How Long does PPD Last

If you are currently struggling with postpartum depression, it is possible to recover from it with appropriate treatment. The sooner you seek help, the sooner you can expect to overcome the issue and return to feeling like yourself. At present, there are multiple treatment options for individuals experiencing postpartum depression. Many experts combine more than one treatment modality at a time to provide comprehensive care and aid in recovery. For instance, you may enroll in counseling sessions while taking medications simultaneously. Many may go through trial and error to find the treatment that best suits them.

Mentioned below are some common treatments used for managing postpartum depression. Work with your healthcare provider to determine which makes more sense for you and can benefit you the most.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is often one of the first lines of treatment options offered to people with mild to moderate forms of PPD. Two forms of psychotherapy are beneficial in this respect, including:

• Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT)

IPT focuses on interpersonal distress as the primary factor aggravating depression. The therapy has been highly successful and has shown consistent positive outcomes with patients.

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy helps patients identify how their thoughts relate to their behaviors and help them replace all negative thinking patterns with positive ones.

• Nondirective counseling

In this type of counseling, the therapist avoids explaining the issue at hand or interpreting it. Instead, they allow patients to talk freely without pressure about their feelings and struggles, followed by self-affirmations.

The most important thing to consider with psychotherapy is finding a qualified therapist with whom you can easily bond. You may need to get in touch with a few of these professionals before deciding the one that works best for you. Consider asking your family members, friends, and primary healthcare professionals for recommendations to make the process faster and easier.

Medication

People who do not respond to psychotherapy can switch to medication to manage postpartum depression. There are many types of antidepressants that these individuals can use to reduce the severity and duration of their symptoms. A commonly used category of antidepressant is serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which include fluoxetine and sertraline. Some people may require an anti-anxiety medication, especially if their symptoms are falling more on the anxiety end of the spectrum.

If your PPD began within four weeks following childbirth and you are still under six months postpartum, you may benefit from an intravenous infusion of brexanolone. Depending on their symptoms, some people may require additional treatment with antipsychotic medicines or mood stabilizers.