Postpartum Therapy Los Gatos, CA

What Does Postpartum Depression Look Like?

Clinically, postpartum depression (PPD) is a mood disorder that can develop after childbirth, characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, fatigue, sleep disturbances, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, difficulty bonding with the baby, and sometimes intrusive or anxious thoughts. It affects up to 1 in 5 new mothers and can begin within the first few weeks postpartum or emerge gradually over the first year.

So what does that mean?

You’ve had a baby, but instead of feeling joy, you disconnected, sad, maybe even broken. What’s happening isn’t just exhaustion or “baby blues.” It’s something else.

If you feel like you’re failing, or that something terrible is always just around the corner, you might be facing postpartum depression or anxiety. These conditions are treatable, but far too many mothers suffer in silence.

Postpartum depression doesn’t always look like tears. It can look like irritability, chronic fatigue, or withdrawing from loved ones. It can feel like guilt for not “enjoying every moment,” or shame for needing help. It often includes racing thoughts, a constant sense of dread, or even the inability to sleep when the baby finally does.

You may feel disconnected from your baby, your partner, or even yourself, and wonder if things will ever feel normal again. These symptoms aren’t a reflection of your love for your child. They’re signs of a serious, but very treatable, mental health condition.

Postpartum depression and anxiety are not personal failures, they are clinical conditions recognized by the DSM-5 and supported by decades of psychological research. As a maternal mental health therapist, I understand how overwhelming this time can be. Evidence-based treatments like therapy, lifestyle interventions, and in some cases medication, can make a profound difference.

You’re not alone, and with help, you can feel like yourself again.

Nobody Wants To Talk About Postpartum Depression

Statistically, between 10 and 15 percent of women suffer from postpartum depression. That means in a room of 10 new mothers, one to two will experience often debilitating symptoms, making it much more common than many of us think. And yet, postpartum depression is often a taboo subject. Motherhood is traditionally thought of as being a time of intense joy, and many new mothers are unwilling to admit that this joy is often accompanied by intense feelings of anxiety, distress and relentless exhaustion. Women who express these experiences often feel ostracized or like nobody can relate to their experience, even though statistics show us that this just isn’t true.

Therapy can really help mothers suffering from postpartum depression by validating your feelings and helping reduce anxiety and other maladaptive thoughts and behaviors. Therapy can support your self-care, and help foster a bond with the baby. Don’t wait.