Health

New Dads Can Get The Baby Blues Too

Between One-Tenth To One-Quarter Of New Dads Get Depressed

Factors: Sleep Deprivation, Hormonal Changes & Financial Pressures

Men Are More Likely To Hide Their Depression From Loved Ones

HOUSTON, Tx (CBS4) ― When we hear about postpartum depression, we usually think it's the mother who suffers but not always. It's estimated as many as one in four new fathers may experience a male form of postpartum depression.

Rob Sandler couldn't wait for his son Asher to be born, but he says his feelings changed not long after the birth.

"It became quite an overwhelming feeling. I felt like a lot of loss of control of my life," Rob said.

It turned out that Rob was suffering from a form of postpartum depression.

"This comes as quite a shock to men who were expecting, you know, this wonderful time of baby bliss," said Will Courtenay, a psychotherapist and founder of Saddaddy.com., who is also a leading expert in the U.S. on paternal postnatal depression.

Courtenay says men often feel increased financial stress after the birth of a child. Add in a lack of sleep and hormonal changes and Courtenay says it's a recipe for depression.

"It's a double whammy. Not only do our testosterone levels go down, but our estrogen levels go up. And these female hormones running through our body can really wreak havoc on a man's functioning," said Courtenay.
 
Although experts aren't exactly sure, they theorize that these fluctuations may be similar to "sympathy pains" that individuals feel when someone they're close to is hurting.

Male postpartum depression is different from the "daddy blues," he said. The signs of full-blown depression are usually more severe and last longer.

Some of the symptoms of postpartum depression are the same as those for generalized depression, such as sadness, a sense of worthlessness and a loss of interest in sex or hobbies.

A rocky relationship with a spouse, a sick or colicky baby, anxiety about becoming a father and a history of depression can also contribute to the condition.

Courtenay mentioned one of the best predictors of whether a man will become depressed is if his spouse is depressed. "Half of all men whose partner has postpartum depression are depressed themselves," Courtenay said.

Men are also more likely to hide their depression from loved ones, he added.

Courtenay recommends getting professional help. That's just what Rob did. He received therapy and started taking anti-depressants and now can't wait to spend time with his baby.

"It's night and day how I feel and I know that's only going to get better as he gets older," Rob said.

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