Seeking postpartum depression treatment is a sign of strength and hope. If your life has been impacted by the symptoms and effects of postpartum depression, Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center is here for you. When you get the individualized treatment you deserve, you can regain control of your thoughts and actions and experience improved health.

What Is Postpartum Depression?

Postpartum depression is a type of major depressive disorder that develops while a woman is pregnant or within a few weeks after she has given birth. Anyone who gives birth, including adolescent girls and adult women, can develop postpartum depression.

As described by the U.S. Office on Women’s Health (OWH), postpartum depression is a serious illness. Postpartum depression, the OWH emphasizes, is more than “the baby blues.” If you have been experiencing overwhelming sadness, emotional emptiness, and other distressing emotions for two weeks or more, you may be struggling with symptoms of postpartum depression.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 13.2% of women who give birth, or 1 of every 8 new mothers, will struggle with the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression. In some states, the CDC reports, the rate of postpartum depression is higher than 20%.

If you have developed postpartum depression symptoms, please know that this does not mean you are a weak person or a bad mother. Shame and self-doubt can be symptoms of postpartum depression, but having this disorder is nothing to be ashamed of. Millions of women experience postpartum depression. You are far from alone, and help is available.

When you get effective individualized treatment for postpartum depression, you can achieve improved health and experience the full joy of being a new mom.

Common Signs & Symptoms of Postpartum Depression

The signs and symptoms of postpartum depression can vary from woman to woman. The following are some of the more common physical, mental, and behavioral symptoms of postpartum depression:

A sense of being overwhelmed
Feelings of inadequacy, helplessness, and guilt
Difficulty concentrating, focusing, and making decisions
Significant change in appetite, which can include eating much more or much less than usual
Insomnia (inability to sleep) or hypersomnia (sleeping too much)
Mood swings
Extreme sadness
Anxiety and irritability
Loss of self-confidence and self-esteem
Viewing your baby or your partner with anger or resentment
Fear that you are being judged negatively by others
Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby

Any girl or woman who exhibits signs or symptoms of postpartum depression should be brought to the attention of a qualified healthcare provider. When you receive individualized care at a postpartum depression treatment center, your life can get much better.

Potential Effects of Postpartum Depression

It is no exaggeration to say that postpartum depression can have a devastating impact on a woman’s life.

The symptoms of postpartum depression can affect your physical health and your emotional well-being. It can alter how you feel about yourself and your baby, and it can change how you interact with others. In short, postpartum depression can undermine your ability to live a healthy and satisfying life.

The potential effects of postpartum depression include:

Strained relationships with your partner and other loved ones
Difficulty bonding with your baby
Physical health problems due to poor self-care
Onset or worsening of other mental health symptoms
Substance use and addiction
Becoming isolated
Overwhelming sense of hopelessness
Self-harm
Thoughts of suicide

When you get postpartum depression treatment, you can limit your risk for the negative effects of postpartum depression. While you’re in treatment, you can also begin to heal from any effects of postpartum depression you’ve already experienced.

Levels of Care for Postpartum Depression

Our postpartum depression treatment center offers two levels of care. Our residential program serves adolescent girls ages 12-17 and adult women age 18 and older. Our partial hospitalization program (PHP) treats adult women.

Residential treatment for postpartum depression features round-the-clock care. You will live at our center while you are receiving treatment for postpartum depression so that you can focus your full attention on making progress toward improved health. Your individualized postpartum depression treatment will be provided by a team of experienced and compassionate professionals.

At the PHP level, you will participate in full days of treatment for postpartum depression. When our PHP is not in session, you can return home, or you may choose to stay in one of our on-campus residences. When you receive postpartum depression treatment at this level, you will have opportunities to practice your new skills in real-world settings while still benefiting from structured clinical support.

Our team can explain the features and benefits of postpartum depression treatment at both levels and help you decide which option is right for you.

Types of Postpartum Depression Treatment

Each woman who struggles with postpartum depression is impacted in a unique way. And each woman responds differently to the various types of treatment for postpartum depression.

This is why it’s so important to get help at a postpartum depression treatment center that can develop an individualized plan just for you. At Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center, your plan may include the following types of treatment for postpartum depression:

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
Motivational interviewing
Individual, group, and family sessions
Experiential therapies

Certain prescription medications can ease some of the symptoms of postpartum depression. If your postpartum depression treatment team determines that you can benefit from medication, they will discuss this matter with you and request your consent.

How to Get Treatment for Postpartum Depression

Your path to postpartum depression treatment can begin with a phone call. Here is a brief overview of the steps that will lead you to our postpartum depression treatment center:

Contact us at your convenience. A member of our team is available 24/7 to take your call.
After a conversation with one of our admissions counselors, you can complete an assessment over the phone.
If you determine that our treatment center is the ideal place for you, we’ll guide you through our admissions process.
When you arrive at our postpartum depression treatment center, you’ll meet our staff and other residents and become familiar with our treatment environment.
You will complete medical and psychological evaluations so that we can develop your individualized postpartum depression treatment plan.
Once your plan is in place, you’ll be ready to fully engage in treatment for postpartum depression.