Many women experience postpartum depression within a few months of delivering a baby. While often confused with the baby blues, postpartum depression is a serious illness that can last for many months and can interfere with the bonding experience between mother and child. This article explores the symptoms associated with postpartum depression, in addition to discussing potential causes and treatment options.SymptomsThe symptoms of postpartum depression are often intense and interfere with everyday activities. These symptoms include difficulty sleeping, irritability, lack of energy, mood swings, loss of appetite, separating oneself from family and friends and difficulties interacting positively with their baby. If treatment is not sought, postpartum depression can last longer than a year and may develop into postpartum psychosis, an extremely severe mental illness.CausesPostpartum depression cannot be attributed to a single cause. Rather, it is likely that a combination of emotional, physical and lifestyle changes contribute to its development. Since a woman experiences a significant reduction in the hormones estrogen and progesterone shortly after childbirth, it is believed that these hormonal changes strongly contribute to the development of postpartum depression.Postpartum depression can also be caused by lifestyle changes, including receiving inadequate support from family and friends, financial difficulties and the effects of chronic sleep deprivation. Emotional factors such as feeling self-conscious about weight or body shape and having doubts about parenting abilities or caring for a baby can also contribute to postpartum depression.TreatmentSeeking counseling or therapy and taking prescription medications are the primary treatment methods for postpartum depression. Through taking with a therapist, women with postpartum depression will be able to develop coping skills to help them effectively manage their feelings and find healthy ways to solve problems. While individual counseling is a potential treatment, interpersonal counseling will help women receive the emotional support that is needed after childbirth.Antidepressants can provide relief from the symptoms of postpartum depression by affecting the balance of neurotransmitters within the brain. Hormone therapy can replace the loss of estrogen that occurs in women after giving birth, which can also help to treat postpartum depression. In most cases, a combination of therapy and medications are the most effective treatment options.