Home Health Center
Postpartum Depression
Coping Effectively With Postpartum Depression
Living with Postpartum Depression
Living with postpartum depression can be difficult. Here are a few simple steps that can help make it easier to deal with.
- Take care of yourself. Eat a healthy nutritious diet with lots of fruits and vegetables.
- Try to catch as much sleep as you can.
- Set aside some time each day to relax.
- Try to get out of the house into the sun.
- Share your feelings with your family and close friends. Join a support group.
- Start exercising whenever you can. A good way to start is to take a walk for about half an hour very day.
- Don't be afraid to ask for help. If the symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
Sharing your experiences with others who have been through and are going through similar situations can help considerably. Support groups offer such an outlet and it may be a good idea to connect with local support groups in your area or via the internet:
- Postpartum Support International
- Postpartum Depression Support Group
Frequently asked questions
References
- Laura J. Miller, Elizabeth M. LaRusso, Preventing Postpartum Depression, Psychiatric Clinics of North America, Volume 34, Issue 1, March 2011, Pages 53-65, ISSN 0193-953X, 10.1016/j.psc.2010.11.010.
- Christina Munoz, Janyce Agruss, Amy Haeger, Lynn Sivertsen, Postpartum Depression: Detection and Treatment in the Primary Care Setting, The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, Volume 2, Issue 4, April 2006, Pages 247-253, ISSN 1555-4155, 10.1016/j.nurpra.2006.02.008.