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What is Depression
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| The word 'depression' is often used to
describe the feelings of sadness which all of us experience at some
stage of our lives. Depression is a mental health disorder that can
affect the way you eat and sleep, the way you feel about yourself,
and the way you think about things. A depressive disorder is more
than a passing mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness, and it
cannot be willed or wished away. A depressive disorder involves the
body, mood, and thoughts. People who are depressed cannot "snap out
of it" and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for
months or years.
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| Depression Questionnaire PDF files back |
| Beck Depression Inventory.
details
Zung Self Rated Depression Scale
details
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale
details
Special Note: The above depression questionnaires are only to be
used as a guide. If you feel depressed seek help from a qualified
Healthcare professional.
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| Post Natal Depression (PND)
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| Postnatal depression, also called Postpartum
depression, is a form of clinical depression which can affect women,
and less frequently men, after childbirth. Postnatal depression can
develop within a few days or weeks of giving birth.
In some cases women with PGP may also
experience emotional problems such as; anxiety over the cause of
pain, resentment, anger, lack of self-esteem, frustration and
depression. These emotions can continue postpartum especially if the
pain and disability has not decreased. For some women this can
lead to emotional disengagement over the needs of her child and
self-blame over the inability to care for her baby.
Types of Post Natal Depression
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'Baby Blues
affects about 80% of new mothers and occurring between the third and
tenth day after birth. Symptoms include tearfulness, anxiety,
mood fluctuations and irritability. The " baby blues" are
transient and will pass with understanding and support.
Post-natal depression is when the "baby blues" don't go
away. The baby blues affect 80 percent of women, usually between the
third and tenth day after giving birth, while post-natal depression
may develop and persist for weeks or many months. Many women
do not know that PND can occur unexpectedly after delivery and
typically blame themselves, their partners or their baby for the way
they feel. Some try hard to "snap out of it" without
understanding that women with PND have little control over the way
they are feeling.
Puerperal or
Postnatal Psychosis affects 1 in 500 mothers, usually in the
first 3-4 weeks after delivery. Postnatal psychosis is a
serious condition. The mother herself may be unaware she is
ill as her grasp on reality is affected. Symptoms include
severe mood disturbance (either marked elation or depression or
fluctuations from one to the other), disturbance in thought
processes, bizarre thoughts, insomnia and inappropriate responses to
the baby. There is risk to the life of both mother and baby if
the problem is not recognised and treated. Postnatal psychosis
requires a hospital stay. With appropriate treatment women
suffering from postnatal psychosis fully recover.
Symptoms of PDN
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Symptoms of PDN can occur anytime in the first year
postpartum and include, but are not limited to, the following:
Sadness
Hopelessness
Low self-esteem
Guilt
Sleep and eating disturbances
Inability to be comforted
Exhaustion
Emptiness
Anhedonia (inability to experience pleasure from
normally pleasurable life events)
Social withdrawal
Low or no energy
Becoming easily frustrated
Feeling inadequate in taking care of the baby
Impaired speech and writing
Spells of anger towards others
Increased anxiety or panic attacks
Increased sex drive
One method of detecting Postnatal Depression (PND)
is the use of the
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. If the new
mother scores more than 13, she is likely to develop
PND.
Early identification and intervention improves long term
prognoses for most women. A major part of prevention is being
informed about the risk factors, and the medical community can play
a key role in identifying and treating postpartum depression.
Various treatment options include:
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Medical evaluation to rule out physiological problems
Cognitive behavioural therapy (Psychotherapy)
Possible medication
Support groups
Home visitors
Healthy diet
Consistent/healthy sleep patterns
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| How the Partner and Family Can
Help with Post Natal Depression back |
How the Partner can Help
Suggestions include:
Be patient.
Encourage your partner to talk about her feelings.
Accept that her feelings are genuine and don't trivialise them
by telling her to "snap out of it" or "get over it".
Try to understand her point of view.
Don't take her negative feelings or criticisms personally.
Tactfully limit visitors if she doesn't feel like socialising.
Enlist the aid of other family members to help around the house,
if and when they can, including with
baby-sitting.
Tell her often that you love her.
Show her you love her with cuddles, baby care and housework.
Don't try to turn every cuddle into sexual intercourse.
Don't criticise her post-pregnancy body or demand she lose
weight, as she may already feel low about
her appearance.
Telephone her from work, or drop in for lunch occasionally if
you work close to home.
Care for the baby after work to promote your father-child
relationship, while giving your partner a much needed break.
If you are worried, encourage her to see a doctor. Go to the
doctor yourself for information and advice, if your partner
initially refuses to go. Reassure her that, with appropriate help
and support, she will recover from PND.
Suggestions for Family and Friends
backWays
you can help a loved one who has PND include:
Find out as much information as you can about PND.
Be patient and understanding.
Ask the couple how you can help.
Offer to baby-sit. Offer to help around the house.
Let the mother know you are there for her, even if she doesn't
feel like talking.
Appreciate that the father may also be emotionally affected by
the demands and challenges of new parenthood.
[www.disability.vic.gov.au]
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| Dysthymic Disorder
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| Dysthymia is a type of low-grade depression. A person may be able to function in their day-to-day
life, but never feels quite right. They may report feeling like
they've been depressed all their lives or say they feel like they
are just barely managing to keep their head above water. Dysthymic
Disorder is a chronic condition characterized by depressive symptoms
that occur for most of the day, more days than not, for at least 2
years.
Some of the symptoms are:
Appetite decreased or increased
Sleep decreased or increased
Fatigue or low energy
Poor self-image
Decreased concentration and decisiveness
Feels hopeless or pessimistic
Despite the long term nature of this type of depression,
psychotherapy is effective in reducing the symptoms of this
low-depression, and assisting the person in managing his/her life
better. Some individuals with Dysthymic disorder respond well to
antidepressant medication, in addition to the psychotherapy. The
type of psychotherapy that will help depends on a number of factors,
including the nature of any stressful events, the availability of
family and other social support, and personal preference.
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| Major Depression back |
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| Anxiety back
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| Anxiety is a normal, healthy emotions, and
everyone experiences anxiety from time-to-time. For about one in
every twelve people, however, anxiety is so persistent and severe
that it creates serious difficulties. People with anxiety problems
may be constantly fearful and worried or they may be so scared of
certain situations that they can't face them. Severe anxiety can
also lead to other problems like depression, relationship
difficulties, and drug and alcohol abuse.
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| Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) back |
| Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one
condition linked with birth trauma. PTSD is an anxiety disorder
which is developed after exposure to a traumatic event where horror,
fear and/or helplessness are experienced.
Symptoms can include
Nightmares and flashbacks Intrusive thoughts
Emotional numbing and character restriction, psychological
distress in response to internal or external cues that symbolise the
event
Physiological reactivity to these cues, avoidance of stimuli
associated with the trauma
Detachment
Sense of a shortened future
Hyper vigilance
Flashbacks, nightmares
Avoidance of reminders of the trauma.Cynicism and distrust
of authority figures and public institutions
Hypersensitivity to injustice
Women with PTSD may also experience anger, depression,
feel very isolated and detached from other mothers, have difficulty
bonding with their baby and chronic sleep problems that has resulted
from the birth trauma and loss of control.
Alcohol and drug abuse
Eating disorders: bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, compulsive
eating
Compulsive gambling or compulsive spending
Psychosomatic problems
Homicidal, suicidal or self-mutilating behaviour
Phobias Panic disorders
Depression or depressive symptoms
Dissociation symptoms Fainting spells
These symptoms may start very soon after the birth, or
even years later. If left untreated PTSD does not go
away.
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