It’s very real.
When you think about postpartum depression, what do you picture? Probably a sad new mom with extremely low energy and tears streaming down her face. But what we might not consider is that new dads can experience postpartum depression too.
A study by the American Journal of Men’s Health reveals that about 1 in 10 expectant fathers experience heightened degrees of depression levels during their partner’s third trimester, twice the rate of depression for men in general. In addition, a study reported by the National Library of Medicine shows that for the first eight weeks after their partner gives birth, an estimated 4% – 25% of dads experience depression as well.
For many of us, a father is typically seen as the strong protector of the family, a superhero with his cape shielding his significant other, especially when they have a brand new baby. Society expects him to be fearless and never show any signs of anxiety or depression, and if he does, he might fear being seen as weak.
Unfortunately, this expectation of unwavering bravery can cause a father to overlook symptoms of postpartum depression. Instead of recognizing it as a serious condition that requires medical help, he’ll just “man up” and push through it. But the “baby blues” aren’t limited to only women. Men can also experience something similar after the arrival of their little one, called paternal postpartum depression (PPD).
Sad Dads
Doctors say that PPD symptoms can be different from those in mothers, so it often leads to underdiagnosis and lack of treatment for fathers. After all, it wasn’t until 1994 that a formal way of diagnosing and documenting maternal postpartum depression was established with the release of the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). When it comes to diagnosing postpartum depression in women, experts often use the DSM’s criteria for major depressive disorder, with the onset happening within four weeks after giving birth. However, experts say that these standards might not be suitable for diagnosing fathers because men are less likely to show “traditional” postpartum depression symptoms, like openly crying due to a sad mood.
There isn’t an official set of diagnostic criteria specifically for PPD to date, but doctors say symptoms in fathers might include:
- Irritability, hostility and anger
- Isolation, withdrawal and detachment, such as throwing oneself into work
- Risky behaviors, such as increased substance use
- Physical symptoms, such as pain, changes in appetite and weight and difficulty sleeping
- Negative relational and parenting behaviors
It’s also important to note that symptoms of PPD take longer to show up, compared to maternal postpartum depression symptoms. They tend to appear gradually over the first year after giving birth, with the peak happening between three to six months after the baby’s arrival.
What causes postpartum depression in men?
Studies show that there are several factors that can contribute to the development of PPD:
- Hormonal changes, such as decreases in testosterone thought to promote parent-infant bonding
- Environmental stressors, such as lack of social support and financial stress
- Pregnancy complications and birth trauma
- Sleep deprivation
- History of mental illness
How to Treat PPD
We know that the world puts a lot of pressure on dads to be emotionally strong, which can make it tough for them to admit when they’re feeling down. But it’s important to recognize that depression is not just a temporary rough patch that will go away on its own.
A hard fact is that many depressed dads feel like they can’t ask for help. They put on a brave face and pretend everything is fine, even when it’s not. But this pretending only makes things worse.
Research has shown that the best first steps to treating paternal depression is to open up about it and find someone to talk to. There are resources out there specifically designed to support dads like Postpartummen.com. Don’t hesitate to contact them or consult a licensed medical professional for advice and therapy options.
