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Have you recently become a father? Do you struggle with developing a bond with your new child? Do you find that you are unable to express your emotions, feel irritable, or even low most of the day ever since having a baby? If your answer is yes to most of these questions, chances are that you may be experiencing male postpartum depression. In this article, we will go over what postpartum depression is and how it manifests in males along with some risk facts, and treatment options.
Male Postpartum depression
A lot of research has been conducted on baby blues/ postpartum depressive episodes in women. These take place soon after having a child. Researchers have tried to understand its symptoms, risk factors, and management in the female gender. Surprisingly, new research at present has indicated that postpartum depression may also occur in men or new fathers. Although research in this area is still new and we have little understanding of how it manifests in males, its existence is accepted among the scientific community.
What is postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression can be defined as an episode of major depressive disorder that occurs after the birth of a child. Major symptoms of it are highly similar to a depressive episode. For example, low mood, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, reduced or increased sleep/appetite, hopelessness, difficulty concentrating, exhaustion, and feelings of worthlessness. To find out the symptoms of major depressive disorder in detail, check out the related articles.
Risk factors of male postpartum depression
Some men are more likely to develop postpartum depression. A few factors that play a role in this are stated as follows:
- Having a history of depression
- Disturbance in marital relationships
- Poverty
- Unplanned pregnancy
- Maternal depression
- Disturbed sleep cycle
- Possible changes in hormones during and after the birth of the child e.g. testosterone levels, cortisol or stress hormone levels, levels of estrogen, etc.
- Having comorbid psychiatric conditions e.g. Generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, etc. A common theme among these is that the father may ruminate, excessively worry, and be preoccupied with the baby’s health and caretaking. In some cases, fathers may worry about unintentionally harming their children.
Watch: [Men suffer postpartum depression too, reluctant to admit it]
How can male postpartum depression affect you and your family?
Postpartum depression may increase the stress levels of new fathers. They may particularly have trouble engaging in effective parenting practices. Some fathers may struggle with sensitivity toward their children. Especially as they may become more aggressive and hostile towards their children after having the baby. Accordingly, this can have a negative effect on their family and even affect the behavioral social, and emotional development of young children, 4 to 5 years old.
How is it diagnosed?
As stated earlier, postpartum depression in men is not recognized by DSM-V. However, if you suspect you are undergoing it, inform your mental health professional so that he/she may assess your symptoms. Particularly, being indecisive, irritable, and having emotional blunting are common symptoms. He/She may even conduct some psychological tests to support their diagnosis. For Example, the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale, patient health questionnaire, etc. Similarly, he/she may conduct interviews and take a history from the father, his family, and friends. Prominent areas that your mental health professional would need to know about include your past depressive episodes, and the status of your mental health before during, or after the pregnancy.
Treatment options
Possible treatment options for postpartum depression include the following:
- Psychiatric medication
- Psychotherapy: cognitive behavior therapy and interpersonal therapy are often effective in managing the symptoms.
- Some studies suggest that light therapy can be beneficial in regulating circadian rhythm disturbance or sleep cycle disturbance.
- Educational programs for new parents can be beneficial in reducing PPD symptoms.
- Similarly, if your workplace supports you and gives you maternity leave, it can help you to cope with the stressors of the postpartum period.
- Seeking social support from friends and family is also extremely helpful.
If you know anyone suffering from postpartum depression, try to be there for them and support them. Moreover, acknowledge and validate their feelings. Help out in any way you can to assist them in processing such a big change in their life. Also, it is possible that new fathers may experience role conflict, if that happens, be supportive of their experience.
We hope the above article was useful for you in understanding postpartum depression in men. To find out more about depression, check out the related articles.