Pregnancy loss can be a source of searing emotional pain and an extended period of grieving. Can it also lead to the development of a mental health disorder? For example, can you have postpartum depression after a miscarriage?
If you or a loved one are struggling with depression, reach out to us at Valor today! Call us or visit our admissions page now to learn more on how we can help!
What Is Postpartum Depression?
The clinical term for postpartum depression (PPD) is major depressive disorder with peripartum onset. The “peripartum” part of that term refers to the fact that this disorder can develop while a person is pregnant as well as after they have given birth.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of postpartum depression include:
- Persistent fatigue and exhaustion
- Pervasive sense of sadness
- Dramatic mood swings, which may include sudden outbursts of anger or crying
- Anxiety, irritability, and panic
- Difficulty concentrating or focusing
- Lack of interest in activities or topics that use to be important to you
- Finding it difficult or impossible to feel joy or pleasure
- Inability to bond with your child
- Fear that you are a bad parent, or that you may harm your child
- Feelings of shame, guilt, and worthlessness
- Recurrent thoughts of death and dying
Prevalence
Recent research indicates that 1-2 of every 10 people who give birth experience postpartum depression.
According to a February 2023 study of health records from Kaiser Permanente in Southern California, 13.9% of people who gave birth from 2010-2021 had PPD.
The annual rate of postpartum depression increased dramatically over the period covered in this study, rising from 9.4% in 2010 to 19.3% in 2021.
In 2021, the National Center for Health Statistics recorded 3,659,289 births. With a 19.3% PPD rate, this means that there were likely more than 700,000 cases of postpartum depression during that year in the U.S.
Can You Have Postpartum Depression After a Miscarriage?
Can you have postpartum depression after a miscarriage? Yes, you can. As noted in the previous section, the symptoms of postpartum depression can develop while you are pregnant. Giving birth is not one of the criteria for this condition.
Having a miscarriage can also be a precursor to a variety of other mental health concerns, including anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicidal ideation.
Depression After Miscarriage
Research indicates that about 10% of people who have miscarriages meet the criteria for a diagnosis of major depressive disorder. Factors that can increase a person’s risk of postpartum depression after a miscarriage include prior struggles with depression, insufficient social support, and having no other children.
Anxiety After Miscarriage
Pregnancy loss can also trigger the onset of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and other anxiety-related concerns.
Common anxiety symptoms include:
- Excessive fear or worry in several areas of life
- Unrelenting sense of restlessness or irritability
- Muscle tension and fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating or focusing
- Disrupted sleep patterns
PTSD After Miscarriage
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a potentially debilitating mental illness that can occur in the aftermath of one or more traumatic events, including miscarriage. Symptoms of PTSD can include:
- Recurrent, intrusive memories of the traumatic event
- Disturbing dreams related to the traumatic event
- Intense psychological distress when encountering reminders of the traumatic event
- Sense of detachment from others
- Anhedonia (inability to experience happiness)
- Persistent feelings of shame, guilt, or anger
- Reckless, self-destructive behaviors
A survey of patients at three hospitals in London found that 29% of those who had a miscarriage exhibited symptoms of PTSD one month after the loss of their unborn child.
Suicidal Ideation After Miscarriage
The profound psychological impact of miscarriage can also raise a person’s risk of ending their own life. According to the UK charity Tommy’s, a single miscarriage makes it 3.8 times more likely that a person will die by suicide.
It’s not always easy to know if someone in your life has been having suicidal thoughts. Some people exhibit certain warning signs, while others give little to no outward indication of what they have been considering.
If you suspect that someone in your life is at risk of suicide, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIM) suggests following this five-step plan:
- Ask them if they have been considering suicide. Contrary to an unfortunately persistent myth, this will not increase their risk – but your willingness to have this difficult conversation may convince your loved one to get the help they need.
- Listen to them without judgment. Establishing a safe space where your loved one can honestly talk about what they’ve been going through can make a substantial positive difference.
- Try to keep them safe by limiting their access to items or locations that could factor into a suicide attempt.
- Help them connect with treatment and support. In the U.S., you can access the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988, or by visiting their website. This free service, which is available 24/7, is staffed by trained professionals who can assess your loved one’s needs and provide them with information about appropriate resources in their area.
- Stay in touch with them after the immediate crisis has passed. Sustained support can make a world of difference to someone who is grieving a miscarriage.
How Is Postpartum Depression Treated?
Treatment for someone who has postpartum depression after a miscarriage can take many forms.
Someone who has been experiencing severe symptoms may need to start in a residential program, then step down to a partial hospitalization program (PHP) or an intensive outpatient program (IOP) for additional support. A person whose needs don’t mandate round-the-clock care may be best served by beginning treatment in a PHP or an IOP.
Within these various programs, treatment may involve prescription medication and therapy.
Depending on the type and intensity of a person’s symptoms, they may benefit from antidepressants, anti-anxiety meds, mood stabilizers, or other pharmacological options.
It can take some trial and error to find the right medication at the right dosage for each person, and unfortunately these drugs don’t work for everyone. This highlights the importance of also participating in therapy.
Therapy sessions can help people process their experiences and learn to manage symptoms that haven’t been alleviated via medications. As with meds, the types of therapy that are most beneficial can vary from one person to the next. Options may include:
- Individual psychotherapy
- Group and family therapy
- Couples counseling
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy
- Holistic therapies
There’s no “correct” way to recovery from postpartum depression or other mental health concerns in the aftermath of a miscarriage. What’s most important is finding a provider who will develop an individualized treatment plan that reflects your unique needs, goals, and expectations.
Learn More About Treatment for Postpartum Depression in Atlanta
Valor Behavioral Health offers personalized outpatient programming for adults and adolescents who have been living with postpartum depression and other mental health concerns.
We also provide dual diagnosis services for patients whose mental health struggles are accompanied by co-occurring addictions to alcohol and other substances.
For details about how our team of compassionate experts can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free consultation, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
