Understanding postnatal depression and how to overcome it

Postnatal depression (PND) is a form of depression that can start anywhere from one to several months after giving birth and affects an estimated one in 10 new mothers. Common symptoms can include:

•Feeling unable to nurture, bond and connect with the baby
•Feeling inadequate or unable to cope and being unusually irritable
•Feeling guilty, ashamed and angry
•Experiencing overwhelming feelings of anxiety, depression and panic
•Suicidal thoughts

If you feel you may have PND, try to share this concern with supportive friends, family, and your GP. Many find help from a counsellor to be a useful and confidential way to look at overcoming PND.

Counselling works by understanding your emotions and working through the fears and self-expectations of having a baby. Through learning to be kind and compassionate to yourself, and understanding how you, your baby and partner are feeling, you can start to address the PND, with the aim of bonding with your baby and enjoying motherhood.

This is a photo of Paula Bendon

Read the full article on Counselling Directory.
Written by Paula Bendon PG Dip PG Cert MBPsS MBACP ACBS BSCH.