Doctors say more research is needed on perinatal depression. That’s the updated way to refer to postpartum depression (PPD).
As there’s a stigma around talking about women experiencing this, there’s new research into men experiencing it, too.
UNC psychologist Dr. Sultan Hubbard is part of an effort to expand knowledge in this subject.
“It’s a huge transition for the family as a unit,” said Dr. Hubbard, “so, not just mom but also dad is significantly impacted.”
This article will address dads, but you can’t talk about PPD or PPA (postpartum anxiety) without focusing on women first, such as Allie Cullen.
She’s a mother of three little girls in Wake Forest. Cullen survived the dreadful experience that is PPD.
“I couldn’t emotionally figure out anything,” said Cullen. “I couldn’t process anything.”
Cullen’s experience with PPD was the complete opposite of the rosy, glossy-lens Hollywood version of becoming a mother.
“You’ve got this beautiful baby,” said Cullen. “Everyone’s like, ‘Oh! It’s wonderful having a newborn.’ And sometimes it’s not. It’s hard. So many people suffer with it, and when you’re going through it you feel alone.”
But you’re not alone.
In fact, CDC research shows 1 in 8 women who recently gave birth reported PPD symptoms.
Between 2008 and 2014, 1 in 10 women of reproductive age in the U.S.
reported symptoms suggesting they experienced depression.
Therapy and a supportive husband are what helped Cullen.
Dr. Crystal Schiller is the director of the UNC Center for Women’s Mood Disorders. She says some people can have an incredibly overwhelming experience with PPD.
“It can be as severe as people experiencing thoughts of harming themselves or others,” said Dr. Schiller. “Those are the patients we take care of on our in-patient unit.”
Dr. Schiller says the center is one of four inpatient units in the country dedicated to perinatal women with severe depression, anxiety and mental health conditions.
Women can experience a change in estrogen, cortisol and other hormones during pregnancy, which can fuel anxiety and depression.
Schiller says men can experience hormonal changes, too, such as a shift in testosterone.
Mental health advocate Nathan Evans Jr. isn’t surprised men can experience this after their partners give birth.
“I can understand that, completely,” said Evans, “from the physical level to the moods.”
Evans is a mental health advocate who addresses audiences about mental wellness. He’s a dad who says he experienced PPD when his son was born a few years ago.
“The first few weeks I felt very disconnected, I felt very lethargic,” said Evans. “It was tough to get out of bed, and you’re sleep deprived, of course.”
He understands some people are going to hear, “men experience PPD” and think, “Really? When women are the ones carrying the child?”
“It’s unfortunate that is the expected reaction sometimes,” said Evans. “It’s pretty dismissive.”
That’s where Dr. Hubbard’s research into PPD in men comes into this discussion. He hopes his work will provide change that will strengthen the family as a whole.
“If [a father] is not receiving any care,” said Dr. Hubbard, “and he’s going weeks, months of experiencing severe depression or anxiety or irritability or fatigue or a sense of worthlessness, he’s not going to be much of a support for his spouse or for the child.”
He and his peers are trying to find the best ways to support families, including dads and the best pathways to treatment.
Dr. Hubbard is not saying “steer the conversation about postpartum depression away from women.”
He’s saying consider men in the talk, too.
If you or someone you know is experiencing PPD, PPA, or genuinely just having a tough time adjusting to life during and after pregnancy, the UNC School of Medicine has a list of resources.
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