What is Male Postpartum Depression: Causes, Signs and Treatment

When a newborn is about to be introduced into a household, a lot of planning goes into it. However, one of the aspects that some couples may overlook is the depression that might occur. 

Some fathers experience a change in mood and functionality after the baby is born, and they might be reluctant to share how they feel. You will learn what men with postpartum depression go through and how they can seek help.

What does postpartum depression mean?

Postpartum depression is a type of depression that occurs after the birth of a baby. This depression, often characterized by fatigue, emotional highs and lows, and guilt, doesn’t affect everyone. 

People who experience this depression might find it challenging to care for their newborn, and they are often advised to seek help from their healthcare provider. 

Do men have postpartum depression?

After pregnancy, women are likely to suffer from different disorders and need sufficient help to care for their newborns. Some fathers may also experience postpartum depression due to a number of reasons. 

Men with postpartum depression may experience this issue for reasons like being a father for the first time, financial problems, sleep deprivation, mental health problems, etc. 

What are the key differences between Female & Male PPD?

Postpartum depression occurs in men and women, and even if there are some similarities, there are differences in how they manifest. 

Men may experience more anger and irritability, while women might feel pressured to handle some caregiving duties. When it comes to PPD, women have more support networks than men, leaving the latter to feel isolated during their experiences. 

Women experience PPD due to hormonal changes, psychological adjustments of motherhood, stress of childbirth, etc. While men experience PPD because of sleep deprivation, financial worries, increased stress, etc.

This book by Linda Sebastian titled Overcoming Postpartum Depression and Anxiety is useful for both mothers and fathers who might be finding it hard to cope after the arrival of their newborn. 

Causes of Men Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression in men is caused by a combination of various factors- psychological, biological, and environmental. 

Fear and anxiety associated with being a father can make men experience PPD. When the baby arrives, men might struggle with getting their partner’s affection, emotional availability, and attention. 

• Just like women, men can experience hormonal changes during pregnancy and after childbirth, which can contribute to mood fluctuations and depressive symptoms.
• Men might experience feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and stress due to the new responsibilities of fatherhood and the changes in their relationship dynamics.
• The demands of caring for a newborn, including disrupted sleep patterns, can lead to sleep deprivation in men, which is a known risk factor for depression.
• Limited social support, either from partners, family, or friends, can increase the likelihood of postpartum depression in men as they may feel isolated and overwhelmed.
• Men with a personal or family history of depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders might be more susceptible to developing postpartum depression after becoming fathers.

11 symptoms of Postpartum Depression in men

Men with postpartum depression experience varying symptoms that may indicate struggles or challenges associated with life after the birth of a newborn.

Some of the symptoms of men with postpartum depression are:

1. Regular sadness

One of the ways to spot men with postpartum depression is the frequent sadness that comes with it. Some of them experience sadness without being able to trace the root cause.

2. Irritability

Men with postpartum depression may experience irritability. They might get easily frustrated and annoyed, having low tolerance levels.

3. Lack of energy

If a man struggles with postpartum depression, he will have low energy levels characterised by constant tiredness and reduced mental and physical performance. 

4. Loss of interest in pleasurable activities

Men with postpartum depression may find it hard to participate in activities they once enjoyed. They may give excuses not to partake in them.

5. Appetite changes

When it comes to spotting ppd in men, you will notice changes in appetite. Some of them may either eat too much or lose interest in eating due to unknown reasons.

6. Weight changes

One of the symptoms of post partum depression in men is weight changes. Some of them may gain excess weight, while others may lose weight.

7. Physical symptoms

Men with postpartum depression are likely to experience physical symptoms like body aches, pains, physical restlessness, etc. 

8. Sleep pattern changes

Concerning male postpartum anxiety or depression, they are likely to experience changes in their sleep patterns. They might struggle with lacking enough sleep or sleeping excessively. 

9. Suicidal thoughts

One of the ways to know that a man is struggling with postpartum depression is when they process suicidal thoughts. They might think of finding different ways not to exist anymore.

10. Withdrawal from social circles

When someone becomes uninterested in staying around social circles, it might indicate that they are struggling with postpartum depression. Men experiencing this may see no reason to stay around people and prefer their private space. 

11. Inability to concentrate

Men with ppd will find it hard to concentrate on something. Their minds will keep wandering from place to place, event to event, etc. This might affect their productivity at work.

9 tips to cope with Men Postpartum Depression

If you are struggling with postpartum depression as a man,  here are some ways to help you cope.

1. Acknowledge your feelings

Coming to terms with how you feel is the primary step. When you acknowledge that you are struggling with something, it becomes easier to seek help. 

2. Learn more about postpartum depression

If you are struggling with depression after the birth of your newborn, it is best to learn more about the situation and how you can feel better with time.

3. Communicate with your partner

It is important for men with ppd to let their partner know what they are experiencing. This would help them understand the reason for your behaviors and help with tolerating each other.

Watch this video on how to communicate effectively with your partner:

4. Get professional help

Postpartum depression is best treated when you seek help from a professional therapist or counselor. They can diagnose the root cause and proffer solutions to help you get better. 

5. Engage in self-care activities

When your newborn arrives and you begin to struggle with depression, consider paying more attention to self-care activities that help you feel better. You might feel overwhelmed with the pregnancy process, and helping yourself relax could mitigate depression symptoms.

6. Avoid setting unrealistic expectations

One of the reasons why you may be struggling with postpartum depression could be your far-fetched expectations. It would be best to review your goals or expectations and check if you are unduly pressurized or not.

7. Find support groups

Consider looking out for support groups where there are other men with postpartum depression. You might be able to get comforted after listening to the stories of other men in your shoes.

8. Reduce your stressors

Depression symptoms might worsen if you don’t pay attention to your stressors. Look out for what stresses you, and attempt to eliminate or reduce them.

9. Limit food substances that worsen depression

Work closely with your health provider and dietician to avoid food substances that can aggravate postpartum depression. 

 

Commonly asked questions

postpartum depression is not exclusive to women, and men can also experience this condition. Check out this section to learn more about male postpartum depression.

• How common is Men Postpartum Depression?

Men with postpartum depression are not as common as women who experience postpartum depression. Male postpartum depression symptoms may occur shortly after the birth of a newborn and fade off gradually.

• Why does postpartum depression seem to affect more men?

In reality, postpartum depression affects more women than men. This is because, apart from the newborn, they are the only individuals directly involved in the delivery process.

• What are the PPD risk factors in Men?

Postpartum depression risk factors vary across men, and some of them include family history, relationship problems, absence of social support, unplanned pregnancy, etc. 

• How does PPD impact Men?

While men are not directly affected by pregnancy, some of them experience postpartum depression in different ways. They might go through anxiety, irritability, etc. 

• What are the characteristic features of postpartum depression

Some of the characteristic features of postpartum depression are constant sadness, fatigue, changes in weight and appetite, inability to make decisions, irritability, etc.

Conclusion

After reading this piece, men with postpartum depression can easily identify the symptoms and know how to cope with it. Postpartum depression, if left unchecked, can affect the dynamics of the home. Hence, consider seeing a relationship counselor or therapist for help. 

To learn more about postpartum depression in men, check out this robust research by Jonathan Scarff.