Perinatal Depression Coping Skills
The problems associated with perinatal depression may seem scary, overwhelming and insurmountable, but with the best use of your coping skills, you can manage your symptoms to find a place of happiness. Here’s how:
- Be prepared and preventative – Though you are never able to plan for every situation, be sure to prepare as much as possible prior to the pregnancy and birth. Have honest, open and assertive conversations with your partner, family and friends about pregnancy and children. Should you work or stay at home? What level of assistance will others offer you? Will your partner be willing to give up his Friday night poker games? Work to understand their points-of-view while attempting to express yours. Remember, the best communication is short, direct and clear. If uncertainty continues, check and recheck with your sources. Doing this amount of communication ahead of time will provide assistance with the changing pressures and perceptions of others.
- Revisit medications – Some women will continue with low symptoms of depression throughout pregnancy and early motherhood. Others may want to revisit the efficacy of medications. Consult with your OB/GYN and mental health prescriber to find appropriate, safe medications. If your symptoms are too high, you will be putting your child at risk higher than the medication could. Be sure to sign a release of information so that your doctors can speak freely with each other.
- Be flexible – Too many woman become too rigid on issues surrounding pregnancy and motherhood. On the one hand, it is fantastic to have clearly established goals. On the other, being unwilling to deviate from that plan is too risky. You can never predict your situation. Maybe you can breastfeed for only three months because your symptoms are too high and you need to restart medication. Maybe you need to reduce your work hours because the stress of working while pregnant is too great. Be willing to revise your plans.
- Use therapy – Therapy is one of the most valuable tools for perinatal depression since medications are not as available at all times. If you are already in therapy, have a discussion with your therapist about changing focus to perinatal depression while you look for ways to modify sessions as needed. If you are not currently in therapy, consider scheduling an evaluation. The best successes occur when treatment is started before symptoms become too severe. Request a therapist that understands the changes associated with pregnancy, but do not rule out a male therapist based only on his gender. At times, a male perspective can add new insight that was ignored previously.
Conclusion
Perinatal depression affects many women on a daily basis. Work to reduce your risk by understanding the differences between “baby blues” and depression. If symptoms begin to resemble postpartum psychosis or your thoughts turn towards harming yourself or your child, seek out the best treatment while keeping yourself and your loved ones safe. Boosting your perinatal coping skills will offset the unwanted symptoms triggered by pregnancy and childbirth. The a little effort and the right treatment, the family of your dreams is only nine months away.
