Online Counseling & Postpartum Depression
A new baby is a large adjustment for any family. However, it may be difficult to know if your experience as a new parent is normal. Although it is common to by physically or emotionally depleted during the first few months of having a new child, some may experience a more serious change. If you or someone you know is experiencing withdrawal from others, loss of interest, or overwhelming fatigue, it may be postpartum depression. Here we will discuss postpartum depression and how online counseling is often a great fit for these mothers.
Many new mothers have misconceptions about postpartum depression. For example, media portrayals of postpartum depression may suggest that these mothers are severely and abnormally unstable. However, postpartum depression affects between 13% and 19% of women within the first year, many of which had normal functioning previous to giving birth. Because of this, new mothers may believe postpartum symptoms to be a normal part adjusting to motherhood, especially if they are first-time mothers.
In fact, it is very common for new mothers to have difficulty recognizing their own postpartum symptoms. For instance, Halopainen (2001) and Whitton and colleagues (1996) found that almost all of the women in their sample recognized that something was wrong, but only 32% identified these symptoms as postpartum depression. Unfortunately, too often these women attribute their difficulty to their own inadequacies.
Believing that their symptoms are not severe enough to be postpartum depression, new mothers may attribute their feelings to other causes. These causes may include hormones, personality factors, birth complications, the transition to motherhood, baby-related factors, or current life stressors. However, although these causes may be contributing factors, postpartum depression may not be alleviated by addressing these factors alone; prescription medication and/or counseling are often needed to reduce symptoms.
However, consenting to these options may be difficult for new mothers. Many mothers may feel unsure about how antidepressants will affect them and their baby. In addition, some of the symptoms of postpartum may actually prevent new mothers from receiving help, causing the illness to worsen. Overwhelming fatigue, feelings of shame and inadequacy, and withdrawal from friends can keep new mothers from turning to resources outside the home. Fortunately, online counseling is one option that may remove many of these obstacles.
Overwhelming Fatigue
Fatigue is one of the major obstacles to receiving therapy for postpartum depression. For instance, women with postpartum depression commonly refuse help due to: (1) physical fatigue, (2) practical difficulties related to the demands of child care, and (3) difficulty in balancing the demands of caring for their infants with the effort required in seeking therapy. However, all of these difficulties can be alleviated by using online counseling in lieu of traditional methods.
Online counseling prevents the need to leave home, which may minimize physical, but also emotional, fatigue. Online counseling minimizes the need to ready oneself and the baby for the day, does not require packing a diaper bag, and removes the need for travel and babysitting. Relieving mothers of these duties reduces physical exertion, and may also alleviate mental and emotional strain. These precious resources may thereby be used to engage in the counseling process.
Feelings of Shame or Inadequacy
Overcoming physical and emotional fatigue may not be enough to solicit help. Researchers report that women with postpartum depression describe feelings of failure and believe that they are different than normal mothers. Because of this, these mothers did not speak to others about their feelings. Compounding this problem is the belief that mental health resources are for “crazy” or “mad” people. Thus, mothers experiencing postpartum depression may feel that consenting to counseling is a confirmation of the negative feelings they have about themselves.
However, overcoming this obstacle is of key importance, as disclosing distress to others aids recovery. Research suggests that postpartum women initially find it very hard to talk to others, but that once they do, it becomes easier to open up to additional resources, which leads to greater social support. Using online methods to receive counseling services may facilitate this process, as it eases the initial difficulty associated with disclosing.
As online counseling is conducted from the privacy of one’s own home, shame becomes less of a barrier due to familiarity and increased anonymity. New mothers may feel more emotionally comfortable using online resources, as it is a familiar modality of communication. It is also a “step removed” from physical interaction, which may provide an increased feeling of safety and anonymity. Additionally, clients need not worry about being seen in a counseling facility – for the mother who is already feeling inadequate, the thought of someone “discovering” her inability to cope may cause her to deny help. Finally, the ease of online counseling lends itself well to a “trial period” of counseling. New mothers can anonymously “shop” for counselors and try one or two sessions with very little inconvenience. Online counseling is also frequently less expensive than traditional counseling, which allows for greater flexibility.
Withdrawal from Family and Friends
Even with these conveniences, however, new mothers may not consent to counseling services. Studies suggest that most women with postpartum depression do not seek professional help, nor do they solicit help from family and friends (Small, Brown, Lumley, & Astbury, 1994; Whitton, Warner, & Appleby, 1996). This can make identifying postpartum depression especially difficult, as it is often family or friends who recognize the symptoms. In fact, authors McCarthy and McMahon (2008) suggest that women rarely choose to seek and accept treatment alone. Others are usually responsible initiating the process of receiving help.
Two reasons for why new mothers may not seek help are: first, mothers may be unsure about whether or not their symptoms are severe enough to warrant intervention; and second, the effort required to begin the counseling process may seem difficult, especially if the woman is already feeling withdrawn. However, family and friends may instrumental in beginning this process. Online counseling allows loved ones to seek out mental health resources with very little time and relatively little effort compared to traditional counseling. Furthermore, these individuals may have better success in convincing the new mother to receive online help, as it may seem less intimidating and physically demanding than attending a counseling facility. Indeed, some evidence suggests that home-based treatment may be more readily accepted by women with postpartum depression (Murray et al., 2002).
How to Begin
Regardless of convenience or simplicity, beginning any new process can feel overwhelming. As such, we encourage new mothers to seek out help which feels comfortable to them. Although the counseling process is itself a period of growth, it should not be so strenuous as to cause one to refuse help. If counseling feels like a big step, you may consider starting small. Talking with a spouse or other close relative about your feelings is a good way to begin. They may help you to research your options and find a method of support that works for your lifestyle. If you think that online counseling may be a good fit, please contact us for more information.
References
Halopainen, D. (2001), The experience of seeking help for postnatal depression. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 19(30), 39–44.
MayoClinic. (2010, June 3). Postpartum Depression. Retrieved October 14, 2010, from MayoClinic.com:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/postpartum-depression/ds00546
McCarthy, M., & McMahon, C. (2008). Acceptance and Experience of Treatment for Postnatal Depression in a Community Mental Health Setting. Health Care for Women International, 29(6), 618-637. doi:10.1080/07399330802089172.
Murray, P., Cooper, L., Wilson, A., & Romaniuk, H. (2002). Controlled trial of the short- and long-term effects of psychological treatment for postpartum depression. British Journal of Psychiatry, 183, 412–419.
Schanie, C., Pinto-Foltz, M., & Logsdon, M. (2008). Analysis of Popular Press Articles Concerning Postpartum Depression: 1998-2006. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 29(11), 1200-1216.
Small, R., Brown, S., Lumley, J., & Astbury, J. (1994). Missing voices: What women say and do about depression after childbirth. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 12, 89–103.
Whitton, A., Warner, R., & Appleby, L. (1996). The pathway to care in postnatal depression: Women’s attitudes to postnatal depression and its treatment. British Journal of General Practice, 46, 427–428.
