You’ve started a new chapter of your life, and a new chapter comes with new challenges to handle – perhaps quite a few of them. These changes and challenges can lead to peripartum depression, which can be difficult to treat while taking care of a new baby. Fortunately, treatment doesn’t have to take you away from your child or home. Lightfully offers a Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (vIOP) and a Virtual Partial Hospitalization Program (vPHP) that can help new moms with postpartum depression.
What is peripartum depression?
Peripartum depression, formerly “postpartum depression,” is a depressive disorder similar to major depressive disorder (depression) or seasonal affective disorder. This form of depression occurs while you are pregnant or after you give birth. In a time when you may expect to be joyful, you might:
- Feel like you aren’t bonding with your baby
- Have fears about your child or parenting
- Experience thoughts about death or suicide
- Lose interest in things you enjoyed previously
- Notice more tiredness than is normal for a new parent
- Change sleeping or eating habits unintentionally
If you’re at risk of harming yourself, call or text 988, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for immediate support.
Many healthy new parents are up all night taking care of their babies. They make a few changes to their eating habits while busy, too. However, when you need postpartum depression help, you might lie awake with insomnia or feel an overwhelming need to sleep. You may have no appetite or an increased appetite that doesn’t match the energy you spend.
Sleeping and eating changes aren’t the only signs of peripartum depression that can be mistaken for the challenges of parenting. It may be normal to be nervous about a new baby, especially for a first-time parent. Peripartum depression can provoke deep, lasting fear, sadness or apathy.
To begin recovering from this condition, you can:
Consult a professional about online mental health care
You shouldn’t have to disrupt your entire routine to get care, especially when you’re taking care of an infant and dealing with peripartum depression symptoms. Driving to a therapist’s office and spending long appointments away from home may be one of the last things you want to do. Instead of going through that, you can take advantage of online treatment.
You can reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team at Lightfully, and we’ll help you take the first steps toward a treatment plan tailored to your needs. Our compassionate and experienced clinicians will address your peripartum depression and any co-occurring conditions. We even offer virtual care in several forms, including a Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (vIOP) and Virtual Partial Hospitalization Program (vPHP).
Your clinician will use our Precision Care Model (PCM) to develop an approach to your mental health. This model incorporates multiple interventions to address your most urgent needs and support your long-term mental well-being.
Join Lightfully’s Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program
A vIOP is many patients’ steppingstone into outpatient treatment. Some are entering mental health care for the first time; others are transitioning from inpatient to outpatient care. Lightfully’s online program includes the support of professionals as well as a peer group. Our program typically lasts for about two weeks.
If you participate in the vIOP, you’ll meet with a primary therapist and a case manager every week. You’ll see a psychiatrist and care team as needed.
You’ll join other patients for group sessions 10 to 15 times per week. Participants will share mutual support, encouragement and learning while a licensed professional facilitates each session.
Participate in our Virtual Partial Hospitalization Program
The next step up in care is a vPHP. Lightfully’s vPHP has a lot in common with our vIOP, but this program lasts for about 20 days instead of 14. Either program can continue beyond this estimated time frame.
Each week includes one case manager meeting and two primary therapist appointments. Every other week, one of the primary therapist appointments will include your family. You’ll see a psychiatrist as needed and join your care team online monthly.
Like a person participating in the vIOP, you’ll join an online group session 10 to 15 times each week. Peer support can provide an important connection to people who share similar difficulties. Plus, it can give you additional social support in the comfort of your own home. Find out more about what to expect in this blog article.
Take the next step forward
When you’re ready to take the first step toward recovery from peripartum depression, a mental health care provider can be part of your support team. The professionals at Lightfully are here to provide you with effective treatment and walk with you while you move forward in your mental health journey.
You’ve carried this long enough — let us help lighten the load. Connect with our Admissions Concierge Team and discover a treatment plan built just for you.
