Paternal Postnatal Depression - flyer more

Paternal Postnatal Depression: What Fathers Depressed men often change their social behavior, the following is a list of common symptoms:             Social withdrawal Indecisiveness Cynicism Irritable mood Avoidance behavior Extra-marital affairs Partner violence Sleep and appetite disturbances Longer days at work Lack of energy Weight loss or gain http://masculineheart.blogspot.com Need to Know How baby impacts fathers Drinking or drug use Integral Options for Men Tucson, AZ Phone: 520-248-3577 Strength Is Seeking Help  Incidence of paternal depression during the first year after childbirth ranges from 1.2–25.5% in community samples. The rate rises to 24–50% among men whose partners are experiencing postpartum depression. Overall, 14% of mothers and 10% of fathers had moderate or severe depressive symptoms 9 months after childbirth. What to do if you have symptoms of depression: 1. Seek Help The most important action is to get help from a licensed mental health professional. Clinicians who specialize in PPND (paternal postnatal depression) don’t really exist yet, so find someone who specializes in work with men. Recognizing depression in the mother of your child   2. Talk It Out If you’d rather not take antidepressants, talk therapy is also very effective. Simply talking to someone else about your problems—a counselor, a buddy, or a support group—can help you realize you’re not alone. 3. Get Some Sleep Lack of sleep makes depression worse. Whatever you can do to improve your sleeping habits will help. Lack of sleep is one of the biggest contributors to PPND. The following are some of the symptoms used to diagnose PPD in new mothers:         Depressed or sad mood Loss of interest in virtually all activities Significant weight loss or gain Insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleep) Fatigue or loss of energy Feelings of worthlessness or guilt Diminished ability to think or concentrate Recurrent thoughts of death 4. Prevent It During Pregnancy If you have relationship issues, begin couples therapy before your baby is born. Parenting classes can ease anxiety and fear. Most importantly, find friends and family who will be with the baby one night a week or provide help around the house—you need the break. After birth, men’s hormones change, too:  Testosterone levels go down 33% in first 3 weeks after birth  Estrogen levels rise  Prolactin levels—associated with breast feeding in moms—also go up in men First occurrences of partner violence have been found to occur 2 months postpartum Get Help for Yourself:       Arizona Postpartum Support Warmline: 888-434-6667 AZ Family Therapy & Coaching: 602402-9510 Postpartum dads: www.postpartumdads.org Postpartum Men: Online Forum Carondelet St. Joseph's Hospital Postpartum Depression Support Group for Couples: 520-873-6858 NIMH: Real Men, Real Depression: 1-866-227-6464 or www.menanddepression .nimh.nih.gov Get Help for Your Partner: Arizona Warmline: (888) 434-MOMS Postpartum Support International www.postpartum.net 1-800-944-4PPD (4773)