Postpartum Depression Quiz: When to Seek Help
Postpartum depression is a treatable mental health disorder. Unfortunately, many people who develop this condition don’t realize they have it, or aren’t aware of their treatment options. Our postpartum depression quiz can help you decide if it’s time to talk to your primary physician or a mental health professional about what you’ve been experiencing.
To learn more about postpartum depression treatment options at New Mind Wellness, call us today or verify your insurance online. We’re excited to help you start your personal recovery journey.
Understanding Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a mental health disorder with symptoms that develop while a person is pregnant or shortly after they have given birth. In the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), this condition is called major depressive disorder with peripartum onset.
Many of the symptoms of PPD are similar to those of major depressive disorder, such as mood swings, persistent sadness, lack of energy, low motivation, and thoughts of death and dying.
In addition to these symptoms, many people who have PPD also have difficulty forming a healthy attachment with their child, which can cause them to believe that they are a bad parent. In some cases, PPD symptoms can also involve resentment toward to the child, or even thoughts of harming them.
Causes
The one common trait among people who have postpartum depression is that they are or recently were pregnant. (While giving birth is typically assumed to be among the criteria for this condition, women who have miscarriages can also develop PPD.)
Of course, postpartum depression doesn’t affect every pregnant or recently pregnant person, so other influences mush also be involved. According to an October 2022 review in the open access journal Cureus, other risk factors for PPD include:
- Low social support
- Poor spousal support
- Previous struggles with depression
- Being abused (either currently or in the past)
- Current or previous substance abuse
- Having diabetes
- Giving birth multiple times
- Difficult birth experiences
- Giving birth prematurely
- Giving birth to an infant with low birth weight (LBW)
Statistics
Experts estimate that about 10%-15% of pregnant women develop PPD.
To put this statistic into context, the U.S. recorded 3,596,017 live births in 2023. If 15% of these births involved women who developed PPD, that would equate to 539,403 cases of postpartum depression in that year alone.
As noted earlier in this article, postpartum depression is a treatable condition, with studies suggesting that the rate of full recovery may be as high as 80%. Unfortunately, though, researchers believe that about 50% of women who have PPD never receive an accurate diagnosis.
Postpartum Depression Quiz
Before you take the postpartum depression quiz below, please note that this is in no way an appropriate replacement for being evaluated by a doctor or mental health expert. However, what it can do is help you decide if it’s time to make an appointment to be evaluated.
Read each statement below slowly and carefully, then note whether you agree or disagree with it. It might be helpful to have a piece of paper handy or an open file on your computer so you can record your responses.
- I have trouble laughing, having fun, or finding humor in everyday activities.
- I have been experiencing dramatic, unpredictable mood swings.
- I sometimes suddenly start crying for no apparent reason.
- I’ve been having uncharacteristic outbursts of anger or frustration.
- I’m almost always exhausted, yet I have trouble sleeping.
- I feel like I’m always behind, and I can’t summon the energy or motivation to do everything that I feel like I should be doing.
- It has been difficult or impossible for me to breastfeed.
- I’ve become resentful of my child, my partner, or other loved ones.
- I sometimes feel like I am failing my child or letting my family down.
- I frequently feel like something bad is about to happen.
- I’m ashamed about how difficult this experience has been for me.
- I’m not getting the support I need from my partner and/or other loved ones.
- I have had thoughts of harming myself.
- I have had thoughts of harming my child.
- I think I’m a bad parent.
When to Seek Help
If you agree with some, any, or all of the statements in this postpartum depression quiz, you should seriously consider talking to your doctor or scheduling an assessment with a mental health provider in your area.
Being evaluated by a qualified professional can help you understand what you’re dealing with, so that you can make informed decisions about which types of treatment may be best for you.
Also, please know that you should never feel shame or guilt about asking for help or receiving a mental health diagnosis. These are not signs that you are weak or somehow inherently flawed. Instead, they are evidence that you care about yourself and your family, and that you have the courage to make meaningful changes to improve your life and protect your child.
Treatment Options for Postpartum Depression
Personalization can be an essential feature of effective mental health treatment, which means that appropriate care for postpartum depression can look quite different from one individual to the next.
Factors that can influence which type of treatment is right for you include:
- The type and intensity of the symptoms you’ve been experiencing
- How these symptoms have impacted your life and affected your ability to function
- The quality of your personal support network
- If you have a history of depression or other mental health conditions – and, if so, if you ever received treatment for those concerns.
- If you are currently experiencing symptoms of untreated trauma or any other co-occurring mental or behavioral health disorders.
Depending on these and other relevant factors, a customized treatment plan for someone with postpartum depression may include elements such as:
- Genetic testing
- Prescription medication
- Individual, group, and family therapy
- Couples therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy
- Holistic therapies
Learn More About Treatment for Postpartum Depression in Philadelphia
New Mind Wellness offers personalized outpatient care for adults who have been living with postpartum depression and other mental health concerns.
When you choose our PPD treatment center in Philadelphia, PA, your options will include a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and an outpatient program (OP). Our team will work closely with you to determine which programs, therapies, and support services best align with your unique needs and goals.
To learn more or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our admissions page or call us today.
Begin Healing at Our Mental Health Outpatient Treatment in Philadelphia
If you are ready to take the first step towards a healthier mind, contact us today. You will be connected with someone who can help guide you through our simple and straightforward admissions process. Learn more about our mental health programs in Philadelphia and begin your journey towards lasting wellness.
