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Tag: what does postpartum depression feel like

Think You Have Postpartum Depression? Here’s What To Do.

Postpartum depression can be hard to recognize and often goes undiagnosed. 

If you think you have postpartum depression, it usually means you’ve noticed that something just isn’t right.  This is a great first step, and perhaps the most important.  Unfortunately, there isn’t enough information or conversations happening about postpartum depression among new and expecting mothers.  So they’re not all to blame for not knowing the signs and symptoms.

If you think you have postpartum depression, here are some of the first steps you should take.
What to do if you think you have postpartum depression
*This post contains affiliate and/or paid links which means that if you click on one of these links and buy a product, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Rest assured that I only recommend products that I love from companies that I trust. Furthermore, I am not a medical professional and nothing in this post should be taken as medical advice. I am simply a mother who has been there and lived to tell the tale.
What to do if you think you have postpartum depression What to do if you think you have postpartum depression
Think you have postpartum depression Think you have postpartum depression

Perform a self assessment

You may be used to relying on a doctor, nurse, midwife or doula for treatment during your pregnancy and afterwards.  But it’s a little bit different when it comes to mental illness.  Unlike physical illnesses, there is no blood test to determine if you have postpartum depression.  The standard questionnaires that you fill out after giving birth are designed for more extreme cases and they don’t give you a chance to express how you really feel.

So instead of simply rating how you feel on a scale of 1 – 10, sit down with a pen and paper and perform a more detailed self assessment.
    • Keep track of your sleeping and eating habits over the course of at least one week or more. 
    • Write out all the thoughts you’ve had, whether they were welcome or not. 
    • Keep a calendar of your social activities and make note of how you felt being around people.
    • Document your mood changes in detail, either with a journal or mood tracker. 
    • Take note of your connection and relationship with your baby, your other children and your significant other.
    • Focus on your energy levels.  Have they significantly decreased or increased?
    • Write down anything and everything that you feel might have changed or is out of the ordinary for you. 

After a week or two of taking notes, go back and look it over.  Look for anything that might be a red flag or that seemed really out of character for you.  If you feel comfortable enough, share your notes with a loved one or your doctor or therapist. 

To make it easy for you, you can download and fill out a printable PDF Postpartum Depression Self Assessment Workbook, available in the Postpartum Depression Free Resource Library. 

Available for download in the Free Resource Library!

Initiate lifestyle changes

Adjusting to life with a new baby is tough for everyone.  Just because you don’t quite feel like yourself doesn’t necessarily mean that you have postpartum depression.  Before you think the worst, see if it will go away with a few lifestyle changes.

If you haven’t had the chance to sleep for longer than a 3 hour interval since giving birth, then consider getting some help.  Ask your spouse or a family member to watch the baby while you sleep.  Hire a postpartum doula or nurse for an overnight shift.  If baby’s sleep habits are keeping you up, consider sleep training or hiring a sleep training consultant.  

Try yoga, meditation, aromatherapy or another natural remedy to help with mood swings, anxiety or intrusive thoughts.  Focus on eating healthier and make time to socialize and connect with your spouse and baby.   Spend some time initiating these simple changes into your life and take note of whether they’ve made a difference in your overall mood.


Click here to get the full version of this Postpartum Depression Self Assessment Workbook in the Free Resource Library.
Postpartum Depression Self Assessment Workbook Preview
Postpartum Depression Self Assessment Workbook Preview
Postpartum Depression Self Assessment Workbook Preview

Speak to a Professional

If you’ve completed a self assessment, made some lifestyle changes and still haven’t noticed an improvement, then it’s time to speak to a professional.  This is the part that most women avoid because the mere thought of admitting it can be terrifying.  But because you’ve done your self assessment, you can feel confident walking into your doctor’s office with proof of what you’ve been going through over the past few weeks.  Plus, there are more options that you think when it comes to who to talk to:

    • A Doctor (OBGYN, family doctor)
    • A Therapist/Psychiatrist (including Online Therapy*)
    • A Midwife/Doula
    • A Nurse Practitioner
    • A Postpartum Support Helpline

*If you’re interested in trying online therapy, check out this detailed review of online therapy companies to help you decide. 

Online Cognitive Behavior Therapy
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Find Support

Once you have a treatment plan in place, it’s a good idea to find a support group to help you through it.  You don’t need to battle postpartum depression alone.  Your medical professional may be able to recommend a local group that you can attend.  Or you can join a Facebook support group or download an anonymous chat app like CARA Unmask.  Speaking to other women who know what you are going through is so helpful and important to your recovery.

6 Ways to Get Online Help for Postpartum Depression
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Continue Treatment

Postpartum depression will not go away on it’s own after the postpartum period is over.  As your baby grows older and some of the challenges such as sleep deprivation and breastfeeding become easier, the symptoms may ease up.  If you are on prescription antidepressants to treat your symptoms, then make sure to speak to your doctor about stopping them.  Stopping antidepressants abruptly can cause side effects.  Slowly weaning off of them is usually best. 

But even if you stop taking the antidepressants and attending therapy sessions, you should always take care of your mental health to try to avoid suffering a postpartum depression relapse.  Self care should become your number one priority, including things like eating right and getting enough sleep.  Remember that your mental health will always be in a more delicate state, even when you start to feel better.  

Use the postpartum depression self assessment workbook to monitor your symptoms and track whether they get better or worse.

What NOT To Do

Do NOT wait!

Don’t ignore the symptoms or brush them off as no big deal.  The worst thing you can do when it comes to postpartum depression is to do nothing because untreated depression is the number one cause of suicide.  No matter how strong you think you might be, don’t ever underestimate mental illness and the damage it can do.

Author Vanessa RapisardaPosted on September 9, 2019August 11, 2021Categories Postpartum DepressionTags do I have postpartum depression, free postpartum depression resources, free printable workbook, help for postpartum depression, how to know if I have postpartum depression, information for postpartum depression, Instagram, postpartum depression helpline, postpartum depression self assessment, postpartum depression symptoms, postpartum depression workbook, what does postpartum depression feel like, what to do about postpartum depressionLeave a comment on Think You Have Postpartum Depression? Here’s What To Do.

6 Warning Signs That It’s More Than The Baby Blues

With the baby blues occurring in nearly 80% of postpartum mothers, it can be hard to tell whether or not they are a cause for worry.

The term “baby blues” is used to describe the flood of feelings a mother experiences shortly after giving birth.  Between the sudden change in hormone levels, the extreme lack of sleep, trauma of childbirth and everything else that happens in the first few weeks postpartum, it’s understandable for a new mother to feel overwhelmed.

The trouble with the baby blues is that they can often mask symptoms of a more serious condition such as postpartum depression or anxiety.  While it’s common to brush symptoms off as normal motherhood, it’s also important to recognize the signs of something more dangerous before it gets out of control.

Here are some warning signs that it might be more than just the baby blues.
6 Warning Signs That it's More Than The Baby Blues
*This post contains affiliate and/or paid links which means that if you click on one of these links and buy a product, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Rest assured that I only recommend products that I love from companies that I trust. Furthermore, I am not a medical professional and nothing in this post should be taken as medical advice. I am simply a mother who has been there and lived to tell the tale.

This post has been featured on

Scary Mommy

1. You cannot sleep, even when you get a chance to.

Insomnia is a common symptom for women with postpartum depression and anxiety but it’s extremely hard to diagnose in a new mother.  The demands of caring for a newborn who only sleeps in short spurts can make it hard to track exactly how much sleep you’re getting.  And not only does sleep deprivation cause a whole slew of other symptoms, but it often gets blamed for everything that’s wrong.

One way to check and see if you’re suffering from insomnia is to track your sleep patterns.  Just as you track how long your newborn is napping for, jot down when you went to bed and what time you woke up – or use a sleep tracker or an app.

If you have the luxury of additional help, then try to sleep while they take care of the baby.  Most sleep deprived mothers would jump at this opportunity to get in as much sleep as possible.  But if you’re not able to sleep even when you get the chance to, then it could be a warning sign that something’s just not right.

Postpartum Insomnia
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2. You’re turned off by the idea of food.

Perhaps there were certain foods that you didn’t like during pregnancy, which can be especially true if you suffered from morning sickness or hyperemesis gravidarum.  But now that you’ve given birth and your hormones are starting to regulate, you should be able to resume your normal diet.

If you feel no desire to eat, or if your favorite meals now turn you off completely then it could be a warning sign of postpartum depression.  Bear in mind that this can also have the opposite effect, depending on your personality type.  While some people cannot eat when they feel sad or depressed, others find solace in over-eating.

If your eating habits have drastically changed, then the first sign would be a change in weight, but this is yet another thing that’s hard to diagnose in a postpartum mother.  So pay close attention to your feelings about food and take note of whether or not they have changed.

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3. You mostly feel nothing, as opposed to feeling everything.

Motherhood is overwhelming, especially in those first few months.  The baby blues are like experiencing a torrent of emotions all at once and being unable to contain them.  You may cry simply because you need some form of release for all the intense feelings happening inside of you.

But if you find yourself crying out of despair, it could be a different story.  Postpartum depression feels less like actual sadness, and more like hopelessness, loneliness and emptiness.  Instead of feeling “depressed” you may feel no emotions at all.

When you feel “blue” take a moment to ask yourself why you feel this way.  If it’s because you’re overwhelmed and tired and still adjusting to all the changes – then carry on.  But if it’s because you feel like a terrible mother and don’t feel worthy enough to care for your own child, then it’s worth looking into.  It can help to write your thoughts down in a journal or workbook to keep track of them.

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Printable Infographic Chart
Get this printable chart on Etsy!

4. You get angry very easily.

Anger and rage are not common symptoms of the baby blues.  They are more common in cases of untreated postpartum depression and  postpartum anxiety.  If you find yourself suddenly snapping at your spouse, kids or others around you, then it’s a pretty big warning sign that something else might be wrong.

Untreated postpartum depression can build up, resulting in feelings of worthlessness and resentment.  When we hate ourselves, we sometimes take it out on others.  Like all mental illnesses, postpartum depression tries to alienate us from others and anger is one of the quickest ways to do this.

Postpartum anxiety can manifest as anger and rage as well.  It’s a way that our body loses control and can be a very dangerous symptom, especially when there are children around.

Guide to Postpartum Rage
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5. You feel less inclined to socialize.

Like many other symptoms of maternal mental illness, being socially withdrawn is often a missed symptom.  It’s perfectly normal for a new mother to feel protective of her child and want to keep them isolated for the first few weeks or months.  A lot of parents also want time to spend bonding with their new baby in private, so when a new mother asks for no visitors for the first few weeks, there’s never much cause for concern.

But once the initial “babymoon” stage is over and mom and baby have settled into a good routine, then it’s expected that they will begin to venture out into the world.  It might be scary, especially for a first time mother, to try to manage a fussy newborn in public but many mothers will feel happy to finally get out and show off their new baby.

If you find yourself locked up in the house and afraid to step outside with baby,  or if you’re constantly avoiding anyone coming by to visit, then that could be a warning sign of something more than just normal new mom fears.

Everything You Need to Know About Postpartum Anxiety
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6. You’ve been feeling this way for longer than 3 months.

The first three months postpartum are often referred to as the 4th trimester because it’s the period of time during which your body heals after pregnancy and childbirth.  On average, the baby blues affects mothers within the first few weeks postpartum, so this means it could be longer for some.  But mothers with the baby blues normally feel much more like themselves by the third month.

What to do if you think you have postpartum depression
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Many women with postpartum depression or anxiety aren’t diagnosed until several months after giving birth.  But it’s not because they weren’t experiencing signs and symptoms, its usually because they were in denial.  Some will say that, in hindsight, they had all the symptoms from day one and just never knew it.

While it’s normally best to seek help sooner rather than later, it’s also never too late to get checked out.  Most maternal mental illness assessments end after the first 6 weeks, despite the fact that they can show up long after that.

If you are at all concerned that your common case of the baby blues is something more than that, speak to your doctor or call Postpartum Support International for advice and information.

6 Warning Signs That It's More Than The Baby Blues
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6 Warning Signs That it's More Than The Baby Blues

6 Warning Signs That it's More Than The Baby Blues

Author Vanessa RapisardaPosted on February 25, 2019September 15, 2021Categories Postpartum DepressionTags difference between ppd and the baby blues, how do you know if it's postpartum depression, how many mothers get the baby blues, how to tell if it's the baby blues, is anger a sign of postpartum depression, postpartum insomnia, the baby blues or postpartum depression, warning signs of mental illness, what does postpartum depression feel like, what is the baby blues, when do the baby blues go awayLeave a comment on 6 Warning Signs That It’s More Than The Baby Blues

55 Reasons Why Moms Don’t Speak Up About Postpartum Depression

Two years ago, I published the post 9 Reasons Why Mothers Don’t Speak Up About Having Postpartum Depression and it quickly became extremely popular. It was even featured on Scary Mommy!

Mothers with postpartum depression began to reach out to me, stating that it spoke to them and they realized their reasons were not insane or unreasonable.  These mothers also felt like they wanted to tell their story but didn’t know how or where to begin.

It inspired me to create a safe place for women to share their postpartum depression stories, without judgement, or requirements or any degree of difficulty.

Speaking up and sharing my own story and the stories of other women turned Running in Triangles into a beacon of light for those women who were lost and suffering in the darkness. 

Over the past couple years, I’ve had the chance to connect and interact with so many women who have had or are currently suffering from postpartum depression and other maternal mental health disorders.

One thing that so many of them had in common was the fact that they stayed silent for so much longer than they should have.  And there are so many more than 9 reasons why these women chose not to speak up about what they were feeling…

Here is a list of over 50 reasons why mothers don’t speak up about postpartum depression.
50 Reasons Why Moms Don't Talk About Postpartum Depression
*This post contains affiliate and/or paid links which means that if you click on one of these links and buy a product, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Rest assured that I only recommend products that I love from companies that I trust. Furthermore, I am not a medical professional and nothing in this post should be taken as medical advice. I am simply a mother who has been there and lived to tell the tale.

1. We are in denial

2. We don’t even know we have it

3. We’re not 100% certain that we have it

4. We haven’t been officially diagnosed

5. We don’t think it’s as bad as it actually is

6. We just aren’t ready to admit it yet

6 Warning Signs That it's More Than The Baby Blues
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7. We think this is “normal” motherhood

8. We don’t think it’s a big deal

9. We don’t want to make it seem like we’re suffering more than any other mother

10. We don’t want to be complainers or hypochondriacs

11. We think it’s just a bad case of the baby blues

12. We think we are exaggerating our symptoms

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13. We are terrified of having our child taken away from us

14. We don’t want to scare our children

15. We’re worried no one will believe us

16. We don’t want to be considered dangerous

17. We think we will get locked up or sent away

18. We don’t want anyone to think that we are bad mothers

10 Mothers Who Lost the Battle to Postpartum Depression

19. We are ashamed of ourselves

20. We think this is happening because of something we did wrong

21. We feel guilty

22. We are embarrassed that we can’t handle it

23. We hate confrontation

24. We know that if we start talking about it we will cry

How to Talk About Postpartum Depression
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25. We are concerned about what others will think of us

26. We know some people don’t believe mental illness is real

27. We don’t want to be treated like crazy people

28. We don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable around us

29. We don’t want anyone to feel sorry for us

30. We are afraid of someone saying insensitive things to us 

Postpartum Intrusive Thoughts
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31. We feel like failures

32. We think it’s a sign of weakness

33. We don’t want to be a burden

34. We are worried that our spouse might leave us

35. We are waiting for someone else to ask us if we need help

36. We don’t want to lose our job

37. We don’t want anything on our permanent record

14 Ways to Help A Mother with Postpartum Depression
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38. We think we can cure ourselves

39. We think it will go away on its own

40. We think it might be in our head

41. We’re just planning to wait it out

42. We don’t think talking about it will help

43. We can always find an excuse for the symptoms

One Year Postpartum & Still Depressed
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44. We don’t trust the medical system

45. We don’t know who to tell

46. We don’t want to be put on medication

47. We don’t think we will get the right kind of help

48. We don’t know what our treatment options are

49. We don’t want to be put on suicide watch

The Postpartum Depression Drug | Brexanolone (Zulresso)
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50. We feel alone

51. We don’t think anyone else will understand

52. We don’t know anyone else who has ever experienced something like this

53. We don’t know enough about it to defend ourselves

54. We can’t find the right words to say how we feel

55. We think we are the only person who has ever had these kinds of thoughts and feelings

Do you have a reason for staying silent that’s not on this list?  Leave it in the comments!

50 Reasons Why Moms Don't Talk About Postpartum Depression
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Author Vanessa RapisardaPosted on May 13, 2018September 15, 2021Categories Postpartum DepressionTags help for postpartum depression, how do I know if I have postpartum depression, I think I have postpartum depression, is it the baby blues or postpartum depression, maternal mental health awareness, maternal mental health month, postnatal depression, postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression awareness, postpartum depression resources, postpartum depression stigma, postpartum depression stories, postpartum depression treatment options, reasons why no one talks about postpartum depression, symptoms of postpartum depression, what do I do if I think I have postpartum depression, what does postpartum depression feel like, who do I tell if I think I have postpartum depressionLeave a comment on 55 Reasons Why Moms Don’t Speak Up About Postpartum Depression

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