Men Also Suffer From Postpartum Depression, Part 2

Note: This is Part 2 of a 2-part series about male postpartum depression. You can read Part 1 here.

So yes, we've established that men do suffer from postpartum depression too. Just how many? According to this WSJ article, more than 1 in 10 new fathers will become depressed:

Researchers from the Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk sought to get an accurate estimate for what percentage of men experience depression in the year after their child was born, using commonly accepted depression measures. They conducted a statistical review of 43 previously published studies involving 28,000 male and female adults.

Some 10.4% of fathers experience depression during the postpartum period, the analysis showed. In the general population, 4.8% of men are believed depressed at any given point in time, according to government data.

But what causes men to become depressed after the birth of their child? In women, as I understand it, the postpartum depression (PPD) is caused by the hormonal changes their bodies go through after giving birth. At least, that's the simple explanation.

In men, it might be a little harder to pin down. I did read this article that says estrogen levels in men increase after their baby is born and testosterone levels decrease. Some think it's an evolutionary thing; a mechanism to keep men from running off after their baby is born.

For me, a lot of the depression came from feeling so overwhelmed in such a short amount of time. One day Susan and I are doing our own thing, and the next day we are dealing with diaper changes, feedings, lack of sleep and trying to care for this little baby that demands so much.

There is a feeling of hopelessness, that things will never return to normal. There is also a feeling of being trapped. There is no light at the end of the tunnel. I also felt out of control, never knowing when he'd be crying or for what reason (for example).

It probably took me a good six months to begin to calm down. At the six month mark, I realized we were halfway to a year and everyone told me that it's around six months when a lot of babies start developing fast.

And it's true! He did develop fast after hitting the six month mark. The more he developed, the easier things seemed to get. Don't get me wrong, it was still a challenge and I still yearned for my old life. But the depression became more manageable.

My point in all this is that if you are a guy feeling depressed after the birth of your baby, you're not alone. Men all over the world go through this. It's nothing to be ashamed of.

If your depression is getting in the way of your every day life, then you need help. Talk to your doctor. See a therapist. Join a support group. Whatever you do, don't suffer alone.