Dubai Health Authority: One in nine women experience post-partum depression
Health authority explains the signs and symptoms one must be aware of
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One in nine women experience postpartum depression (PPD), Dubai Health Authority (DHA) wrote on its social media channel on Tuesday.
It explained in its Instagram post that PPD is depression that occurs after childbirth. It involves feelings of extreme sadness, indifference and/or anxiety as well as changes in energy, sleep and appetite. It is a serious but treatable medical illness.
What are the symptoms of PPD?
DHA lists the symptoms as:
- Severe mood swings
- Excessive crying and restlessness
- Intense irritability, anxiety and panic attacks
- Eating and sleeping too little or too much
- Feeling guilty about not being a good mum
- Doubting your ability to care for the baby
- Diminished ability to think clearly, concentrate or make decisions
- Loss of interest and pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Recurrent thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
What causes PPD?
DHA explains that PPD is caused by a two-pronged tussle. These are:
Physical stressors
- A dramatic drop in hormones after birth.
Emotional stressors
- Sleep deprivation
- Feeling less attractive
- Loss of identity, and
- Feeling a loss of control over your life.
What are the common types of treatment for postpartum depression?
Rehabilitation may require one or both of the following, it adds:
- Psychological therapy
- Medications (Anti-depressants)
When should you seek help?
DHA recommends seeing a professional if signs and symptoms:
- Do not fade after two weeks.
- Are getting worse.
- Make it hard to you to care for your baby or complete your everyday tasks.
- Include thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.
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