There are different hormonal changes that affect the physical and emotional aspect of pregnant women in the onset of pregnancy. Moreover, these changes go on even after pregnancy or after childbirth.

These changes are not only limited to the physical aspect, but there are also emotional changes that women experience after giving birth. One of the most unpleasant emotional changes that most women experience after childbirth is post partum depression.

Studies have shown that the quick changes in the levels of estrogen, progesterone and thyroid hormones can affect the emotional state of a women and this is the major cause of post partum depression.

Another major cause for a woman to have post partum depression could be just her family background. Her family history of mood disorders can explain some of her reactions and anxiety disorders.

This emotional experience in post partum depression usually occurs in a range of few days after the delivery to a year.

Some of the common symptoms are crying without reason, extreme anxiety over herself and the baby, fatigue and exhaustion, sudden appetite changes and sleeping patterns, feeling of hopelessness and unworthiness, confusion, sluggishness, frequent high and low mood swings and baby blues.

These symptoms may range from mild episodes to severe ones and this may be experienced alternately on the onset of the depression. Milder post partum depression may include isolation and feeling of guilt and shame. Women will also experience intense anxiety and irrational fears.

The emotions may be associated with rapid heart rate and dizziness. Severe episode may be linked to psychotic features such as infanticide where the mother experience hallucinations to kill the baby or other delusions that give the mother an impression that the baby might be possessed. If a woman has a postpartum episode that has psychotic features, there is a 30 to 50 percent tendency that it will recur in every delivery.

If you have post partum depression you need to be treated as soon as possible when the symptoms are observed. A treatment plan for this depression may include medical evaluation to find out further psychological problems, psychiatric problems, psychotherapy, possible medication, and support group.

It is advised that women should continue therapeutic treatment even though symptoms start to diminish. Researchers found out that there is a tendency that the symptoms will recur if the treatment is prematurely stopped.