What are the typical signs of postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression, also known as postnatal depression, occurs in many new mothers in the first weeks to months after the birth of the child. This is not the general low mood that occurs in almost all women and is known as the “baby blues”, as this is due to the hormonal chaos and stress caused by childbirth and resolves itself after a few days to weeks. However, if this detuning persists for more than a week, a real depression may have developed.
Even if no symptoms are initially apparent, postnatal depression is still possible many months after birth. The entire first year after the birth of the child is therefore a vulnerable time for the woman. The first signs of this disease could be a persistent frustration or excessive demands on the child, as well as loss of appetite, sleep and concentration disorders, general mood swings and lack of interest.
The young mothers are often tired, exhausted and underperforming. They also develop feelings of guilt, as they love their child but can hardly enjoy him. These symptoms usually come insidiously and are often suppressed, because society believes that a mother should be happy about a newborn child and does not admit to the first signs. It would therefore be advantageous to provide information during pregnancy and to observe the woman after the birth.
Insomnia
Sleep problems are the most common concomitant symptom of depression and usually appear very early. Those affected therefore usually notice this earlier than the actual depression, whose main symptoms initially go unnoticed and are suppressed or compensated for. The exact nature of sleep problems varies from patient to patient.
Some can’t sleep in, others can’t sleep through. Many report that they wake up in the night or early morning hours and can no longer fall asleep because of all their worrying and worrying. Even when the body is tired and exhausted, the negative circles of thought do not leave the affected person in peace.
Of course, not every sleep disorder is an expression of depression, as sleep behaviour can be affected by many factors. For this reason, many patients are given sleeping pills when they present themselves to their doctor because of the problem, instead of being tested for depression as the cause. However, if the sleep disorder persists, if the patient is permanently dependent on medication or if other symptoms occur, a clarification is advisable, as this could be the first sign of depression.
What are typical signs of a relapse?
Depressions occur periodically. This means that even without medication, the symptoms will eventually go away, but in most cases they will come back. A relapse is therefore not the exception but the rule if no adequate therapy is given.
If a relapse occurs despite treatment, it should be detected as early as possible in order to change the therapy. The first signs of a recurrence of depression are mainly symptoms that the patient already knows from his previous phase of the illness. These include, for example, sleep disorders, loss of appetite, an increasingly low mood and a lack of interest and joy even for things that are otherwise enjoyable.
Concentration problems, physical symptoms (e.g. pain, gastrointestinal complaints) or inner restlessness and anxiety can also herald the return of depression. Some patients notice a slowdown in their own thinking and have difficulty making decisions. Other patients simply describe a general feeling of discomfort as the first sign.
The symptoms of a relapse are as individual as the depression itself. Each patient therefore has his or her own personal symptoms. They can serve as early warning signs to actively counteract the relapse.
