10% of Men Suffer From Postpartum Depression, According to Study
It’s not just moms who are prone to feeling a little blue after having a child. A recent study found that about 10 percent of new dads also suffer from post-partum depression.
Postpartum Can Affect Fathers
The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that men are more likely to become depressed in the first six months of the birth of their child. They are also more likely to become depressed if their wives or partners are depressed as well. Studies show that about 25 percent of women develop the mood disorder.
Men develop post-partum depression for reasons similar to women, including lack of sleep, stress on the relationship and isolation from friends. It may also develop because the mother may be giving more time and attention to the baby instead of to her partner, which can make many men feel excluded.
Of course, not every man who has a child will develop postpartum depression. The disorder is more likely to develop in men who experience any of the following:
History of depression
Poor relationship with spouse
Anxiety about becoming a father
Change in hormones
Lack of support from family and friends
Financial difficulties
Symptoms of Depression in Men
Depression can cause anyone to feel sad, lose interest in activities they once enjoyed, cause sleeping problems and fatigue, and affect one’s ability to concentrate and make decisions. There are some symptoms of depression, however, that are specific to men.
Men with depression may also experience the following symptoms, according to PostpartumMen.com:
Increased anger and conflict with others
Irritability or frustration
Violent behavior
Isolation from friends and family
Impulsiveness and risky behavior
Increased use of drugs or alcohol, or misuse of prescription medication
Physical ailments, such as headaches, digestive problems or chronic pain
Problems with motivation and concentration
Whether men with post-partum depression experience only some of the symptoms above or all of them, they should know that their depression is treatable.
Treating Depression
No matter how severe your depression is, or when it occurs, it is treatable. Treatment for depression typically includes individual and group therapy, and the use of anti-depressants. Depending on what works best with your schedule, you can be treated for depression through regular appointments with a licensed therapist, an outpatient treatment center for depression or a residential treatment center for depression.
If you have recently become a new father and are feeling any of the above symptoms, don’t feel guilty or that there’s nothing that can be done. With the right type of treatment, you can recover from depression and be the dad you’ve always want to be.
