SOCIAL MEDIA AND POSTNATAL DEPRESSION

Written by Caroline Meyer

Postnatal depression is fairly common and can occur in around 25% of new parents both male and female. Postnatal depression takes a physical and emotional toll, not only on the parents but also on the infants. It can further result in post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and postpartum psychosis. Postnatal depression can have a severe impact on the child which can have lifelong implications. PND can result in the breakdown of relationships with partners, family and friends. It can even result in suicide should the depression get such a level without treatment being sought. 

Some of the risk factors for postnatal depression include age, socioeconomic status, race, incidence of depression prior to the birth, marital stress, poor social support, substance abuse, history of mental illness, experiencing traumatic life events prior or subsequent to the birth. Physical factors such as environmental and hormonal changes may also have some relation to PND incidence. Women who struggle to bond or look after their babies adequately after birth may also be more prone to PND.  

Another risk factor that hasn’t had as much exposure is the effect of social media on new parents. Many new parents will join up with groups on Instagram and Facebook to feel part of a community and perhaps seek advice from other parents. While this may seem like a good idea, it may actually lead to higher incidence of PND. Many people will use social media sites to post pictures and comments that paint an unrealistic view of parenting. Their “perfect” family life is unattainable and may trigger anxiety in new parents that want to strive for this way of life that is just not grounded in reality. These sites seem to be created to establish a community of likeminded people to support each other but in reality, may actually make people feel more isolated.  

When you are struggling to breastfeed and generally take care of a newborn, these social media platforms that show “mummy goal” and “parenting wins” and are full of highly edited, staged photos of parents with babies may be overwhelming and make you feel as if you are failing. New parents will compare themselves to an idealized version of parenthood and feel they are not living up to these standards. Those that try will find themselves struggling to stay afloat as there is pressure from all sides when trying to be a “perfect” parent. The pictures and the stories posted on these social media platforms are generally not real and are posted for acclaim and “likes”. Making comparisons between these ideals and your own parenting skills can lead to added depression, which you don’t need. 

Many of these communities are full of people that are not likeminded and may be from different backgrounds and beliefs. While this may seem great to start with, this can lead to a wide variety of parenting styles. This can result in online bullying, people arguing, posts being trolled and other nastiness. As a new parent, you do not want to be sucked down that rabbit hole as it does not lead to wonderland, but just further anxiety and stress for you. You may also find yourself spending far too much time on these platforms and neglecting other aspects of your life. You may also get to know far more about people on the internet than you really want to. You may develop relationships and become friendly with people you meet in these communities. When these people, whom you don’t really know all that well, even though you feel you do, post things that are hurtful or goes against your personal beliefs, it can be very upsetting. Sometimes it is better to disconnect for a while or restrict yourself to a maximum of 2 to 3 pages that offer advice and support and cut off interactions with people that cause upset and anxiety.  Sometimes you may post on these groups and not get feedback or support. This may feel devastating to a new parent even if it was not intentional on the part of the community.  

The internet is full of bad advice, old wife’s tales and simply faked information. For a new parent who are struggling to cope with a new baby, this slew of unsolicited or bad advice can be rather damaging. People telling you what worked for them or how you should do things without knowing your circumstances, finances or background can cause a lot more harm than good. You need to do your own research and base your parenting on your own background and circumstances. Trying to do what people on the internet are insisting you do can increase anxiety levels as well. Higher anxiety is a definite PND risk factor. 

While there are some benefits to being part of social media communities, should you suffer from added anxiety due to your interactions in the communities, it may be better to switch off and walk away from it. Try and join a local group of mums and dads for a more realistic experience which may help instead of making you feel more anxious. If you feel your anxiety levels are high or you may be suffering from PND, speak to your doctor as soon as possible to be able to treat and manage the condition.