-partum depression

By June 2, 2020 No Comments
1. Who can Post Natal Depression and Anxiety affect? 

Postnatal Depression and Anxiety can affect anyone! It doesn’t discriminate between your age, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, education level, martial status. It doesn’t even discriminate between whether you are Mom or Dad. It is also very important that Moms and Dads who do have Post-Natal Depression or Anxiety understand that it is not their fault. They are still good parents. They still love their baby and their baby still loves them!
 
 
 
2. Can it be treated? Should persons experiencing this seek the help from mental health professionals? 

Yes, Postnatal Depression and Anxiety is very treatable! Sometimes by get more support at home, sometimes with therapy, sometimes with medication or a combination of all three. It is important to find what works for you. You doctor/ therapist/ support may start by using a tool designed to help assess your needs.

 
 
3. What message do you have for persons going through Post Natal Depression and Anxiety who feel like they are alone?

You are not alone! There are so many parents out there who are going through what you are going through. This is not forever. You will not feel like this forever, but you owe it to yourself to get support and help to go back to being you. You and your baby deserve your feeling better and being the kind of parent you’d like to be.
 
 
 
4. Why do you think it is important to bring this topic into the forefront when talking about mental health?

It is an actual illness! We need to stop making people feel like less than they are or that they are less of a person or parent. If you had an infection you’d go to the doctor; however, because the words “depression” and “anxiety” are in there we think of it as a weakness. This is not a weakness by any means. People who live with Depression and Anxiety are actually stronger than people who are not. They are literally fighting their own brain to do every day things. It is time to recognize that!
 
 
Written by Beena Persard-Harris. Beena Persard-Harris is a midwife and teaches childbirth classes through her business of Hello Baby. She addresses Post-natal Depression and Anxiety in her classes.