Know the symptoms of postpartum depression

June 25--Symptoms of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders may range from moderate to severe and are sometimes hard to recognize, says the founder of an international organization promoting awareness of postpartum depression.

"Every new mom is stressed out, every new mom is exhausted, every new mom is going through a roller coaster of emotion," says Katherine Stone of the Atlanta-based Postpartum Progress in a phone interview.

Oftentimes, she says, folks think, "Well, this is what parenting is like."

But Stone says even though postpartum depression may be common, affecting 1 in 7 women, it is not normal. Also, every case is different, she says.

"The key to all of this is one size does not fit all," she explains.

And postpartum depression is not to be confused with the very common baby blues, which are experienced by 60 percent to 70 percent of women in the first two weeks after a baby's birth.

"That's normal; that's not a mental illness, it's hormones and it goes away all on its own," Stone says.

Some signs of postpartum depression, as explained by Stone or listed on Postpartum Progress' website, www.postpartumprogress.com, include:

--Feeling overwhelmed. More than just feeling like being a new mom is hard, it's feeling like you will never be able to do this or you can't handle being a mother.

--Not being able to sleep, even when you are exhausted. Or sleeping too much.

--Feeling irritated or angry. Everything annoys you, or you feel an out-of-control rage -- toward the baby, your partner or others.

--Feeling guilty about not handling motherhood well. Maybe you think your baby deserves better or would be better off without you.

--Eating too much, or not having an appetite.

--Lack of concentration and ability to focus.

--Frequent crying and feeling sad to the depths of your soul.

--Thoughts of wanting to escape or run away.

--Feeling nothing -- just going through the motions of life.

--Feeling like "Something is not right," or, "Something is wrong with me."

There are other signs -- such as constant worrying, or experiencing disturbing or scary thoughts -- that are associated with postpartum anxiety or postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder. For more information, see the website, or call Alicia Glascock of the Ogden Postpartum Progress team at 801-628-0468.

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