Postpartum Depression - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 1013 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2019/04/15 Category Psychology Essay Level High school Tags: Depression Essay Did you like this example? Postpartum depression is triggered by major hormonal changes and other factors such as strong mental tension, childs responsibility, and postpart physical discomfort. Inheritance also has a big influence. Postpartum depression is associated with a multiple decrease in the levels of female sex hormones, especially estrogen. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Postpartum Depression" essay for you Create order How a woman will experience the postpartum period in psychological terms depends on her personality type, on the child its own, the child care experience, and the quality of partner and family support. Much of the psychological instability is due to the high demands on both herself and her partner, the pursuit of perfection, and the restless and still crying child. The psyche of a woman in a puerperium also affects physical problems like exhaustion after heavy labor, anemia, thyroid malfunction or infectious disease. How does postpartum depression arise? Communication between nerve cells in the brain (on the nerve synapses) provides chemical substances called neurotransmitters. In depression, functional deficiency of norepinephrine and serotonin is a function of nerve synapses. In the womans body, the synergism of serotonin and the female sex hormone of estrogen, occurs. In addition, synergism results in a situation where the final effect of the co-acting components is greater than the sum of the effects of the components. That is why women are more prone to depression than men, and postpartum when there is a multiple decrease in estrogen levels will make depression to occur much easier. Postpartum depression suffers 10-15% of mothers, especially single mothers without family background. It may occur suddenly or gradually at any time during the first six months after birth of a child. The first risk period is after the arrival from the hospital when a woman has to take care of the child but also the household. Generally, however, it occurs 3 to 4 weeks after birth of a child. At that time, intensive of support from their family members declines. It may also begin when the woman stops breastfeeding or the first menstrual period occurs. Depressed mothers are tired, crying and irritated, or have strong mood swings, when the excellent mood quickly changes depression. They are unable to take care of their child, suffer from anorexia, intestinal and biliary problems, and sleep disorders (insomnia or dreadful dreams). Some women are overly concerned, they are afraid of the health of their child. Other depressing mothers feel guilty about being bad and incompetent mothers. In deeper postpartum depression, a mother refuses to take care of her child, nursing her/him, the child is indifferent to her or, on the other side, is aggressive to him/her and may endanger his/her life. Also if mother suffers from more serious psychological disorder, postpartum or lactation psychosis may occur. Its occurrence is rare, affecting 0.1 0.2% of women. These are severe changes in mothers behavior accompanied by hallucinations. Women are not only depressed but also restless and disoriented (completely out of reality). Lactation psychosis u sually breaks out from 3rd to 14th day after birth. Lastly, some mothers have suicidal thoughts. Postpartum depression can lead to disruption of the relationship between mother and child. Untreated disorder damages and slows the childs psychological, emotional and intellectual development. It has been shown that children of depressed mothers have reduced cognitive functions in their fourth year of life, such as memory deficits, attention deficit disorder, unable to adequately process new information, etc. Mother depression can lead to an increased risk of depressive and anxiety in a later life. Postpartum depression is not diagnosed in half of the affected mothers. Therefore, the gynecologist should evaluate the mothers psychic attrition at the first puerperium check. To find out what the mothers diagnose is the routine depression test is not recommended because women in the puerperium usually have depressive mood. A screening method is used to screen the Edinburgh scale of postpartum depression. This is a series of ten questions in which the mother assesses her behavior, moods and feelings with a four-point scale (0 to 3 points). If a woman reaches 12 or more points, she is probably suffering from postpartum depression. The treatment of lighter depression can be guided by a gynecologist himself. Women suffering from a heavier form of postpartum depression should be in the care of a mental health expert, a psychiatrist. If the mother or child is at risk, immediate hospitalization at the psychiatric clinic is required. Postpartum depression requires therapy. Depending on the intensity of depression, medication, psychotherapy and hormonal treatment are combined. Mild and moderate forms of depression are treated with psychotherapy. For more serious conditions, a combination of antidepressants and intensive psychotherapy is appropriate. Hormonal therapy can strengthen the effect of both psychotherapy and medication in postpartum depression. The specific drugs in the treatment of postpartum depression are antidepressants. In postpartum depression, SSRI antidepressants are selected to prevent serotonin reuptake. Individual antidepressants are excreted to the breast milk in different degrees. The most suitable antidepressants are Ascentra, Zoloft, Sertralin, Parolex and Fevarin, because their levels in breast-fed infants blood are very low or almost undetectable. The lowest level of antidepressants in infants blood is when given Sertraline (in Asentra, Zoloft, Sertralin). It is recommended to take the medicine immediately after breast-feeding. Antidepressants do not work immediately, the improvement of mood occurs after 2-3 weeks of continuous treatment, full effect after 4 weeks. From psychotherapeutic methods, interpersonal and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy is the most successful treatment. It is believed that psychotherapy makes changes in neural cell communication, including the influence of neurotransmitter function. In cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy, the psychotherapist helps a woman to change her thoughts, opinions, and attitudes to induce a change in her behavior. It is assumed that the change of attitude will change the womans view on the world. Interpersonal psychotherapy is based on psychoanalysis. During treatment, an ill woman tries to understand the relationship between current difficulties and past experience and their effect on mental health. Because postpartum depression is associated with decrease of estrogen levels in womens blood, hormone therapy can be used in the treatment. Trans dermally applied estradiol in preparations Dermestril, Estraderm, Estrahexal, Estrapatch or Systen can enhance the effect of antidepressants and psychotherapy.

Comparison within the Context of Romanticism within the Four Poems Free Essay Example, 1250 words

The poems by Keats and Wordsworth will be analyzed under the rubric of poems that approach emotions by otherwise dark and/or mysterious means. In this way, Keats makes an Ode to Melancholy as a praiseworthy and thoughtful rendition of how sorrow and sadness integrate within the realm of human emotions. Conversely, Byron and Blake both have a brighter perspective they discuss within the confines of the very same subject matter and theme. By means of comparison and contrast of these four different poems, this analysis will seek to provide a level of discussion and contrast between how the respective authors deal with similar topics and take widely different views concerning the outlook that these emotions portend. Within the opening lines to Ode to Melancholy , Keats identifies sadness and the necessary suffering and sorrow that is accompanied with it. However, rather than seeking to paint a brighter picture of hope for the future or an explanation of how suffering and sadness are merely temporal and fleeting, the author instead chooses to focus upon the understanding and acceptance of suffering and sadness. Although such an approach can be understood as fundamental concepts of Eastern traditions, it was somewhat out of place for Keats own time. Imploring the reader to integrate with the full depth of sorrow and sadness, not to take the easy way out, to drink the poison without hesitation, Keats presents a very dark representation of the means whereby the individual should accept the constraints of sadness and sorrow/melancholy, and seek to come to a more full and complete appreciation for how these emotions can define the approach and life of the sufferer. In a similar way, William Wordsworth s poem, She Dwelt among the Untrodden Ways , discusses the sorrowful topic of the death of a woman all but unloved by anyone besides the author. Again, rather than dwelling on the brighter topics of redemption and the hope of an afterlife, a common theme within the period in question, Wordsworth instead focuses on the level of derision, ridicule, and ostracism that the woman faced as a function of her particularly dark and morose outlook on life. We will write a custom essay sample on Comparison within the Context of Romanticism within the Four Poems or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now

The Female Characters Of Shakespeare s Hamlet - 970 Words

Women have played small roles in society in the past. In social, economical, and political standings. Therefore in Shakespeare’s Hamlet the women in the play, their roles are not portrayed as important. The female characters in the play such as Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother and Ophelia Hamlet’s lover are complicated, and very much opposite of one another. Although these are two different characters Shakespeare portrays them in a negative matter in their small roles. Their acceptance in the world, and their grief is not allowed by the men in their life, or of the world. The women have no chance for redemption in the play, follow the demands, and decisions the men make for them. Gertrude in the play is Hamlet’s mother. Her character is in the middle of the conflict of all the family drama. Throughout the play she continues to keep the conflict between Hamlet and Claudius as if she is innocent to not really knowing of the issues going on.(University of Californi a Santa Cruz 1).Of course the marriage arrangement upsets Hamlet, because it had happened so soon after the death of his father. Gertrude being a woman she might have married Claudius for a sense of security from a man, or guidance with owning the kingdom. However she also shows independence (Rogers 1) according to Rogers Gertrude rebels against her religion, and the authority of her newlywed husband Claudius. In the scene he tells Gertrude to not drink from the cup, and she proceeds to do so. As for her religion theShow MoreRelatedThe Profound Impact Of Female Characters Of Shakespeare s Hamlet930 Words   |  4 PagesProfound Impact of Female Characters in Hamlet How much of an impact can the women in a man’s life have on his thoughts and actions? 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Censorship of the grapes of wr Essay Example For Students

Censorship of the grapes of wr Essay The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is considered a classic novel by many in the literary field. The trials and tribulations of the Joad family and other migrants is told throughout this novel. In order to gain a perspective into the lives of Oakies, Steinbeck uses themes and language of the troubling times of the Great Depression. Some of these aspects are critiqued because of their vulgarity and adult nature. In some places, The Grapes of Wrath has been edited or banned. These challenges undermine Steinbecks attempts to add reality to the novel and are unjustified. In 1939, The Grapes of Wrath was published and came under fire for its content. Vulgarity and the misrepresentation of a preacher were the main complaints that led to the ban and burning of the novel from St. Louis, Missouri libraries in September 1939. Vulgarity may be prevalent in the book, but it has its purpose. Steinbeck used some vulgar terms to accurately represent the lingo and slang that was used by the people of the 1930s. Most of the terms that were considered vulgar may be a bit distasteful, but is nothing that is not heard on the streets today. Extreme profanity is not extraneous in the novel, in fact, it is tame compared to slang terms used today. Casy, the former preacher that was traveling with the Joads, is not be given the connotation as the most holy man. Casy did not consider himself a minister at the time The Grapes of Wrath takes place. But I aint a preacher no more is spoken many times by Casy in denial that he is a man of the cloth. Indeed, Casy is brutally ki lled in the novel, but it does not go into graphic, violent detail. Once again, Casys feelings against the employers and government were common to the time and were used to state that idea. Another point of controversy lies on The Grapes of Wraths closing sequence. In this finale, an old man nurses from Rose of Sharon, a young women whose baby was delivered stillborn. Some believe this is pornographic, sexually oriented, and improper, especially for young children. In fact in some states, the sequence is taken out. This sequence may be a vulgar, but it is an essential element to the novel and is in no way pornographic. It shows the desperation of the migrants to do anything to survive, no matter what the implications may entail. Those who are missing this ending, such as those who read editions in Texas, are missing this important element of The Grapes of Wrath. These readers may never fully understand the lives of migrants in the 1930s . The novel may have some adult content, but it was never meant to be read by young children. The target audience, ages over 14, can look beyond the visual picture and fully ascertain the sections deeper meaning. Others may critique Steinbecks use of socialistic and anti-government messages. During the 1930s, these ideas were very common. In fact, Upton Sinclair, a socialist writer, was nearly elected governor of California. Living conditions, the opposition between the Californians and the Oakies, and the inability to break out of the depression all added to beliefs of the times. Steinbeck was not advocating socialism, he was just reflecting the times. Without these individual beliefs of the reds and other people that showed either socialistic or anti-establishment messages, the reader would get a dry, unfulfilled perspective of the lives of people during the Great Depression. Censorship does have its place in society. There are many things that are too risqu, degrading, and should not be shown. Pornography, extreme sexual content, and extreme gratuitous violence does not have its place in literature or in society. The Grapes of Wrath does not have any of these above aspects. Of those who choose to ban this book and other works of literature with questionable themes, many of them are wrapped up in political correctness. In literature, life should be shown like they it is, not as someone would like it to be. As much as political correctness advocates would like to change things for the better, they cannot change the past no matter how hard they try.