Could Michael have PPD for men and that’s why he had the freak out about the debit card and her going alone with Amanda?
Here’s some facts about PPND
Male Postpartum Depression
Berendzen explains male postpartum depression as a change in a new father’s mood and functionality within the first year after a baby is born, adopted or added to the family structure. Male postpartum depression is also known as paternal postnatal depression (PPND).
“Men can have a baby blues period, just like women. It’s an adjustment period, getting used to sleep changes and new roles and responsibilities,” Berendzen says. “This very normal period isn’t concerning or needs to be examined. Male postpartum depression is different and needs intervention.”
Male Postpartum Depression Signs
Male postpartum depression can manifest in many ways. However, there are some common, identifiable symptoms to look for in any new dad.
Anger,
Irritability,
Risk-taking behaviors including substance and alcohol use,
Detachment from the family,
Easily stressed,
Physical symptoms including headaches and stomachaches
Risk Factors for Male Postpartum Depression
“We know that 50 percent of men whose partner has postpartum depression, have an increased risk of postpartum depression themselves. That’s huge. So much focus is on the woman, but we know that it’s important to really examine how he is doing if mom is dealing with postpartum depression, because it can drastically increase the risk for him,” Berendzen says.
Additional risk factors include:
Lack of sleep
A personal history of mental illness
A strained relationship with the spouse
Concerns or high expectations about becoming a father
Financial concerns
Fears about the changing dynamics within the family structure
With male postpartum depression, research suggests there’s a hormone change in men in the form of changes to testosterone levels when baby is born.
A few other differences between male postpartum depression and female postpartum depression:
1 in 10 men experience postpartum depression compared to 1 in 7 women
Women usually see peak symptoms around months two to three while men usually peak later in the first year
Men tend to show more anger and risk-taking behaviors while women tend to display crying, hopelessness, loss of interest and guilt