When do the baby blues begin to threaten a child’s life? We’ve all read the stories in the newspapers about mothers who were suffering from severe postpartum depression and ended their lives or those of their children through very tragic means. Not all cases of baby blues, however, end in these terrible tragedies. How does a new mother know when to seek help?
The “baby blues” are a form of depression experienced by new mothers. Changing life roles, combined with the stresses of fluctuating hormone levels, can leave a woman ready to laugh or cry at any moment. This can be difficult, but is usually only temporary and not dangerous.
Sometimes, though, new mothers develop a very serious case of the “baby blues,” which sometimes leads to postpartum depression. They begin to have difficulty doing everyday tasks such as dressing, eating, and taking care of the new baby. If the depression becomes very severe, the mother may find herself thinking irrationally or on the edge of doing something she ordinarily would never consider, such as harming her baby.
Even if the mother doesn’t think about or act on thoughts of harming the baby or anyone else, she may still have difficulty relating to the baby or meeting the infant’s needs. This can impair a very critical process known as bonding, in which the mother and child develop a strong bond of trust and affection.
Children who do not bond well with their parents often develop many social and relationship problems throughout their lives. They often find it difficult to become emotionally close to another person. If the child does not bond with his or her mother during infancy, he or she is at risk for psychological problems throughout the rest of his or her life!
If you are struggling with the baby blues, or know someone who is, knowing a few warning signs may be critical to keeping an infant safe and healthy. Read more about the warning signs of postpartum depression and protect a helpless baby from lifelong problems. Helping a mother get treatment can mean helping that infant avoid psychological or physical harm.
Hypnosis and Neuro-Linguistic Programming are two very effective ways of helping people to find relief from depression. They offer a relatively inexpensive approach. Best of all, unlike medications or other types of therapy, these therapies help mothers to begin experiencing relief almost immediately. Find out more about treating postpartum depression with NLP or hypnosis today; someone’s life may depend on it!
