Perinatal depression and anxiety BLOOMS THE CHEMIST IS PROUD TO BE WORKING WITH GIDGET FOUNDATION AUSTRALIA WHO SUPPORT THE EMOTIONAL WELLBEING OF EXPECTANT AND NEW PARENTS NATIONALLY. WE SPOKE WITH CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST & THE CLINICAL TEAM LEADER AT GIDGET FOUNDATION AUSTRALIA, CHRIS BARNES, ABOUT PERINATAL DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY.
Q. WHAT IS PERINATAL DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY (PNDA)?
Q. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF PNDA?
PNDA is a diagnoseable medical condition and is temporary and treatable. It occurs when symptoms of depression and anxiety affect an expectant or new parent for two weeks or more and it greatly affects their daily functioning. It includes a wide array of symptoms and occurs when bad days seriously outnumber the good. One in five mums and one in 10 dads experience PNDA in Australia and this can be a result of biological, psychological, and social factors.
Symptoms can include: low mood, irritability, feeling of numbness, no connection to baby and no feelings of joy, tearfulness, restlessness, sleep and appetite changes, feelings of grief, anger, hopelessness, physical symptoms such a headaches, sweaty palms, heart palpitations, and can even include thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
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