Looking after your mental health after giving birth is just as important as looking after your physical health
We have put together some tips to help you look after your mental health. If you are suffering from emotional distress and a mental health illnesses you should always contact a health professional like your doctor, health nurse or therapist first and then use these tips in conjunction with their diagnosis, advice and treatments (therapy, medications, etc).
Ask for help, remember it’s ok to talk about it
It’s important to remember that emotional distress and mental health illnesses are not a sign of personal weakness or failure or that you are a bad mother so don’t be afraid to speak up and ask for help, the sooner you ask for help the sooner you can get treatment and recover. If you are experiencing emotional distress and a mental health illness and would like to talk to someone in Nurture please click here to see how to contact us.
Be Honest, you won’t be judged.
Talk and be honest with your doctor or health nurse or therapist. Remember you are not going to shock them with your feelings, they are not going to judge you badly nor will they think you are a bad mother nor will they take your baby away from you. They speak with postpartum women all the time and are the best persons to evaluate how you are doing and how they can help, but only providing that you are honest about where you are at. It is important to remember that you are not alone in your feelings, emotional distress and mental health illnesses are very common illness after giving birth.
Don’t Delay, seek help as soon as you can.
It is important to treat depression and anxiety as early as possible and also not try to deal with it alone because these conditions not only cause distress for you but also influence your ability to cope with and care for your baby, and your developing relationship. Partners and young children are also affected when a parent is anxious or depressed.
Look after all areas of your life, you are important too!
A balanced lifestyle for all parents means that all parts of their lives are being attended to, particularly time spent for themselves as individuals.
Many new parents put on hold their own needs as they deal with the changes and the needs of their baby. Diet, exercise, sleep, timeout, pleasurable activities, socialisation, relaxation, work, intellectual, routines and emotional needs all need to be built into your lifestyle.
It may be Hard to change but be realistic and it is doable!
Although it can be difficult for a woman to make changes to her daily life when she is feeling very depressed or anxious making small changes that bring about a more balanced lifestyle is important. Approaching these things realistically is also important, a great saying is “start from where you are and not where you want to be”. You are not going to be able to achieve your goals if you set them too high so be fair to yourself.
Disclaimer: This website and its contents are designed for educational purposes only. The information provided here should not be used for the purposes of diagnosing or treating a psychological condition. If you have or suspect you may have a mental health problem, you should consult a healthcare professional like your doctor.
