When a new mom welcomes their baby, newborn photoshoots often follow close behind. These ethereal shots of a peacefully sleeping infant, a sun-drenched nursery, and glowing parents create a serene scene. And while those images capture a sweet moment in time, they certainly don\u2019t tell the whole story. Katie Holter, a 36-year-old mom from Wisconsin, knows that well.<\/p>\n
When she brought her first baby home, she remembers feeling less like a goddess and more like a hot mess. \u201cShowering, brushing my teeth, changing my clothes\u2014all of it felt like a chore,\u201d says Holter. \u201cI would wear the same outfit until somebody forced me to change because that is how little I cared. I was so deep in survival mode that every single thing felt like a huge task.\u201d<\/p>\n
Battling a colicky baby, a dismissive pediatrician, and a wave of postpartum hormones tearing through her body, Holter says her negative thoughts continued to grow until they felt like a dark cloud following her wherever she went.<\/p>\n
She was diagnosed with postpartum depression (PPD), a common perinatal mental health condition that affects 10 to 15 percent of new moms, according to the Cleveland Clinic<\/a>. PPD can turn what society tells you is supposed to be a joyful entrance into motherhood into a daily mix of rage, anxiety, fear, and self-doubt.<\/p>\n When you\u2019re working through PPD, it can be hard to tell if you\u2019re actually getting better \u2014 especially because recovery can be gradual, non-linear, and subtle. Knowing what signs to look for can help you recognize (and celebrate!) progress, even when it doesn\u2019t feel like a dramatic transformation. For Holter, it was as simple as a renewed desire to swap out her seasonal decor again \u2014 something she loved doing before having kids.<\/p>\n \u201cIt sounds like such a small thing, but it was one of the first times I realized I was starting to feel like myself again,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Healing from PPD isn’t one-size-fits-all, and the evidence can often go unnoticed. But catching the signs when they appear can motivate you on the road back to yourself.<\/p>\n PPD Recovery Can Vary Wildly from One Mom to the Next<\/p>\n Many factors contribute to the severity and length of someone\u2019s PPD experience, including if you have a history of mental health disorders, your childbirth experience, your physical healing prognosis, whether or not you\u2019ve sought mental health treatment, and when that treatment began.<\/p>\n Regardless, for most moms, PPD recovery isn\u2019t like flipping a switch, but rather a slow-burn process involving a variety of coping strategies, hard work, and external support, says Andrea Niles, Ph.D.<\/a>, clinical psychologist and co-founder of Prospera<\/a>, a mental health platform for moms.<\/p>\n In her experience with patients, small changes often signify much bigger strides in the healing journey. \u201cThey have more energy, start enjoying things again, feel less overwhelmed, or simply begin to feel more like themselves,” says Niles. \u201cThese small improvements can accumulate over time into a significant recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n 9 Signs Your PPD Is Actually Getting Better<\/p>\n Many mental health providers use clinical surveys, such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS<\/a>), to screen patients for PPD symptoms. (You may also come across these questions at the OB\/GYN or pediatrician\u2019s office.) The EPDS relies on self-reported measures of mood and emotional well-being over a short period of time as a way to identify symptoms of depression, but the tool and the process surrounding it are not without their faults<\/a>; concerns can be missed or overlooked.<\/p>\n While clinical assessments can play a role in your PPD recovery, being able to monitor your progress at home, in ways that no screening or health provider is likely to bring up, gives you something to hold on to as you make your way through daily life, says Niles.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what everyday wins on the road to PPD recovery might look like for you. Use these examples to help you spot them.<\/p>\n 1. You gain confidence and shed self-doubt.<\/p>\n Recovery from PPD often looks like feeling less overwhelmed and more confident, especially in your parenting abilities, explains Leigh Hall<\/a>, LMFT. Those with PPD often feel like \u2018bad parents\u2019 who are incapable of making good decisions for their child \u2014 so being able to trust your own judgement is huge, she adds.<\/p>\n 2. You have fewer scary thoughts.<\/p>\n PPD can come with intrusive thoughts<\/a>, like dropping or otherwise harming your baby, explains Hall. When those dark scenarios start showing up less often \u2014 or fade away altogether \u2014 that may be a quieter sign that you\u2019re making progress.<\/p>\n 3. You aren\u2019t simply surviving.<\/p>\n