Breaking the Silence: Postpartum Depression Awareness
This article is aimed at one of the most important factors in helping mental health amongst humanity, bringing awareness to it.
With the wide ranging and ever changing mood disorders that humans are faced with, it has never been more important to shed as much light as possible on the impact this is having and how we can help support and improve the road ahead for those affected.
Postpartum depression is one of these mood disorders that affects 1 out of 7 moms and 1 out of 10 partners/dads.
When symptoms related to “baby blues” such as excessive tiredness, sadness, irritability, and anxiety last longer than 2 weeks, this is a red flag for the onset of PPD.
It is where bringing awareness to these long lasting feelings can help reduce the severity, shorten the longevity of the symptoms, and incorporate a support system to bring back the life you were meant to live.
As the months of May and June are recently behind us, we need to reflect on the significance those months had for women and men.
May is the month for women’s mental health while June is that for men. These months help bring awareness to mental health for mothers and fathers and the mood disorders that encompass the journey of becoming a parent.
Understanding Postpartum Depression for Partners
PPD in partners may look similar to that in moms and may be completely different. Every case is unique, yet just as important in understanding, addressing, and finding support.
This is the definition of PPD when searched on Google, according to the Oxford Language,
“depression suffered by a mother following childbirth, typically arising from the combination of hormonal changes, psychological adjustment to motherhood, and fatigue.”
While attention should be focused on moms as they have gone through a life changing event with their body, notice there is no mention of partners/fathers in this explanation.
Let’s adopt the “leave no man behind” mentality and include partners and fathers as being potential candidates for PPD as well!
Here are common symptoms of PPD in partners:
Anger and irritability
A negative change in diet
Loss of identity
Lack of energy
Disinterest in activities or hobbies
Social withdrawal or isolation
Disconnect from baby and mom
There are also factors to consider that could increase the likelihood of PPD developing in partners, such as:
Previous history of mood disorders
Mom is experiencing PPD
Financial stress
Health issues with baby
Weak support system
Lack of knowledge and self-awareness
The Impact of Postpartum Depression
PPD is a mental health condition that like other health conditions if left untreated can create a very difficult road to recovery, uncomfortable living conditions, strained relationships, and potentially longer lasting symptoms.
Life with a newborn is an unnavigated landscape for every parent as they are trying to figure the baby out while the baby figures life out. Things ca
1. Breaking the
Silence: Postpartum
Depression
Awareness
This article is aimed at one of the most important factors in helping
mental health amongst humanity, bringing awareness to it.
With the wide ranging and ever changing mood disorders that
humans are faced with, it has never been more important to shed
as much light as possible on the impact this is having and how we
can help support and improve the road ahead for those affected.
Postpartum depression is one of these mood disorders that affects
1 out of 7 moms and 1 out of 10 partners/dads.
When symptoms related to “baby blues” such as excessive
tiredness, sadness, irritability, and anxiety last longer than 2 weeks,
this is a red flag for the onset of PPD.
It is where bringing awareness to these long lasting feelings can
help reduce the severity, shorten the longevity of the symptoms,
and incorporate a support system to bring back the life you were
meant to live.
2. As the months of May and June are recently behind us, we need to
reflect on the significance those months had for women and men.
May is the month for women’s mental health while June is that for
men. These months help bring awareness to mental health for
mothers and fathers and the mood disorders that encompass the
journey of becoming a parent.
Understanding
Postpartum Depression
for Partners
PPD in partners may look similar to that in moms and may be
completely different. Every case is unique, yet just as important in
understanding, addressing, and finding support.
This is the definition of PPD when searched on Google, according
to the Oxford Language,
“depression suffered by a mother following childbirth, typically
arising from the combination of hormonal changes, psychological
adjustment to motherhood, and fatigue.”
While attention should be focused on moms as they have gone
through a life changing event with their body, notice there is no
mention of partners/fathers in this explanation.
Let’s adopt the “leave no man behind” mentality and include
partners and fathers as being potential candidates for PPD as well!
3. Here are common symptoms of PPD in partners:
● Anger and irritability
● A negative change in diet
● Loss of identity
● Lack of energy
● Disinterest in activities or hobbies
● Social withdrawal or isolation
● Disconnect from baby and mom
There are also factors to consider that could increase the likelihood
of PPD developing in partners, such as:
● Previous history of mood disorders
● Mom is experiencing PPD
● Financial stress
● Health issues with baby
● Weak support system
● Lack of knowledge and self-awareness
The Impact of
Postpartum Depression
PPD is a mental health condition that like other health conditions if
left untreated can create a very difficult road to recovery,
uncomfortable living conditions, strained relationships, and
potentially longer lasting symptoms.
Life with a newborn is an unnavigated landscape for every parent
as they are trying to figure the baby out while the baby figures life
out. Things can become very messy when a partner has
4. overwhelming emotions and symptoms associated with PPD and is
left untreated.
They may feel unconfident in being a father/parent. They could
lose their purpose in their new role in the baby and mom’s life.
These factors will put a detrimental strain on the relationship
between the baby and the family.
The early stages of a baby’s life are so important in developing a
strong, nurturing, loving, and genuine connection with their parents.
A partner that is experiencing these feelings of disconnect as
mentioned earlier will not be able to show up and be the person
they were meant to be in the baby’s life. This can take a huge toll
on the baby’s upbringing and put more stress on the mom.
The long-term consequences of PPD not only affect the partner
experiencing it but can negatively change the baby’s early years of
growing up. A baby that grows up looking for that connection,
mimics what its parents do, and absorbs everything it sees and
hears will be involved in whatever symptoms the partner may be
experiencing with PPD.
This is why it is so crucial in bringing awareness to PPD and
addressing it as soon as possible!
Breaking the Silence:
Why Awareness Matters
Bringing awareness to a condition such as PPD can have such a
positive impact in the world for not only the person being affected
by it but for their children and generations to come.
5. Looking at this mood disorder from a lens of how many people’s
lives change from just the person afflicted with PPD to their family,
friends, jobs, and children will help shed more light on the need for
support.
Awareness has so many incredible benefits to it through early
detection and intervention.
Early detection is a critical step in being able to catch early
symptoms from developing into more serious ones. It also will help
with shortening the duration of this condition and prevent it from
unraveling out of control.
The next step is encouraging intervention through a support system
that can provide an empathetic connection through a compelling
future. PPD sufferers need to know that they are worthy of living a
life of love, gratitude, and confidence with their families and can get
there through a journey filled with support and actionable steps.
Awareness will also assist in breaking down the stigma and
misconceptions that surround PPD. The more people know about
it, the more people will feel comfortable coming forward with their
symptoms and seeking help asap.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE, and there are many others in your
situation that need the help and direction moving forward to live the
compelling future they are so deserving of.
Spreading Awareness:
Strategies and Initiatives
6. How do we spread awareness?
Spreading awareness can be done in several different ways. All
have the approach of shedding more light on this condition and
helping people feel more comfortable coming forth and out of the
woodwork with their overwhelming emotions and feelings.
There can be an attempt at more educational and social media
campaigns to help shape and educate people on PPD.
More support groups need to be established, especially in hospitals
or birthing clinics as an immediate resource for help when
symptoms may start happening.
Personal storytelling is another strong avenue for spreading
awareness as the more and more partners can relate to someone’s
struggle with PPD, the better likelihood they have of seeking
support to reduce their symptoms.
Community events are a great place to have a strong social
engagement and bring together people from all different angles who
may be affected by PPD or know someone who is.
Support and Treatment
Options
Even though there needs to be a stronger presence of support and
awareness for PPD, there still are ways of taking action and moving
the needle in the right direction.
7. There are online support groups through social media platforms
such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. They are very
inclusive and allow individuals to talk about their situation with
others going through similar feelings. This creates a collaborative
effort in story telling and idea sharing for working through PPD.
Postpartum support international is an incredible organization with a
wealth of information through different resources and a directory of
individuals available for support.
They are very informative and helpful to people feeling stuck and in
need of some direction for overcoming PPD.
Seeking support through individual therapy, counseling, or coaching
is in my opinion the most effective way of working through PPD.
Depending on your situation and preferences, these options will
help either work through the past of why you may have PPD to
create a roadmap to living the compelling future you were meant to
live.
Conclusion
I am on a mission to bring awareness and help partners afflicted
with PPD take a journey toward a compelling future filled with love,
gratitude, and confidence for their families.
We couldn’t be at a more pivotal time in mental health to showcase
the effects that PPD has on families and generations to come.
A child has every right to grow up in a nurturing household with
parents that are fully present and supportive. PPD is a culprit in
8. limiting this from happening and if not treated early can result in a
very difficult upbringing for a child.
Caproni coaching is here to take you on the next step towards a
compelling future you should live with love, gratitude, and
confidence for your family. I encourage you to join me as I navigate
you through a program designed to bring you back to the person
you know you can become.
Take 30 minutes and schedule a call and let’s see how I can help
you, even if it’s just pointing you in a direction to help you get on the
right path. YOU ARE NOT ALONE, and we can do this together, so
come and be a part of a movement that will better the well-being of
generations to come!