Postpartum Depression and Depression

Coping Skills: Postpartum Depression

One of the most useful coping strategies for individuals suffering from depression is to take active steps to reduce the stressors responsible for triggering the depression in the first place (Orzechowska, Zajaczkowska, Talarowska, & Galecki 2013). For patients diagnosed with postpartum depression, this may include reducing the sleep deprivation and constant demands of caring for a newborn. Ensuring that the patient has support from her partner, relatives, and if possible from a hired nurse can reduce some of the factors which may exacerbate her negative mood. Another coping skill is that of reframing. Many women feel guilty that they do not have wholly positive feelings about their newborn and have ambivalent feelings about mothering in general. "Positive reinterpretation and growth (growing as a person as a result of the experience, seeing events in a positive light)" can encourage the woman to see her desire to maintain a separate sense of self from the child as a positive thing, not as negative or selfish (Orzechowska et al., 2013). Reframing a difficult situation in a less black-and-white dichotomy can enable the woman to adopt a more dynamic view of the situation and release herself from the prison of self-blame.

Taking active steps such as exercise, enjoying hobbies previously enjoyed before the pregnancy, and talking to individuals who have experienced the same thing such as other mothers or trained counselors are all examples of active approaches which can potentially mitigate depression. According to one study of coping mechanisms used by individuals struggling with depression, "the results indicate that task-focused coping is used more by participants with low external locus of control, high self-esteem, and low anxiety and depression. On the contrary, the emotion-focused coping is used more by participants with high external locus of control, low self-esteem, and high depression" (Leandro & Castillo 2010).

Evidence-Based Interventions: Postpartum Depression

According to a Cochrane meta-analysis of "ten randomized controlled trials of psychosocial and psychological treatments for postpartum depression," psychological interventions to treat depression have proven to be useful including interpersonal therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy [otherwise known as CBT] (Fitelson, Kim, Baker, & Leight 2011). Interpersonal therapy focuses specifically on interpersonal problems such as transitioning to a new role. "IPT has been adapted to address problem areas relevant to postpartum depression such as the relationship between mother and infant, mother and partner, and transition back to work" (Fitelson et al., 2011). CBT has been found to be particularly useful when dealing with depression; the focus is upon replacing irrational thoughts (such as a fear that the woman cannot be a good parent) with rational ones and setting goals for the patient that will help her cope with her mental challenges. CBT is based upon the premise that changing thought patterns can help change behaviors.