How to prevent postpartum psychosis?

Postnatal psychosis is the most terrible of psychological phenomena. It has not yet been explained to the end, however, there are many theories on this score. The horror is that a mother, whose condition can be described as a psychosis, is not dangerous for anyone, but for a child, his father and herself.

The little child is so helpless and frightened that almost all the time a shrill shrieks. It can make anyone angry. But this is not a psychosis - this is a normal reaction of parents who are not quite ready for it.

The psychosis occurs almost immediately after birth, but it can be suppressed and manifested many years later (although this is a great rarity). Usually it lasts about a month and is associated with a strong dejection, a depressed state of a young mother. It's not for nothing that this condition was named in the women in childbirth exactly like that. It is similar in features to the phenomenon known in psychiatry, which is called depressive psychosis. In the most vivid cases, the mother's well-being can be aggravated by hallucinations, altered state of consciousness (confusion of thoughts). It is because of the last symptom that women do not understand that there is something wrong with them psychologically.

Postpartum depression (as this phenomenon is also called psychiatrists and psychologists) does not always arise and is in no way related to the order in which children are born. It can occur both after the first pregnancy, and after the second or third. Postnatal psychosis can occur in any woman, from this no one is immune. And yet the risk is greatest when expecting the first child.

Explain this phenomenon in different ways, but the most common is that the woman's body is so exhausted that she can not perform all the functions that correspond to her ideal idea of a good mother. The psychic simply can not adapt to change. Depletion of these women with high demands on themselves can begin and at the stage of pregnancy. Psychosis in pregnancy - a rarity, and yet it occurs if the bearing of a child is accompanied by heavy loads on the body.

This discrepancy between their capabilities and the ideal image of the mother gives rise to delusional ideas, which are the main sign of psychosis. But here there is fear and disappointment in oneself, anger, anxiety of great strength, and a sense of exhaustion, despair. And even hypertrophied suspicion to relatives (are they going to harm the child?). Strongly presses on the psyche of the mother feeling of uncertainty, lack of information (what to do, when? How?). Because of the latter, panic develops.

More often this form of psychosis doctors associate with physiological changes (hormonal failure), but not with the mental mood of the mother. The latter is more likely a consequence of the physical and moral exhaustion of a woman.

If postnatal psychosis has not been diagnosed in time, he can find a way out without treatment, and not the best! After certain actions of a woman in an obviously inadequate condition, as a rule, there is regret about what was done. A timely course of therapy will correct the situation. A young mother with the support of relatives (they must treat the problem with understanding) and doctors will be able to overcome this difficult period without consequences.

To prevent postpartum psychosis, you need to prepare for bearing, for birth as a real test for the female body, to caring for the baby. Read more books and set yourself up to overcome any difficulties. Get on the record with a gynecologist. Plan, but do not get carried away. The main thing, remember: ideal moms do not happen, but in your power to do a lot for the baby, to overcome much for the emergence of a new life, your flesh and blood, which you will never regret, no matter how hard you do not have now.