5 Damaging Myths About Postpartum Depression

Postpartum Depression (Ppd) Is One Of The Most Common Complications Of Childbirth. Ppd Affects About 10 To 15 % Of Mothers There Has Always Been Confusion About Everything From Ppd’s Symptoms To Its Treatment. Myths Also Often Portray Women With Ppd In A Negative Light, Which Dissuades Many From Seeking Help The Good News Is That Ppd Is Treatable & Temporary With Professional Help Here Are Five Common Myths About Ppd Dispelled! Myth: Women With Ppd Are Sad & Cry Constantly “Women With Ppd Usually Have Low Mood, Prominent Anxiety & Worry, Disrupted Sleep, Feelings Of Being Overwhelmed, & Can Also Feel Very Guilty That They Are Not Enjoying Their Experience Of Motherhood. Myth: Ppd Occurs Within The First Few Months Of Childbirth Most Women Tend To Recognize Their Symptoms After Three Or Four Months Post-Childbirth Myth: Ppd Will Go Away On Its Own Our Society Views Depression As Something To “Rise Above & Overcome”. Ppd Is A Serious Illness That Requires Professional Help. It’s Highly Treatable With Psychotherapy & Medication Myth: Women With Ppd Will Hurt Their Kids Almost Without Fail When The Media Reports On A Mom Who Hurt Or Killed Her Kids, There’s Mention Of Postpartum Depression. But Women With Ppd Don’t Harm Or Kill Their Kids, & They’re Not Bad Mothers. The Only Person A Woman With Ppd May Harm Is Herself If Her Illness Is So Intense That She Has Suicidal Thoughts Myth: Having Ppd Is Somehow Your Fault Women Often Blame Themselves For Having Ppd & Experience Guilt Over Their Symptoms Because They’re Not Basking In Some Magical Bliss Of Motherhood. But Remember That Ppd Isn’t Something You Choose. It’s A Serious Illness That Can’t Just Be Willed Away