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Postnatal Depression Treatment with CBT
CBT for Post-natal Depression
There is a growing awareness that a significant number of women become depressed following the birth of a child. Many factors may account for the development of depression including: hormonal factors, the stresses associated with parenting a young baby, difficulties adjusting to role changes, lack of sleep, relationship issues, a prior history of depression or negative life events, etc.
Women who are depressed tend to develop irrational and unhelpful patterns of thinking. These negative or irrational thoughts tend to lead to further depressed feelings, the depressed feelings lead to further negative thinking, and so on. This cycle can often accelerate over time so that a person's depression deepens.
A similar pattern can occur with a their behaviour. Once depressed people tend to lose motivation, energy, and interest. As a result they become less active and engage in less activity. Doing things makes us feel a sense of achievement which enhances our mood - hence decreasing our activity level can lead to an increase in depressed mood. As well as impaired motivation, people who are depressed often feel emotionally fragile and therefore avoid social interaction - they feel too vulnerable to mix with others. However we are social beings, and mixing with others is important to our sense of self-worth and self-confidence. The tendancy to avoid social interaction therefore becomes another factor to feed the depression.
So the effects of depression also become things that maintain it, and a depressed person becomes caught in a vicious cycle.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Post Natal Depression involves teaching a person skills to break out of that cycle. In CBT people learn to challenge their negative thoughts and beliefs.
To make an appointment for individual CBT for Post Natal Depression please call our office on 9621 7775.
Rebates of $115.05 per 50 minute consultation are now available to those with appropriate referrals. See "Fees & Medicare" section.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information only and should not be relied on for treatment. You should speak to a Psychologist to clarify the nature of any problems you have and the most appropriate treatment.
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