What Effect Does Postpartum Depression Have on Addiction Recovery in NJ?

What effect does postpartum depression have on addiction recovery in NJ? Postpartum depression will not prevent you from getting addiction recovery help. With dual diagnosis treatment and other techniques and services, this condition will not interfere with your sobriety goals much at all. This article will help guide you towards the help you need.

Postpartum Depression

This is a debilitating condition that occurs shortly after the birth of a child. It’s sometimes called the baby blues, but baby blues, postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis are three distinct conditions. The baby blues are common among new mothers. It’s a syndrome that appears a few days after childbirth and may last for up to two weeks. New mothers may feel anxious and may experience crying spells, mood swings and insomnia. The baby blues is a relatively mild, self-limiting condition that clears on its own as hormone levels stabilize. Feelings of depression persisting beyond two weeks are not just the baby blues. This is postpartum depression. This condition is more severe and may present with the following symptoms:

  • Feeling sad and worthless
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Difficulty bonding with your infant
  • Negative thoughts about your ability as a mother
  • Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
  • Panic attacks
  • Crying jags that recur and may last for hours

Postpartum depression is treatable. So is substance abuse. If you’re a new mother with a substance abuse problem and post partum depression, you need specialized care that addresses and treats both issues. Your depression may drive you to self-medicate, which makes the situation even worse. Your baby needs you. You have two people to care for. You have to make decisions for you, your baby and your other children if you have any. No wonder you’re overwhelmed. Anyone would be.

Postpartum depression is partly caused by a dramatic drop in pregnancy hormones, which were at very high levels to help maintain the pregnancy. Thyroid hormones may also be deranged during this period, which adds to the scope of the depression. Until these hormones normalize, you may need help. Counseling and antidepressants are the most common treatments. You can receive this treatment as part of drug rehab. When a client has both a substance abuse problem and a mental health disorder or other physical condition, this is called a dual diagnosis.

Dual Diagnosis in New Jersey

Many drug rehabs in New Jersey provide dual diagnosis treatment. In fact, a special program available in central and southeastern New Jersey offers safe housing for you and your family while you’re getting substance abuse treatment. As a dual diagnosis client, you will receive treatment for both your postpartum depression and your drug abuse. This special program serves such New Jersey cities as Trenton, Atlantic City, Burlington, Fort Dix, Ocean City, Pleasantville and Princeton. Other services this program offers include:

  • Child care
  • Legal assistance
  • Educational assistance
  • Employment training
  • Food and clothing
  • Medication assisted treatment

Medication Assisted Treatment

Antidepressants are typically very effective for depression. They sometimes take up to two weeks or more to have their full effect. You will receive psychological and other kinds of support in the interim. These medications are typically safe to take if you’re breastfeeding, but your physician will make that individual determination for you. Dual diagnosis treatment means that your postpartum depression will have little effect on your addiction recovery. For opioid users, medications like buprenorphine and methadone are available. Both of these act as substitutes for your opioid drug of choice. They help to keep drug cravings at bay and prevent opioid withdrawal symptoms, allowing you to focus on your recovery. Both medications can be either gradually discontinued or taken indefinitely. Everyone is different. Some people need medication for a long time. Others can stop after awhile. It’s not about right or wrong. It’s about what you as an individual need to maintain your sobriety in the long term.

Call us for Help

If you’re a new mother struggling with a newborn, substance abuse and postpartum depression, you will need help. It’s too much for one person to handle alone. Your baby needs and deserves a sober, stable parent. We are a group of trained drug counselors, and we are available 24 hours a day. We will listen to you and use our knowledge and resources to locate the best treatment resources for you and your baby. Just call us at 833-610-1174. We’re here to listen and help you find some real solutions for your future success.