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Home Home and Family Family What's Normal, What's Crazy: How You Can Tell What's Going On
What's Normal, What's Crazy: How You Can Tell What's Going On PDF Print E-mail
Written by Christy Cuellar-Wentz   
It is common for new moms to hide their true stress levels and negative emotions from even their closest friends. They believe the pervasive cultural myth that all mothers are supposed to feel only loving, joyful emotions as they care for their new babies.
by ChristyCuellar-Wentz


It is common for new moms to hide their true stress levels and negative emotions from even their closest friends. They believe the pervasive cultural myth that all mothers are supposed to feel only loving, joyful emotions as they care for their new babies.

The internal belief that other people will perceive them as "bad" keeps too many mothers silent. They may choose to suffer quietly rather than risking strong judgements from friends and family or even having their babies taken away. Having a guideline to show what is normal and what isn't can make all the difference in getting help to new mothers in difficult situations.

Mood swings, irritability, fatigue, persistent tearfulness, forgetfulness and anxiety are common symptoms in new mothers. The vast majority of birth mothers cope with some version of the "baby blues." The good news is that these symptoms generally pass without any intervention within a couple of weeks. The postpartum mother's' body simply needs a little time to normalize the tremendous fluctuations in hormone levels after giving birth.

Unfortunately, the symptoms of "baby blues" don't always pass on their own. They may last longer and be more severe, including stronger mood swings, lack of interest in the baby or self, lowered daily functioning, hopelessness, depression, feelings of inadequacy and vulnerability. It is estimated that anywhere from 1 in 5 to 1 in 10 postpartum women experience these symptoms of postpartum depression. Women with PPD may feel a little crazy, but they are still sane.

What if the experiences are even more difficult? Is a mother crazy if she has panic attacks, visions of bad things happening to her baby without being able to stop them, obsessions about germs or cleanliness, or other unreasonable fears? Probably not. Women with these symptoms are likely to have postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder.

If we're questioning sanity, what about the sensationalized news stories covering women who think their babies are demonic? What is going on if a new mother hears voices "forcing" them to hurt their babies or themselves?

These women are probably dealing with the severe end of the postpartum mood disorder spectrum. This is the line between crazy and sane. Only one or two out of every 1000 women will cope with this rare disorder. Their auditory and visual hallucinations can be quite dangerous. Women with postpartum psychosis need immediate medical attention and hospitalization, and yes, their babies will have to be taken care of by other people for a while.

Here's a helpful way to assess the situation: If a new mother has the presence of mind to be concerned about her thoughts and emotions, if she is worried about the well being of herself and her child, she is quite likely sane. All the symptoms you've just read about are absolutely treatable. Let's remove the stigma from postpartum mood disorders and encourage new moms to be honest about their experiences. Help is available now.

About The Author:

Christy Cuellar-Wentz, M.A., is an author and mental health professional specializing in providing postnatal support for the unique demands of new parenthood. To learn more, visit her website and discover simple secrets to being a new mother and happy too.

Kindly provided by 4Girls.dk You are welcome to use this article on your own website, if you include this link.
 
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