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Please Note: This article is presented for informational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness. If you have any health concern, see a licensed healthcare professional in person.
Throughout different stages of our lives, it is fair to say that we all go through periods of health concerns and falls in our overall health. When we have gaps in our physical health, we take supplements and vitamins from brands like Metagenics to help fill the gaps in a healthy way. When we have low energy, we eat more healthy foods to fill us back up. We take on gym memberships, hiking paths, biking trails, and yoga and meditation to get our dose of exercise every day. And when we struggle mentally, we seek out help…sometimes.
The issue of mental health concerns is one that is ongoing, and it is felt in many different ways. One of the most fast-growing of them all is postnatal depression. Going through the process of getting ready for a new life to enter yours, a life that is your responsibility, is a great experience. It can also present itself as something of a challenge, at times. The biggest problem with postnatal health is that doctors are not exactly sure what causes it. In saying this, there are theories and educated guesses (waves of hormones, or the shock to the system, for example). Of course, being a parent is a blessing, but it is important to acknowledge that it is also a challenging lifestyle change to get used to.
Regardless of what causes it, postnatal depression is becoming increasingly common around the world. Being a global problem, there is not nearly enough support and understanding surrounding the issue. The prevalence of post-natal depression is 51% higher in millennial women than it was in the previous generation. Further, it is now believed that postnatal depression can be experienced by fathers as well as mothers. The overwhelming appearance of it is often bold and unrelenting, and can have devastating effects on affected individuals.
The stigma that surrounds these disorders and illnesses is shocking, especially considering the fact that one in seven women in the US alone experience postnatal depression. It comes across in waves most often, with individuals feeling intense emotions of sadness, anger, terror, and even resentment. As one would imagine, the individuals going through post-natal depression experience immense feelings of self-loathing, guilt, and confusion as to why they feel the way they do. They do not love their babies any less than other parents, but they do struggle with the change more so than others.
It is a delicate line to walk, and it is one that, even now, is often walked seemingly alone. There is not nearly enough support out there to help parents that experience these disorders and illnesses, and the results of this ignorance or refusal to be honest and open and supportive of these individuals often manifests itself in terrifying, potentially fatal ways. Introducing and committing to a new life in the world is a life-changing experience. In fact, it is one of the most impactful of them all. There must be more done to right the ship, to support all parents as they navigate what can be a challenging new pathway.
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This content is sponsored by Annabel Monaghan.
Photo: Shutterstock