Now that you know that you, a family member or a friend has postpartum depression, it is time to consider treatment. Though depression sometimes comes and goes without explanation and without treatment, several cases linger and do not go away when left untreated. The recommended treatments, especially for extreme cases, are those that involve professional help. However, some cases can effectively be treated through yourself and the efforts of your family and friends. The best thing to do is to combine both home treatments and medically assisted ones. Here are some possible treatments to consider:
Home or DIY treatments
Sometimes, home treatments are all that it takes to cure postpartum depression. There are those whose sadness is just prolonged because of lack of support, and isolation from family and friends. Here are some DIY treatments that you may make use of to ease the effects of postpartum depression:
Support group
Even unmarried, orphaned new moms can still find some support out there. If you are a newly single mom who has no immediate or close family, you can find other new moms who are also experiencing postpartum depression. Together, you can share your experiences and your thoughts about what triggered the condition and what you think you can do about it.
Companionship
Being with friends and family will make things just a little better, except if they are particularly unsupportive. You have to find people who can make you feel positive during this difficult time. The important thing is not to isolate yourself when you are suffering from postpartum depression. You need to talk about your feelings and not bottle them inside.
Activities
With a baby, you should have a lot of things to do anyway. Your days will be spent changing diapers, breastfeeding or preparing formula and tending to the baby 24/7. However, you may find yourself having difficulty performing all the above-mentioned if you are suffering from postpartum depression. You may instead find someone who can help you with the baby while you sort yourself out. This is especially good if you are having alarming thoughts of wanting to harm your baby. Every day, find some time to take a break and immerse yourself in some form of activity unrelated to your baby.
Professional help
Sometimes, DIY treatments cannot do anything much. You have to consult a doctor about your postpartum depression. After you do just that, your doctor may advise one or a combination of the following treatments:
Use of medication
You may be given antidepressants. Antidepressants can effectively take away the overwhelming feelings related to postpartum depression. The concern here is that the components of those medications will be entering your bloodstream and some portion of it will become part of your breast milk, as well. If you are breastfeeding, you may request your doctor to prescribe antidepressants with few or no side effects. If there are no effective or compatible antidepressants that answer to that need for few or no side effects, you may have to give up breastfeeding and turn to formula. Your doctor can best advise you on what you should do in your particular case.
Counselling or emotional therapy
Another way of getting to the root of the postpartum problem is therapy. Through therapy, you can at least share your thoughts, fears and anxieties to someone who is willing to just listen but can provide you with advice that is backed up with professional knowledge. Therapy can be in the form of one-on-one sessions with a psychologist or psychiatrist or it can be in the form of group sessions. Group sessions serve a dual purpose of counselling and provision of support group.
Hormonal therapy
Why do you get afflicted with postpartum depression anyway? The most plausible explanation is the hormonal imbalance that happens right after pregnancy. Some people can better cope with these imbalances and only go through the baby blues. However, people who have histories of insanity and depression and who may also lack emotional support can succumb to postpartum depression. Because of the probable chemical cause of the condition, it is just logical to correct the chemical or hormonal imbalance through hormonal therapy. Estrogen replacement can counteract the effects of postpartum depression. After giving birth, women experience a rapid drop in estrogen level.
When you feel that you are suffering from postpartum depression or someone you know is suffering from this condition, you have to immediately seek help. Some types of depression can be easily remedied by DIY or home treatments. However, to be on the safe side, it is better to seek professional help. A combination of home treatments and professional help may be the faster route towards getting better. There is no such thing as too fast in terms of being free from postpartum depression. Remember that there is a baby waiting for his or her happy, caring mommy. It is also better to act early so as to prevent postpartum psychosis. When in the stage of psychosis, you may have lost most of your self-control. At this point, you will be controlled by hallucinations and stronger urges to harm yourself or your baby. If you get treated for depression early, you can avoid the possible tragic results.