Question

Your friend is very concerned because his wife seems to be overwhelmed by the responsibilities of caring for an infant. they were both extremely excited when they became pregnant, but now his wife is intensely sad and anxious and her emotions are interfering with her ability to function. what do you tell him she probably has?

Answer 1

His wife is more than likely experiencing Post Natal Depression.

Postnatal depression is a type of depression that many parents experience after having a baby.

It's a common problem, affecting more than 1 in every 10 women within a year of giving birth. It can also affect fathers and partners.

Symptoms include:

a persistent feeling of sadness and low mood

lack of enjoyment and loss of interest in the wider world

lack of energy and feeling tired all the time

trouble sleeping at night and feeling sleepy during the day

difficulty bonding with your baby

withdrawing from contact with other people

problems concentrating and making decisions

frightening thoughts – for example, about hurting your baby.

It's important to seek help as soon as possible which would include going to speak to her doctor, self-help strategies and therapy, most women make a full recovery.