- Treatment of postpartum depression:
- The treatment of postpartum depression varies depending on several factors, including the severity of the depression and the individual's specific needs. The specialist doctor conducts necessary tests to confirm the diagnosis and rule out any other conditions, such as thyroid dysfunction. Postpartum blues differ from postpartum depression in symptoms and treatment. Postpartum blues usually resolve on their own within the first two weeks after childbirth. Mothers are advised to rest as much as possible, accept help from family and friends, connect with other new mothers, take time for self-care, avoid alcohol and drugs, and consider various treatments for postpartum depression.
- Antidepressants:
- Antidepressants are often prescribed by specialized doctors for women suffering from severe postpartum depression. By using these medications, a balance in brain chemicals can be achieved to affect mood. The treating physician may prescribe one or more types of antidepressants, and while most antidepressants can be used during breastfeeding, it is important to discuss the benefits and risks of using these medications with a specialized doctor. The treating physician determines the most appropriate and safest antidepressant based on each individual case and needs. Antidepressants can help alleviate feelings of irritability, despair, and distraction, as well as reduce feelings of insomnia. These medications may also help improve a mother's ability to communicate with her child, but it may take a few weeks for the treatment to show effectiveness.
- Psychological treatments:
- Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy or counseling, is one of the solutions that help find the best ways to deal with postpartum depression patients. This therapy is conducted with the help of a mental health specialist, aiming to identify the patient's feelings and find the best ways to solve the problems faced during this stage. Such therapies help in dealing with events in a positive manner and setting realistic future goals. Psychotherapy includes a set of strategies that can be followed to achieve desired goals.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy: (in English: Cognitive behavioral therapy) is the most famous type of psychological therapy. The treating physician discusses with the patient about the negative and unrealistic feelings and thoughts that she has that lead to feelings of depression and anxiety.The treatment aims to overcome these thoughts and find new ways of thinking that can To help women behave in a more positive way.It also focuses on providing the mother with self-help skills and tools that enable her to confront problems and give her the ability to control and control her behaviors. In many cases, it is necessary to undergo cognitive behavioral therapy sessions for a period ranging from three to four months.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy: (in English: Cognitive behavioral therapy), is the most famous type of psychological therapy. The treating physician discusses with the patient about the negative and unrealistic feelings and thoughts that she has that lead to feelings of depression and anxiety . The treatment aims to overcome these thoughts and find new ways of thinking that can To help women behave in a more positive way. It also focuses on providing the mother with self-help skills and tools that enable her to confront problems and give her the ability to control and control her behaviors. In many cases, it is necessary to undergo cognitive behavioral therapy sessions for a period ranging from three to four months.
- Interpersonal psychotherapy: (in English: Interpersonal therapy), the treatment includes talking about the problems facing the woman at this stage, and trying to determine the causes of depression and other factors contributing to it. It also aims to identify problems in relationships with family, friends, or spouses, and how they relate to feelings. Depression, and therefore it helps improve the woman’s relationship with the people around her to gain the best support and communication. Treatment in this way usually lasts from three to four months.
- Guided self-help therapy: This type of therapy depends on the presence of a source of information, such as using a book, or participating in an online course. The treatment can be individually, or with the help of a therapist, and the course materials are based on To find solutions to problems that may be encountered, while providing clinical advice on how to deal with them. Courses usually last for a period ranging from 9 to 12 weeks.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing:atment focuses on the traumatic experiences associated with postpartum depression, which makes it useful for women who suffer from post -traumatic stress disorder. disorder), and women who suffered from difficult births that caused them severe trauma, and the treatment depends on the use of brain stimulation techniques, which in turn helps the doctor to reprocess painful memories in a way that reduces emotional attachment to them.
- Group therapy: treatment is done by listening to others within groups whose members suffer from the same problem. The treatment helps people understand postpartum depression and its impact on each family differently. It also helps to share experiences, which makes It is easier for mothers to value themselves and think in a more positive way.
- Couples Therapy: Postpartum depression may affect couples and relationships in a negative way, and therefore the therapist listens to the concerns of both spouses while providing a space of privacy for both of them, to help them identify relationship patterns that may cause them problems, and try to restore Their emotional relationship.
- Hormonal treatments:
- Estrogen replacement therapy is one of the proposed solutions that may help in some cases of postpartum depression. Estrogen is often used in combination with antidepressant medications, as studies have shown that a significant decrease in levels of the hormones estrogen (in English: Estrogen and progesterone, which appear clearly after birth, may have a significant impact in stimulating postpartum depression. It is noteworthy that estrogen plays an important role in promoting neural development in the brain and the activity of neurotransmitters. And alleviation of oxidative stress.
- Electroconvulsive therapy:
- Electroconvulsive therapy involves passing small electrical currents through the brain, causing a short seizure that results in changes in brain chemistry, which ultimately leads to alleviating the symptoms of psychosis and depression. In fact, electroconvulsive therapy is used if depression is present. Severe postpartum, or if the woman suffers from postpartum psychosis, or if other treatments fail to control the symptoms.
- Tips and Advice:
- Some tips and instructions can be followed to help alleviate the symptoms of postpartum depression, with the need to follow up on medical treatment with specialists. Below is a statement of the most prominent of these tips and instructions:
- The mother allocates time for herself: She can seek help from close people, or schedule regular times with the children’s caregivers for some time, enabling the woman to allocate time for herself.
- Doing simple activities that bring comfort: such as taking a warm bath, relaxing, or visiting friends. The ability to concentrate can be restored through reading. In this context, it is indicated that walking helps improve a woman’s mood.
- Spending time with close people: It is recommended to avoid isolation, and spend time with family, friends, and close people in a way that enables one to feel pleasure and comfort.
- Get adequate rest: The child can be placed in a quiet place to sleep, and the woman can use this time to get rest as well. She can also ask for help from others in caring for the child .
- Be patient: Women should realize that it takes time to overcome this condition and feel better.
- Thinking positively: such as trying to think of the small things that bring a feeling of gratitude and optimism.
- Follow a healthy diet: which consists of eating healthy foods.
- Setting logical expectations: This involves not assigning yourself more than you can in order to do all things. So that she does the things she can do and leaves the rest, while being careful to reduce expectations about the ideal family.