Treatment for Postpartum Depression on Long Island with the Therapists at Right Path Counseling in Jericho, NY
Postpartum depression affects millions of new moms every year. But it isn’t something that you have to struggle with alone. Right Path Counseling offers therapy and support for postpartum depression and other parenting related challenges, with experienced counselors that are available to help you adjust to life with a new baby, manage your mental health, and support you with these life transitions.
Right Path Counseling has therapists for postpartum depression conveniently located in Jericho, NY, serving most of the Long Island community. Get help for postpartum depression by contacting us today at (516) 247-6457.
Postpartum Depression – An Often Misunderstood Challenge
Most new moms – and even some dads – experience some form of the baby blues. The “Baby Blues” are an informal term for a period of feeling sad or “down” after having a baby. As many as 50+% of all new moms and parents will experience this type of low level depression at some point – a feeling that will last a few days, or possibly a few months, but is considered likely to go away on its own.
However, some new parents experience “blues” that are more than that. They experience a form of what’s known as postpartum depression – a diagnosable condition that occurs after giving birth. Postpartum depression affects anywhere from 10 to 20% of new moms, and some estimate about 5 to 15% of new dads.
Postpartum depression can also “go away on its own.” But it also may not. Some women that experience this form of depression end up living with it for years or until they receive professional treatment. In addition, living with postpartum depression can be challenging, and anyone – even those that have a more mild form of the baby blues – often finds that treating it can be especially advantageous. We’ll expand on this below.
What Causes Postpartum Depression (PPD)?
There is no single explanation for why postpartum depression occurs, but it is likely a condition related to multiple different factors that are all occurring simultaneously. Some of the issues that can all contribute to PPD include, but are not limited to:
- Hormonal Changes After Pregnancy
- Limited Amount of Sleep
- Trouble Coping with the Stress of a New Child
- Difficulty Recovering After Labor
- Physical Challenges Resulting from Childbirth/Breastfeeding
- Lack of “Relaxation” or Stress Coping Time
- Spats with the Significant Other
- Trauma from Past Family Conflict
- Feeling “Disconnected” from the Baby
- Stress Over Baby Health Issues or Needs
- Incorrect Expectations for What Parenthood is Like
Being a parent is hard. Life is no longer about yourself. You are trying to manage this new, living being that requires feeding every 2 to 3 hours, often struggles to feed, screams and cries, and cannot provide the feedback that a lot of parents expect from a new baby (smiling, showing love). Babies are needy beings that come out looking like raisins and need constant attention with no sleep and no breaks for months.
Add in some possible hormonal shifts and it’s easy to understand why people struggle with baby blues and depression.
Why Should Postpartum Depression Be Treated?
Every year, thousands of women across Long Island struggle with these negative emotions after having a baby. Most never seek help. Some avoid getting help because they feel too alone (which is a symptom of PPD) or they feel like it makes them less of a mother if they are not as elated as they expected after having a child. Others do not realize they have it, assuming these “Down” feelings are due to something else. Many more just assume that it will go away without treatment.
But experts argue that all postpartum depression should be treated. Even the “Baby Blues,” which is not necessarily considered depression, benefits from treatment. That is because:
- It May Not Go Away – First, even though some PPD does recover on its own, not all of it will. Some can continue for years, or indefinitely. Others can get worse, in rare cases leading to something called “postpartum psychosis.” Some people may recover slightly, but still have some of the effects of this last for a long time. It’s risky to assume any form of depression will go away on its own.
- It is Traumatizing – Many, many people that experience postpartum are still affected by the experience years later, even if they are over the symptoms. They remember the shame, sadness, and stress that they felt at the time, and it causes them to experience additional distress. There are also stories of new parents that refuse to have other kids because their PPD was so strong. Therapists for postpartum depression can help reduce these traumatizing feelings.
- It Affects the Now – Counseling is, often, about trying to help people live the best life they can in the future. But it is also about helping people address the “now.” When you have postpartum depression, you’re struggling now, and our therapists can support you and help you feel better faster so you can develop that bond quicker with your baby.
Everyone expects to feel so much joy when their child is born. You also are going to experience that joy someday. But those first few months – and sometimes much longer – can still be very hard. It’s not about whether or not PPD or even the baby blues may or may not go away on their own. It’s about making sure that you’re able to cope with and enjoy as much as possible right now, so that you can be as happy about parenthood as you hoped you would be.
Are You A Candidate for Therapy for Postpartum Depression?
Therapy is not about a diagnosis. If you feel like you could benefit from professional support, then you can benefit from professional support. Our therapists here at our Jericho location on Long Island offer amazing therapy for postpartum depression. We have services that include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), couples counseling, Gestalt therapy, psychodynamic theory, and more, to help you feel better and take more control over your mental health and relationships after childbirth.
Still, there are also many symptoms that indicate that you may be suffering from postpartum depression, in which case it is advisable to seek treatment. These symptoms include:
- Feeling Sad/Empty.
- Difficulty Connecting With The Baby.
- Emotional Instability or Irritability.
- Changes With Sleeping Habits Unrelated to The Baby.
- Loss of Appetite.
- Trouble Experiencing Joy in Situations That You Expected to Feel Joy.
- Anxiety and Concurrent Mental Health Issues.
Symptoms do not need to occur all day to indicate a problem. Some women experience symptoms only while breastfeeding, only at night, or at random times, for seemingly no reason at all. Many others experience it all day and night. There is no wrong way to experience PPD.
No matter how you experience it, it is something that should be treated, to help you feel more joyful and happy and capable of coping with the stress of parenthood.
Why Choose Right Path Counseling?
Right Path Counseling has a team of caring, engaging therapists to help you cope with postpartum depression. Our therapists work with you on resilience, skills building, and addressing both the causes and the symptoms of depression to help you improve your mental health. Located in Jericho, we are close to many areas of Long Island, including Plainview, Huntington, Syosset, Bethpage, Melville, and beyond. We can also typically schedule in new patients quickly.
Contact Right Path Counseling, Today
If you feel as though you may be suffering from the Baby Blues or Postpartum Depression, there is no reason to wait. Contact Right Path Counseling today, and let’s schedule time for you to speak to one of our therapists, and put you on a path towards embracing what the world holds for you and your family.
Postpartum Depression FAQs
Q: Can Men Get Postpartum Depression?
A: Absolutely. In fact, as many as 10% of men have some form of postpartum depression after childbirth. PPD in men is a bit less likely to be hormone related, but all the other causes of PPD in women can also affect men. In addition, some men struggle to connect with the baby after childbirth because they did not share the experience of growing the baby inside them. This can cause emotional distress to men that expected more of an immediate bond.
Q: Why Does Postpartum Depression Go Away?
A: First, it’s important to emphasize that it does not go away for everyone. Many people continue to struggle with either ongoing, chronic depression, or other consequences of living with depression – such as the development of anxiety. PPD that goes away may, in some ways, not truly go away. But the reason postpartum depression can go away on its own is because several of the issues that lead to PPD start to fade away. Transitioning to parenthood is difficult, and very few people can ever be truly prepared. But over time, it starts to become more controllable. Hormones start to normalize. You start to settle into more of a routine. You get a handle on breastfeeding or bottle feeding. You and your partner begin to work out how to parent together. Your child also starts to provide feedback, such as smiling at you or wanting to be held, and that feedback helps strengthen the connection.