3 Effective Ways To Treat Postpartum Depression

After giving birth to a precious bundle of joy, you might be surprised to find that you feel depressed, irritable, or overwhelmed. Many mothers experience these emotions after childbirth, but the feelings often fade away within 2 weeks. If they don't, you may be diagnosed with a condition known as postpartum depression. There isn't an official cure for postpartum depression, but here are 3 effective ways to treat the symptoms associated with this common condition. 

Hormone Therapy

Oestrogen refers to a trio of female hormones that increase drastically during pregnancy, then drop back down to normal levels shortly after your baby is born. Some doctors believe that women who have a hard time adjusting to the decrease in hormones end up getting postpartum depression. That's why hormone therapy is a wonderful way to treat this medical condition. Rather than focusing on simply alleviating the symptoms, hormone therapy aims to tackle the root cause of your depression: Low hormone levels. 

There are so many different methods of hormone therapy that it's a cinch to find one that's right for you. You can take prescription pills, use vaginal creams, place patches on your skin, or have a device implanted beneath your skin. It's generally safe to use hormone therapy with other treatment methods, and an experienced hormone specialist can help you decide upon a thorough treatment plan.

Psychiatric Medications

You deserve to feel happy and calm, and psychiatric medications can help your body combat feelings of anxiety and sadness. Psych meds are very effective for some women, but they aren't right for everybody. You may feel that prescription drugs act as a band-aid, masking your emotions rather than addressing the real reason why you are sad. For that reason, it's wise to combine antidepressants or medications for anxiety with other treatment options, such as hormone therapy.

Counseling Sessions

Motherhood can be stressful and exhausting at times, even for women who don't have postpartum depression. If you feel hopeless or overwhelmed by the thought of caring for your newborn baby, talk to a licensed professional about your concerns. You can attend counseling sessions alone or bring your significant other, and there are even support groups you can join that are composed of mothers just like you. 

Postpartum depression doesn't always go away on its own. When the feelings of hopelessness and depression become too intense to deal with on a daily basis, don't be afraid to seek help. You might get great results with one of the treatment plans above, or you may find that combining all 3 options helps keep your symptoms at bay. Talk to a specialist like those at http://www.genemedics.com to figure out which approach is best for treating your symptoms. 


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