Postnatal depression in men is often overlooked as men struggle to talk about it. It can be caused by a partner’s postnatal depression, stress from a new baby, and lack of support. Symptoms include mood swings, substance abuse, and physical symptoms.
Postnatal depression in women is a widely recognized condition, but a lesser known condition is postnatal depression in men. The main reason this condition is less well known is that men often have a hard time talking about it. Some men don’t realize they suffer from the condition.
Depression that occurs after the birth of a child has been linked to an increase in depression overall for a large number of men. It sometimes occurs as a reaction when a man’s female partner suffers from postnatal depression. Many men have said that coping with their partner’s depression makes them feel overwhelmed, isolated, and stigmatized.
According to health professionals, male postnatal depression has led to the breakdown of many marriages. The vast majority of breakups occur after a child is born. Many couples are unaware that postpartum depression is the cause of the breakup.
Many women hide their depression to the extent that their partners are unaware of the reason behind their mood swings. Depression in the female can be transferred to the male, sometimes resulting in suicidal tendencies in the male.
Another reason for male postnatal depression is that many men find it difficult to cope with the birth of a child. The new addition to the family can be stressful, especially if the male has to work during the day and cope with the baby at night. This type of depression is independent of female depression. While female postnatal depression is thought to be hormonal, the male condition is considered to be more physical.
One of the biggest problems for men when it comes to male postnatal depression is a lack of support. There are numerous support groups and lots of help available to women, but there are often fewer resources for depressed fathers. Also, historically men have been reluctant to talk about this type of depression and only recently have statistics highlighted the problem.
Symptoms of male postnatal depression can include feelings of isolation and mood swings. There may also be work-related problems and substance abuse could develop as a symptom. Other symptoms may manifest as lethargy, anxiety attacks, loss of sex drive, difficulty concentrating, headaches and stomach aches. If these symptoms appear, it is important to take them seriously and consult a doctor. More and more support groups are starting to appear as the problems of male postnatal depression are recognized.
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