Why does postpartum depression occur? The reasons are very complicated!

Postpartum depression is very harmful and difficult to treat. The main reason is that the factors that cause postpartum depression are relatively complex. For example, women's endocrine disorders, severe mood swings, or perfectionism can all lead to this mental illness.

1. Perfectionist personality

Because perfectionist women have unrealistic expectations of postpartum motherhood and are reluctant to seek help when they encounter difficulties, they may have difficulty adjusting to being a new mother. And if husbands rarely help take care of children or women lack their husbands' emotional support, they will feel tremendous pressure.

2. Severe mood swings during pregnancy

Severe mood swings during pregnancy, such as moving, the death of a loved one, or war, can make pregnant women more susceptible to postpartum depression. Many cases have shown that most women already show signs of postpartum depression during pregnancy, and many of them will continue to experience worsening depression after childbirth.

3. Impact of endocrine changes

During the process of pregnancy and childbirth, the endocrine environment in the body undergoes great changes, especially within 24 hours after delivery. The drastic changes in hormone levels in the body are the biological basis for the occurrence of postpartum depression. Studies have found that the release of placental steroids reaches its highest level before delivery, and patients appear to be in a good mood; when the secretion of placental steroids suddenly decreases after delivery, patients appear depressed.

4. Genetic factors

The incidence of postpartum depression is high among mothers with a family history of mental illness, especially those with a family history of depression, which suggests that family genetics may affect a woman's susceptibility to depression and her personality.

5. Physical illness becomes a triggering factor

Mothers with physical illness or disability may develop postpartum depression, especially infection or fever, which may have a certain impact on the onset of postpartum depression. In addition, the susceptibility of central nervous system function and the influence of emotion and motor information processing and regulation system (such as dopamine) may be related to the occurrence of postpartum depression.