Postpartum depression is not terrible! These methods can help you recover your mood quickly

Overview

The birth of a baby can trigger a variety of strong emotions, from excitement to fear and anxiety. But it can also lead to an unexpected outcome: depression.

Most new mothers experience the "baby blues" after giving birth, which often includes mood swings, unexplained crying, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping. Postpartum depression usually starts within 2 to 3 days after giving birth and can last up to two weeks.

But some new mothers experience a more severe and longer-lasting depression called postpartum depression. Sometimes this depression is called perinatal depression because it can start during pregnancy and continue after delivery. In rare cases, an extreme mood disorder called postpartum psychosis can also occur after childbirth.

Depression self-test

Take five minutes to answer the following nine questions to self-assess whether you have depression

In the past 2 weeks, how often have you been troubled by any of the following problems?

1. Lack of interest or pleasure in doing things

● Not at all

● A few days

● More than half the days

● Almost every day

2. Feeling low, depressed, or hopeless

● Not at all

● A few days

● More than half the days

● Almost every day

3. Having trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much

● Not at all

● A few days

● More than half the days

● Almost every day

4. Feeling tired or having low energy

● Not at all

● A few days

● More than half the days

● Almost every day

5. Loss of appetite or overeating

● Not at all

● A few days

● More than half the days

● Almost every day

6. Feeling bad about yourself - or feeling like a failure and a disappointment to yourself or your family

● Not at all

● A few days

● More than half the days

● Almost every day

7. Having trouble concentrating on things like reading the newspaper or watching TV

● Not at all

● A few days

● More than half the days

● Almost every day

8. Moving or talking too slowly for others to notice? Or the opposite—feeling restless, moving around more than usual

● Not at all

● A few days

● More than half the days

● Almost every day

9. Thoughts that death would be better, or that you would harm yourself in some way

● Not at all

● A few days

● More than half the days

● Almost every day

Test scoring and result interpretation

Scoring method: "Not at all" (0 points), "A few days" (1 point), "More than half of the days" (2 points), "Almost every day" (3 points).

Result interpretation: Assess the degree of depression based on the total score:

▸0-13 points: No or minimal depressive symptoms.

▸14-19 points: Mild depressive symptoms, close attention is recommended.

▸20-28 points: Moderate depressive symptoms, psychological counseling and evaluation are recommended.

▸29 points and above: Severe depressive symptoms, professional psychiatric treatment is recommended.

Notes

Online depression tests can only be used as a preliminary screening tool and cannot replace professional medical diagnosis.

If the test results show moderate or above depression symptoms, it is recommended to seek professional mental health services as soon as possible.