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Overwhelmed mothers depression


SAMHSA’s National Helpline | SAMHSA

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  • SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

    Also visit the online treatment locator.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.

Also visit the online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message: 435748 (HELP4U) to find help near you. Read more about the HELP4U text messaging service.

The service is open 24/7, 365 days a year.

English and Spanish are available if you select the option to speak with a national representative. Currently, the 435748 (HELP4U) text messaging service is only available in English.

In 2020, the Helpline received 833,598 calls. This is a 27 percent increase from 2019, when the Helpline received a total of 656,953 calls for the year.

The referral service is free of charge. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, we will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs. In addition, we can often refer you to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicare or Medicaid. If you have health insurance, you are encouraged to contact your insurer for a list of participating health care providers and facilities.

The service is confidential. We will not ask you for any personal information. We may ask for your zip code or other pertinent geographic information in order to track calls being routed to other offices or to accurately identify the local resources appropriate to your needs.

No, we do not provide counseling. Trained information specialists answer calls, transfer callers to state services or other appropriate intake centers in their states, and connect them with local assistance and support.

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    Assures teens with parents who abuse alcohol or drugs that, "It's not your fault!" and that they are not alone. Encourages teens to seek emotional support from other adults, school counselors, and youth support groups such as Alateen, and provides a resource list.

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    For additional resources, please visit the SAMHSA Store.

Last Updated: 08/30/2022

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs

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Misusing alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs can have both immediate and long-term health effects.

The misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, and prescription medications affect the health and well-being of millions of Americans. NSDUH estimates allow researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and the general public to better understand and improve the nation’s behavioral health. These reports and detailed tables present estimates from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).

Alcohol

Data:

  • Among the 133.1 million current alcohol users aged 12 or older in 2021, 60.0 million people (or 45.1%) were past month binge drinkers. The percentage of people who were past month binge drinkers was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (29.2% or 9.8 million people), followed by adults aged 26 or older (22.4% or 49.3 million people), then by adolescents aged 12 to 17 (3.8% or 995,000 people). (2021 NSDUH)
  • Among people aged 12 to 20 in 2021, 15.1% (or 5.9 million people) were past month alcohol users. Estimates of binge alcohol use and heavy alcohol use in the past month among underage people were 8.3% (or 3.2 million people) and 1.6% (or 613,000 people), respectively. (2021 NSDUH)
  • In 2020, 50.0% of people aged 12 or older (or 138.5 million people) used alcohol in the past month (i.e., current alcohol users) (2020 NSDUH)
  • Among the 138.5 million people who were current alcohol users, 61.6 million people (or 44.4%) were classified as binge drinkers and 17.7 million people (28.8% of current binge drinkers and 12.8% of current alcohol users) were classified as heavy drinkers (2020 NSDUH)
  • The percentage of people who were past month binge alcohol users was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (31. 4%) compared with 22.9% of adults aged 26 or older and 4.1% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 (2020 NSDUH)
  • Excessive alcohol use can increase a person’s risk of stroke, liver cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis, cancer, and other serious health conditions
  • Excessive alcohol use can also lead to risk-taking behavior, including driving while impaired. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 29 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver daily

Programs/Initiatives:

  • STOP Underage Drinking interagency portal - Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking
  • Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking
  • Talk. They Hear You.
  • Underage Drinking: Myths vs. Facts
  • Talking with your College-Bound Young Adult About Alcohol

Relevant links:

  • National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors
  • Department of Transportation Office of Drug & Alcohol Policy & Compliance
  • Alcohol Policy Information Systems Database (APIS)
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Tobacco

Data:

  • In 2020, 20. 7% of people aged 12 or older (or 57.3 million people) used nicotine products (i.e., used tobacco products or vaped nicotine) in the past month (2020 NSDUH)
  • Among past month users of nicotine products, nearly two thirds of adolescents aged 12 to 17 (63.1%) vaped nicotine but did not use tobacco products. In contrast, 88.9% of past month nicotine product users aged 26 or older used only tobacco products (2020 NSDUH)
  • Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death, often leading to lung cancer, respiratory disorders, heart disease, stroke, and other serious illnesses. The CDC reports that cigarette smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths each year in the United States
  • The CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health reports that more than 16 million Americans are living with a disease caused by smoking cigarettes

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use data:

  • In 2021, 13.2 million people aged 12 or older (or 4.7%) used an e-cigarette or other vaping device to vape nicotine in the past month. The percentage of people who vaped nicotine was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (14.1% or 4.7 million people), followed by adolescents aged 12 to 17 (5.2% or 1.4 million people), then by adults aged 26 or older (3.2% or 7.1 million people).
  • Among people aged 12 to 20 in 2021, 11.0% (or 4.3 million people) used tobacco products or used an e-cigarette or other vaping device to vape nicotine in the past month. Among people in this age group, 8.1% (or 3.1 million people) vaped nicotine, 5.4% (or 2.1 million people) used tobacco products, and 3.4% (or 1.3 million people) smoked cigarettes in the past month. (2021 NSDUH)
  • Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey. Among both middle and high school students, current use of e-cigarettes declined from 2019 to 2020, reversing previous trends and returning current e-cigarette use to levels similar to those observed in 2018
  • E-cigarettes are not safe for youth, young adults, or pregnant women, especially because they contain nicotine and other chemicals

Resources:

  • Tips for Teens: Tobacco
  • Tips for Teens: E-cigarettes
  • Implementing Tobacco Cessation Programs in Substance Use Disorder Treatment Settings
  • Synar Amendment Program

Links:

  • Truth Initiative
  • FDA Center for Tobacco Products
  • CDC Office on Smoking and Health
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: Tobacco, Nicotine, and E-Cigarettes
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: E-Cigarettes

Opioids

Data:

  • Among people aged 12 or older in 2021, 3. 3% (or 9.2 million people) misused opioids (heroin or prescription pain relievers) in the past year. Among the 9.2 million people who misused opioids in the past year, 8.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers compared with 1.1 million people who used heroin. These numbers include 574,000 people who both misused prescription pain relievers and used heroin in the past year. (2021 NSDUH)
  • Among people aged 12 or older in 2020, 3.4% (or 9.5 million people) misused opioids in the past year. Among the 9.5 million people who misused opioids in the past year, 9.3 million people misused prescription pain relievers and 902,000 people used heroin (2020 NSDUH)
  • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Understanding the Epidemic, an average of 128 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose

Resources:

  • Medication-Assisted Treatment
  • Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit
  • TIP 63: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
  • Use of Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Criminal Justice Settings
  • Opioid Use Disorder and Pregnancy
  • Clinical Guidance for Treating Pregnant and Parenting Women With Opioid Use Disorder and Their Infants
  • The Facts about Buprenorphine for Treatment of Opioid Addiction
  • Pregnancy Planning for Women Being Treated for Opioid Use Disorder
  • Tips for Teens: Opioids
  • Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Grants
  • Tribal Opioid Response Grants
  • Provider’s Clinical Support System - Medication Assisted Treatment Grant Program

Links:

  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: Opioids
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: Heroin
  • HHS Prevent Opioid Abuse
  • Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
  • Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network
  • Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) Network

Marijuana

Data:

  • In 2021, marijuana was the most commonly used illicit drug, with 18. 7% of people aged 12 or older (or 52.5 million people) using it in the past year. The percentage was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (35.4% or 11.8 million people), followed by adults aged 26 or older (17.2% or 37.9 million people), then by adolescents aged 12 to 17 (10.5% or 2.7 million people).
  • The percentage of people who used marijuana in the past year was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (34.5%) compared with 16.3% of adults aged 26 or older and 10.1% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 (2020 NSDUH)
  • Marijuana can impair judgment and distort perception in the short term and can lead to memory impairment in the long term
  • Marijuana can have significant health effects on youth and pregnant women.

Resources:

  • Know the Risks of Marijuana
  • Marijuana and Pregnancy
  • Tips for Teens: Marijuana

Relevant links:

  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: Marijuana
  • Addiction Technology Transfer Centers on Marijuana
  • CDC Marijuana and Public Health

Emerging Trends in Substance Misuse:

  • Methamphetamine—In 2019, NSDUH data show that approximately 2 million people used methamphetamine in the past year. Approximately 1 million people had a methamphetamine use disorder, which was higher than the percentage in 2016, but similar to the percentages in 2015 and 2018. The National Institute on Drug Abuse Data shows that overdose death rates involving methamphetamine have quadrupled from 2011 to 2017. Frequent meth use is associated with mood disturbances, hallucinations, and paranoia.
  • Cocaine—In 2019, NSDUH data show an estimated 5.5 million people aged 12 or older were past users of cocaine, including about 778,000 users of crack. The CDC reports that overdose deaths involving have increased by one-third from 2016 to 2017. In the short term, cocaine use can result in increased blood pressure, restlessness, and irritability. In the long term, severe medical complications of cocaine use include heart attacks, seizures, and abdominal pain.
  • Kratom—In 2019, NSDUH data show that about 825,000 people had used Kratom in the past month. Kratom is a tropical plant that grows naturally in Southeast Asia with leaves that can have psychotropic effects by affecting opioid brain receptors. It is currently unregulated and has risk of abuse and dependence. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that health effects of Kratom can include nausea, itching, seizures, and hallucinations.

Resources:

  • Tips for Teens: Methamphetamine
  • Tips for Teens: Cocaine
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse

More SAMHSA publications on substance use prevention and treatment.

Last Updated: 01/05/2023

How to survive postpartum depression | FGBUZ MCh No. 135 FMBA of Russia

The birth of a child is a wonderful period in a woman's life.

Nine months of waiting are behind us, painful childbirth, and, it would seem, now nothing can overshadow the joys of motherhood!

But it is at this time that most women face such a problem as postpartum depression. How to recognize and overcome it with the least loss for yourself and others?

What is postpartum depression? nine0003

Despite the terrible name, postpartum depression in many women resolves quickly and without consequences. As a rule, the first symptoms of this disorder appear on the 3-4th day after childbirth and reach their peak on the 5th day.

Postpartum depression manifests itself in excessive unreasonable tearfulness, irritability and aggression, at the same time, a depressed mood can abruptly change to a good one. A woman, ready to sob and scandal a minute ago, suddenly rushes to hug everyone, shower them with compliments and smile. Usually such a mild form of this disorder disappears without a trace after 2 weeks. If the condition of a young mother remains the same for a month or more, then we can talk about a severe form of postpartum depression. nine0005

Seek help if the following symptoms do not go away for a long time:

∙ loss of appetite, or, on the contrary, excessive appetite and overeating;

∙ tearfulness: any little thing causes anxiety, tears, and the crying of your own child - irritation and even hysteria;

∙ insomnia or restless disturbing dreams, the woman may wake up frequently for no apparent reason;

∙ irritability and aggression towards loved ones; nine0005

dissatisfaction with oneself, one's appearance;

∙ dissatisfaction with one's life, feeling one's failure as a mother;

∙ unwillingness to intimacy, lack of interest in life, former hobbies, close people.

Rarely, postpartum depression develops into postpartum psychosis, where the mother may experience hallucinations, often related to the baby.

. Also, a young mother may not control her actions, in these cases she needs outpatient treatment. nine0005

Treatment of postpartum depression

For effective treatment, it is necessary to accurately establish the diagnosis, excluding a number of diseases that manifest similar symptoms. When the doctor confirms the presence of postpartum depression, depending on the severity of the form, begin treatment.

A woman can cope with a mild form of postpartum depression on her own or with the help of relatives and close friends, or talk with a psychologist.

The first thing recommended is breastfeeding . It has long been proven that when breastfeeding between mother and child, not only a close physical, but also emotional and psychological connection is established, this is due to the production of a hormone such as prolactin. In addition, breastfeeding gives both pleasure, and also makes it easier for the mother to care for the child.

Do not close yourself at home - try to communicate more with friends, make new acquaintances among young mothers, read books, listen to audio lessons, follow the news via the Internet. It is convenient to do all this on playgrounds, walking with a stroller. If this is not possible, then communication on thematic forums will help. nine0005

If you can, introduce a new hobby into your life . It is great if it is associated with moderate physical activity. For example, you can do yoga, it will not only help you quickly restore muscle tone, but also bring harmony into your life.

Drive away negative thoughts from yourself , set yourself up for positive thinking, look for pluses in your current position. For example, you can not go to work, but give all the attention and care to the baby. Also, if you think about it, you have the opportunity to learn something new or read an interesting book (while the baby is sleeping, her husband or grandmother is looking after him or you are walking on the street). nine0005

Do not refuse help from relatives . There will be no disaster if someone walks with the child instead of you or if someone replaces you in the kitchen. Believe me, your relatives are well aware of how many worries have fallen on you now and are ready to help you.

Try to do what gives you pleasure . Like taking pictures? Develop your skills. Draw? Please!

Communicate more with your husband , do not close yourself off from him. Sometimes leave the baby to grandmothers and go with your spouse to exhibitions, theaters, cinemas, restaurants. By the way, this period is also difficult for a man - because earlier your undivided attention was paid to him, but now it is more directed to the child. Therefore, try to pay attention to your husband - warm harmonious relationship between spouses will have a positive effect on you wallpaper x.

If the birth depression has dragged on, then it makes sense to go through group therapy or talk to a psychologist. Also, the use of drug treatment gives a good effect. Consult a doctor - and he will prescribe you antidepressants that are not contraindicated during breastfeeding.

Postpartum depression: a whim or a serious disorder?


Depression is a disease that is still not taken seriously in our country. A low level of knowledge in the field of psychology and traditional stereotypes lead to the fact that a person suffering from depression is considered a lazy person who does not want to "pull himself together". nine0005

It is especially difficult for young mothers who are struck by postpartum depression. Knowing that motherhood is perceived by society as unconditional happiness, and not experiencing the emotions expected by society, women accuse themselves of "insensitivity", consider themselves "bad mothers" and thereby exacerbate the disease.

But, according to statistics, today from 15 to 20% of young mothers suffer from postpartum depression. However, they do not turn to specialists, not knowing that their condition can be corrected, and not realizing that they are seriously ill. Thus, they cause even more harm to themselves and the child. nine0005

Depression in new mothers: what is it?

Postpartum or postnatal depression develops in a mother in the first months of a child's life. Its symptoms include anxiety, unreasonable sadness and fear, tearfulness, irritability, loss of strength, distracted attention, memory impairment, headaches, insomnia, lack of appetite, unwillingness and inability to do anything. A woman feels lonely, her mood is lowered, and a sense of shame and self-hatred (“I am a bad mother”) can lead to thoughts of suicide or harm to a child. nine0005

Yes, postpartum depression is by no means a manifestation of laziness and irresponsibility. Even if a woman lies in bed around the clock and does not approach the child, we are talking about manifestations of a devastating disease.

Why does postpartum depression occur?

What are the causes of postpartum depression? In fact, their spectrum is very wide, and it is difficult to predict in advance whether this disease will develop in a particular mother.

Experts identify two risk groups in which postnatal depression is observed most often. These are young mothers who had previously suffered depression, as well as women who experienced problems in communicating with their own mothers, in other words, “unloved” daughters. Without an example of motherly love before their eyes, they simply do not know how it is to love their own child and take care of him. nine0005

You can recall a number of other possible causes of postpartum depression:

  • Hormonal failures. Pregnancy and childbirth are processes that cause hormonal surges in the female body. Experts believe that such fluctuations can have a destructive effect on the psyche.
  • Postpartum stress. Having become a mother, a woman begins to experience a previously unfamiliar load. I can't sleep, I feel tired all the time. Finding herself in a new social status for herself and being in a constant state of stress, a young mother can reach an extremely difficult state. nine0101
  • Feeling of guilt before the child. This factor is psychological. Feeling guilty before her own child, for example, because he was born before the appointed time or has health problems, because the family does not live well and cannot provide for the child to the desired extent, a woman may well reach a depressive state.
  • Relationship problems with spouse. Changes in a woman's appearance, condemned by her husband, can cause depression. Do not forget about those situations when a young mother has to be "torn" between a child and a spouse who requires maximum attention, who does not want to admit that now his wife has a new object of care. nine0101

Of course, we have not listed all the alleged causes of postnatal depression. Our task was to show that both physiological and psychological factors, and often their combination, can underlie this disease.

How long does postnatal depression last and what can it result in?

Experts note that the first signs of postpartum depression most often become noticeable in the second or third week after childbirth. However, some women demonstrate her symptoms immediately upon discharge from the hospital or even within its walls. There are also frequent cases of the onset of the development of the disease in the second or third month of a child's life. nine0005

It is important to understand that a depressive, depressed state persists for several weeks. This suggests that postpartum depression is protracted and requires immediate treatment.

Without the help of a specialist, depression can last for many years, turning into a chronic stage, completely destroying the woman's psyche and developing into psychosis.

In addition, postpartum depression is detrimental to the mental development of the child. Not experiencing adequate contact with the mother, the baby can acquire emotional disorders, low self-esteem, problems in establishing contact with other people and in communication in general. There is a decrease in the child's interest in the world around him, in other people, in himself. In other words, the child of a mother suffering from depression often grows up as an "emotional invalid" who will not be able to fully establish his own life. nine0005

Therefore, postpartum depression can and should be treated by noticing its first symptoms. After all, the stronger the disease develops, the longer and more difficult it is to correct a woman’s health.

Treatment of postpartum depression

SMC Best Clinic specialists have been successfully fighting postpartum depression for many years.

An effective way to treat this disease is psychotherapy, which helps a young mother to understand the reasons for the development of a painful condition, suggest how to regain peace and joy in life, and also get rid of guilt. nine0005

In cases where depression is protracted or chronic, a number of drugs are additionally prescribed - antidepressants and hormone-correcting agents.

If we are talking about the most advanced stages of depression, in particular, about already developed psychosis, treatment in a hospital is recommended.

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