How do I know if my friend has postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression symptoms include; severe anxiety and panic attacks, excessive crying, loss of energy, insomnia, withdrawal from social activities, irrational fears like not being a good mother, hopelessness, feelings of worthlessness/ shame/ guilt, thoughts of self harm, thoughts of harming the child, diminished ability to think, being fatigue, irritability, and more. Symptoms usually develop within the first few weeks after giving birth, but can possibly begin earlier. If these symptoms interfere with the important aspects of your friend's life (e.g her child, relationships, family, work, mental health, physical health, personal development), then you can assume that something is not right.

I was diagnosed with postpartum depression after I had my daughter. I hadn't experienced it with my son. I realized that I needed to talk to my doctor when fun songs came on the radio and made me sob. Literally, like party songs and they had me crying like a baby. I was prescribed medication for a short time and then I was fine. But every case is different. Look for the little things, it could be something subtle or it could be something major. Watch for changes in her mood and personality. I'm sure your friend would appreciate someone noticing that something is wrong.

To start, it requires a medical diagnosis to tell you whether or not your friend really does have it but there are some things you can take note of before taking her to a doctor. To start, following the pregnancy, you might notice she’s eating less than usual and might be easier to irritate and when she does get mad, it’s major. Another sign could be she isn’t into some of the things she was into. For example, she might’ve loved watching movies or going to the park but nowadays she always declines and says she’s not up for it or if you do go she seems lost in thought or distracted. One of the most obvious signs however, would be a lack of bonding with the new baby. Most new mothers refuse to leave the room their child is in and if instead she’s avoiding contact altogether or trying to get away from the child as fast as possible, it could be a sign of postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression signs and symptoms may include: Depressed mood or severe mood swings, Excessive crying, Difficulty bonding with your baby, Withdrawing from family and friends, Loss of appetite or eating much more than usual, Inability to sleep (insomnia) or sleeping too much, Overwhelming fatigue or loss of energy, Reduced interest and pleasure in activities you used to enjoy Intense irritability and anger Fear that you're not a good mother Hopelessness Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt or inadequacy Diminished ability to think clearly, concentrate or make decisions Restlessness Severe anxiety and panic attacks Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. Untreated, postpartum depression may last for many months or longer.

If they show consistent sadness over a long period of time, lack of eating or excessive eating. Depression symptoms also include lack of motivation for daily tasks and basic self care like simply taking a shower, cleaning their room or drinking water. They will also begin to show disinterest in activities and hobbies they used to find appealing, like painting, or writing. Someone with depression can also have suicidal thoughts, or they may feel worthless most of the time. They may think they're a burden to everyone, which makes it harder for them to talk. They might say things like that they don't want to be here in longer, and they find no point in existing anymore, etc.

Postpartum depression is something which occurs after the birth of a child, around Day 3 mothers can experience "baby blues" which is a dip in hormones, this can last up to 5 days. If mum still feels down, or shows other symptoms such as isolating herself, sadness, not connecting with her baby, feeling like a failure and other then she needs to see a doctor or midwife straight away. PPD is a serious condition and if left untreated can have severe consequences. She may need a shoulder to cry on but knowing you are there will help a lot.

Very often, the symptoms of PND or postnatal depression are more apparent to friends and family, not the new mother herself, so act on your instincts and intuitions. What signs and symptoms are you noticing? Is she expressing feelings of withdrawal, overwhelm, exhaustion, concerns about her baby or how she's bonding with it? If you're noticing that something is amiss, please broach it with her and ask her to speak to her doctor, health visitor or other clinician assigned to her. Ask her if there is anything you can do in the interim by way of physical support - she may feel she has to cope alone, and be unable to request assistance. Being a supportive friend to her will be of help, but your friend will need a clinician's input.

Postpartum depression could come in many shapes and forms. It could be that your friend doesn't want to spend time with their child or that they have lost their appetite. At times it may also mean that they don't like their appearance. Some times it may appear that the person who has postpartum depression doesn't even show signs of feeling down and on the outside appears happy. The most important thing you can do to help your friend is to make sure they know you are there to support them. Being supportive and making the person aware they have someone they can confide in will help them tremendously.

There are different feelings and emotions that an individual with postpartum depression Might feel. Anger, anxiety, guilt, hopelessness, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, mood swings, or panic attacks are some. Unusual and extreme behavioral changes like crying, irritability, or restlessness can be a sign. Fatigue or loss of appetite, weight gain or weight loss, lack of concentration or unwanted thoughts, depression or fear, insomnia or repeatedly going over thoughts are more. These can all contribute and are warning signs to look out for. The ways you can support best are to be there for them and show that you care

Only psychiatrist or other professional from the field from postpartum depression can tell whether your friend has postpartum depression or any other mental illness or issue as we, who haven't got proper knowledge in the field of mental health issues can't know whether a person has postpartum depression or any other mental illness. We can just assume or guess whether someone has postpartum depression or any other mental illness and we can also guess wrongly even though we have got many informations from the field. Psychiatrists do multiple tests and examinations to diagnose person properly. You can't do it without proper tools even though that you have got some information from webpages, etc (under which is disclaimer, that it is not diagnostic tool).