Postnatal Depression Therapy Essex

While giving birth is often a joyous and exciting time for parents, having a baby is a huge lifestyle change, and something that can become a source of stress and anxiety for even the most well-prepared families.

This is one of the reasons why as many as 80% of mothers experience the ‘baby blues’ – the symptoms of which are usually mild and can include feeling emotional, irritable or low shortly after they have had their child.

Most people will recover in a matter of days. However, if you are still finding it difficult to manage your low mood after more than two weeks, you could have postnatal depression – a common problem which affects 1 in 10 mothers, as well as many fathers, within the first year of birth.

Postnatal depression affects everyone differently. Signs can emerge gradually or suddenly, and lead to symptoms that range from mild to severe.

For example, you might feel isolated from those around you, or as though you can only see the negative in your situation. You may also feel tired, irritable and guilty that you can’t look after your child properly.

In extreme cases, you might even have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby. While this doesn’t mean you will actually hurt anyone, it’s important to get the help you need if you feel this way.

In very rare circumstances, a small number of mothers may develop postpartum psychosis in the hours or days after birth.

Here, mothers may experience hallucinations, severe mood swings, or behave in a way they never would normally.

These situations require urgent medical attention from A&E, GPs, or other perinatal mental health specialists. Visit our crisis page if this relates to your situation.

There is no single cause for postnatal depression. Depending on who you are, your circumstances and your upbringing, the negative thoughts you experience can be brought about by several factors.

However your troubles have emerged, it’s important to remember these feelings aren’t your fault. By working with our emotional support services, we help you determine the cause of your low mood and develop techniques to better manage your symptoms of depression.

Having a newborn is a massive life event that will naturally cause you and your partner to experience a range of powerful emotions. 

It’s only when these feelings stick around for longer than two weeks, and begin to affect you or your family’s wellbeing, when you may need support. To determine whether you are likely to benefit from postnatal depression treatment, consider:

• Do you have a persistent low mood, making you feel unhappy or tearful?
• Are you constantly lacking energy, making it harder to perform day-to-day tasks?
• Have your sleeping habits changed, meaning you get too little or too much sleep?
• Are you irritable, causing you to get frustrated with others more often?
• Has your appetite changed, leading to comfort eating or avoiding meals altogether?
• Do you no longer find enjoyment in interests you used to love?
• Are you avoiding people more often, such as friends, family or support groups?
• Are you constantly anxious over the health of your baby?
• Do you feel guilty about your negative thoughts or abilities as a parent?
• Are you experiencing a loss of interest in sex and intimacy?
• Have you experienced thoughts about harming yourself or your baby? 

Remember, everybody experiences postnatal depression differently. If you’re living with one or more of these symptoms, it might be time to get in touch with people who can help.

Postnatal depression can have a profound impact, not only on how you perceive yourself and your baby, but also on your child's progress. If you find it difficult to provide your baby with the focus and attention they need during their first months, they might show less preference for their mother, or become more clingy at night.

Such challenges can affect your newborn's development during the early stages. This is why, if you're facing the difficulties of postnatal depression, seeking support through our talking therapies in Essex can enhance your overall mood and positively influence your child's formative first months.

Living with postnatal depression can be difficult. You might constantly worry that you’re a bad parent, or struggle to find joy in any area of your life – feelings that can last for weeks, months or even years without the right intervention.

If you’re keen to make meaningful improvements to your mental health right away, talking about your experiences with friends or family and practising self-care can be a good first step towards feeling better.

These small adjustments can help improve how you feel about your situation – but we understand they may not be viable for everyone or have a sizeable impact on your mood.

If you’re looking for more direct support with your postnatal depression, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) might be a better fit for you.

CBT for postnatal depression is a practical type of treatment that aims to strengthen your emotional wellbeing by making positive changes to the way you think and behave.

With a better understanding of the mental health challenges you are facing, you can learn how to identify and manage your symptoms, and develop coping strategies for life that aim to improve your maternal mental health.

At Therapy For You, we can provide CBT support on a one-to-one basis, in groups, via talking therapy over the phone, through video calls or typed therapy.

Additionally, if you would like to start treatment for your postnatal depression immediately, start CBT today with our free online course. Written and delivered by trained mental health professionals, our online sessions are accessible whenever or whenever suits you.

CBT for postnatal depression is proven to be an effective way of addressing the emotional challenges parents experience in the months after birth, helping participants:

• Reduce depressive symptoms
• Remedy feelings of loneliness
• Improve feelings of anxiety

Seeking therapy and treatment for postnatal depressive disorder can quell feelings of sadness and help you on the path towards a happier, more fulfilling life as a parent.

Improve your bond with your baby

By treating depression of this nature with online CBT or face-to-face NHS therapy, you can devote more time and energy to forming a relationship with your baby, allowing them to progress well and for you to better understand your newborn’s unique personality.

Enhance your self-esteem

When you’re feeling overwhelmed with the responsibilities of caring for your child, it can be hard to shake feelings of guilt or inadequacy as a parent. CBT counselling in groups can help silence these thoughts, and improve your confidence alongside others who feel similarly to you.

Nurture healthy family dynamics

A persistent low mood can put a strain on a relationship at the best of times. By promoting positive wellbeing through treatment, you can help support a healthier, more positive family environment to raise your child in.

We also offer dedicated couples depression help in Essex – if you or your partner’s low mood is harming the foundation of your relationship, we can help you develop techniques to benefit both your wellbeing and future together.

Learn lifelong coping techniques

It can be easy to fall back into old habits, even after years of positive progress. Through CBT, you can learn and refine coping skills that help you address episodes of low mood long after your course of treatment has finished.

By getting the help you need, you can make positive progress in how you care for your baby.

If you are worried that asking for support could lead to your child being taken away, it is important to remember that taking this step is a commitment to caring for your newborn, and not a sign of weakness or bad parenting.

You might also be concerned that getting the emotional support you need demands more time than you, as a busy parent, can spare. At Therapy For You we understand this, and provide a range of flexible, remote support pathways to suit your schedule, including Essex-based video call therapy, phone therapy and ieso typed therapy.

The time it takes to complete your treatment will depend on your needs, your goals and the pathway to treatment you choose.

While some may find positive, tangible improvements to their condition after just a few therapy sessions, it may take months to notice meaningful improvements to your experience of parenthood.

To give you a clear idea of how long your course may take and the most suitable treatment option for you, our experienced CBT practitioners at Therapy For You are available to discuss your specific circumstances over the phone or online.

Postnatal depression can have a severe impact on your physical and mental health, your quality of life, as well as your bond with your newborn. But you don’t have to live with these feelings forever – Therapy For You is here to help.

As the local NHS mental health service for North East and South East Essex, we offer a range of free treatments for mental health conditions designed to help you overcome your emotional wellbeing and manage your problems.

From confidential talking therapies and typed therapy, to our online CBT postnatal depression course – we work closely with you to recognise the reasons for your low mood and develop lasting techniques to overcome these feelings for good.

For more information on the types of treatment we can provide, get in touch with one of our qualified therapists today.