Breaking the Silence: Postpartum Depression Awareness

1. Breaking the Silence: Postpartum Depression Awareness This article postpartum depression awareness 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.

2. 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.”

3. 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

4. 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 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!

5. 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. 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,

6. 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 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

7. 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. 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.

8. 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 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

9. and be a part of a movement that will better the well-being of generations to come!