How does seeing a therapist help postpartum depression?

I know when you go you talk about how you feel and stuff but what do they do to help you? besides give you meds

A psychiatrist or doctor will give you meds. A therapist, hopefully a cognitive behavioral therapist, can help you learn different ways to think and react and to recognize triggers that make the depression worsen. It is an outlet for you to release pent up emotions. Many with post partum depression feel a great deal of essential guilt...I SHOULD love my child and be happy and be able to handle this and be a good mom and work, etc.

If there are problems that might be more of a post partum psychosis than a depression that could lead to much more serious problems, a therapist is a person who hopefully could recognize that before it could happen.

Depression is an interesting thing. There are components that are biological, social and psychological that cause it. People with depression some times feel helpless and hopeless. Postpartum depression is a result of having a baby and the reaction both physically, emotionally and socially. Lots of changes are happening after having a baby. How to deal with them is helpful in that it empowers you so as not to feel so helpless and hopeless. Talking to some one while you are meds helps speeding up your recovery. Know that you are supported loved and soon you may find that life is just a little bit easier.

Apparently postpartum (or postnatal) depression can be due to the following reasons (but not necessarily):

1) have had depression (especially PND) before
2) do not have a supportive partner
3) have a premature or sick baby
4) lost your own mother when you were a child
5) have had several recent life stresses - bereavement, unemployment, housing or money problems

All these can be helped by a therapist. I can't explain in detail "how" therapy works, but it generally makes you more aware of yourself, and how you think and feel about things.

Becoming more aware of your suppressed emotions and feelings can give you more information about your problems, which can help you make better decisions.

Speaking to someone who is non-judgemental, and who you can say anything to is quite liberating, as you can say EXACTLY what you want, and tell them exactly how you feel. This can mean offloading anger and frustration, which is better out than in. Internalised anger often leads to depression.

Therapy can bring greater awareness and understanding of who you are, and this leads to you understanding your life and life in general. Which of course helps you sort your problems too.

I hope you feel better soon, and congratulations on having a baby! :)

Different ways of thinking about things can help "rewire" the brain. In that rewiring comes an improvement in depression. That's an incredibly simple description, but that's basically it. CBT has a fair amount of research to back it up.

You can look at it this way, too. A therapist is a place to talk about the things you'd rather not burden your family with. Depression comes with gloomy thoughts and it's healthier to get them out. A therapist can also put your situation into perspective in a way that you can't (i.e. too much depression thinking is happening). And... a therapist can help you know that what you are experiencing is not your fault, and that guilt is not a cross you should bear. So, lots of reasons from many angles. Just find one that your instincts say knows her/his stuff and you can trust. If not the first, try another. S/he works for you after all.

I am seeing a licensed social worker for PPA/PPD. We have spoke in detail from pregnancy to present. First, he/she should be well informed in regards to postpartum issues. I know this as I also saw a psychologist in the area, as it was much closer for me (drive time), and it is VERY different beginning with the discussions.

After discussing everything, if he/she is good, they will be able to pin-point the actual issues at large. From there my therapist created a list stating the major topics and subtitled what we agreed needs to change under it. From there we will work on it together and meet weekly. I have been told that within a month's time, I should notice a difference and it should only continue from there. Now, I also was told that in my circumstance, since I let it lapse for such a long time (possibly 3 yrs.), that medication may be required if there isn't any positive changes felt and therefore I would need to see my primary care physician or psychiatrist as chemically now I may have an in-balance due to other health circumstances from the PPD. Unfortunately, I wasn't aware I had it for a long time, being wrapped up in motherhood. Please do not wait either thinking you can manage it yourself. Too much time will be lost.
I cannot stress enough the importance in finding someone who is a specialist in PPD/PPA.
Best of luck!