Thursday, September 1, 2011

Postpartum Depression In Fathers - A Little Acknowledged Fact

Any mother can picture the first moment they bring their newborn into the world and the breathtaking experience of taking the newborn home along with all the changes and responsibilities of becoming a new mother. Based on a variety of reports, postpartum depression affects new mothers up to 70% to 80% about the first week of giving birth and in a good number of cases quickly passes away. There are nearly 13% of moms who do suffer from clinical level postpartum depression, which lasts for longer periods of time. The reality is that this is a normal condition for countless women resulting from fast hormonal fluctuations and changes parenthood produces, but did you realize that postpartum depression can also happen in males? If this is the situation, how many males can pick up this disease?
While there have been a lot of explorations on the condition in women, postpartum depression affecting males is a factual incident and more frequent than everyone would have ever known. Based on a number of articles, postpartum depression in males ranges from 10% up to more or less 25%, which makes it clearly as bad if not worse than in women.
Because postpartum depression in males is a disease which has received little interest, there are fewer places males can truly turn to for assistance. Another known fact is if males do feel signals of postpartum depression, they are also less prone to talk about their disease as voluntarily as women would and more often less disposed to inquire about professional help. The most possible rationale this is the basis is because males would feel at a disadvantage when they present their weakness and may be embarassed of the disease, resulting in not treating the disease and allowing it to grow worse.
Causes
A range of studies done since 1980 through 2009 yielded some fascinating results showing that about a quarter of the males examined developed depression within three to six months. Surprisingly, several of the sufferers were first-time fathers. It has been hypothesized that the rationale most first-time fathers pick up this condition is because of the many adjustments and anxieties of their new parenting position. Also noted was that both parents conditions might directly have emotional impact on the others and trigger depression for the first-time father if the woman has postpartum depression. The reasons postpartum depression affects first-time fathers is mostly speculative at this time even though investigations have been performed as far back as 1980, the origins of the illness in first-time fathers were not researched in depth.
Symptoms
The signs of illness in first-time fathers are similar to women but there are distinct differences. Usually, women would feel worthlessness, sorrow and anxiety and more often than not, so do first-time fathers, but distinct differences consist of a translation of feelings of sorrow to abandonment, anger and touchiness. Though these signs have been observed, results are still unsettled and more research needs to be done in this area to comprehend it. Postpartum depression in first-time fathers is a terrible disease and more often than not can result in ruining the family relationship with both the youngster and the mother. First-Time Fathers genuinely ought to recognize their disease and not be afraid to try to find treatment alternatives right away.
Identification And Treatment
As discussed previously, first-time fathers tend to be more ignorant of the disease than women who are able to discuss unreservedly of their disease. Because this is the case, it ought to be up to the woman or other family members to identify the signs of the disease and discuss with the man about his disease and make him aware of the disease. Once he acknowledges the disease, he should be open to treatment and should talk with his physician who can point him to the appropriate path for treatment. Treatment for postpartum depression may include psychiatric therapy and drugs or a combination of both. The quicker you try to find treatment, the earlier you can get on your way to a quick recovery and help you on your way to a normal happy life with your family.

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