"I was so depressed after having my baby": Choi Yeon-soo sought counseling for postpartum depression [Health Talk]

[The Financial News] Model and influencer Choi Yeon-soo said she sought counseling after experiencing severe depression and mood swings following childbirth. Temporary feelings of depression after giving birth are common, but if symptoms last for more than two weeks or become severe enough to interfere with daily life, an evaluation and treatment for postpartum depression may be necessary.
Choi Yeon-soo held a Q&A session on social media on the 29th, sharing updates on her recent health and child-rearing.
When a netizen asked whether her postpartum depression was improving, Choi Yeon-soo replied, "I was struggling a bit, so I went for counseling. Go get counseling soon, before postpartum depression gets worse."
Choi Yeon-soo also spoke candidly last month about the emotional changes she experienced after giving birth. At the time, she said, "I was so depressed after having my baby, I couldn't really control my anger, and my emotions were all over the place. (I was told it was a hormonal issue.)"
Choi Yeon-soo gave birth to a son in May and is now four months postpartum. Regarding her son's development, she said, "He scoots around on his back and rolls over." On managing her weight after childbirth, she said she had not yet returned to her pre-pregnancy weight. "Rather than losing weight drastically, I'm managing it slowly so I don't harm my body, so I think it will take some time to get back to my previous weight," she said.

Feeling down or crying more frequently immediately after childbirth, known as the postpartum blues, is relatively common. However, if the symptoms persist for a long time or begin to affect daily life, they should be evaluated to determine whether they are postpartum depression.
According to the National Mental Health Information Portal, operated by the National Center for Mental Health under the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association, many women experience temporary depression, anxiety, irritability and frequent crying after childbirth. Most improve naturally, but 10% to 20% of mothers experience depression severe enough to develop into postpartum depression. Postpartum depression can begin within days of childbirth or several months later, and may last for more than a year if left untreated.
Information from the Department of Psychiatry at Asan Medical Center states that postpartum blues typically begin within three to five days of delivery and subside within about two weeks. However, if the depression continues for more than two weeks, emotional regulation becomes difficult or daily life is disrupted, an evaluation for postpartum depression is necessary.

Postpartum depression is not limited to feelings of depression. Anxiety, agitation, severe mood swings, insomnia, difficulty concentrating, guilt and lethargy may also occur. Choi Yeon-soo's description that she "couldn't really control my anger" and experienced severe mood swings also overlaps with symptoms that can occur in postpartum mental health conditions. However, postpartum depression cannot be diagnosed based on an individual's symptoms alone; an accurate diagnosis requires an evaluation by a psychiatrist.
The causes also cannot be attributed solely to hormonal changes. The National Center for Mental Health states that, along with rapid hormonal changes before and after childbirth, factors such as sleep deprivation, the burden of child-rearing, fatigue, family relationships and the health of the mother and baby may affect the risk of postpartum depression.

Postpartum blues affect a substantial number of mothers. In the '2024 Survey on Postpartum Care Practices' released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare last year, 68.5% of the 3,221 mothers who gave birth in 2023 said they had experienced postpartum blues after delivery. The percentage who had actually been diagnosed with postpartum depression was 6.8%.
The most commonly reported difficulty during the postpartum care period was sleep deprivation, at 67.5%. The proportion who reported experiencing depression was 20.0%. Spouses were the most frequently cited source of help in alleviating postpartum blues, at 57.8%, followed by friends at 34.2%, family members at 23.5% and medical professionals or counselors at 10.2%.

Treatment for postpartum depression is determined by considering the severity of symptoms, whether the mother is breastfeeding and her overall health. The National Center for Mental Health states that psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy, may be used. If symptoms are severe, medication such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs may be prescribed alongside psychiatric care.
Asan Medical Center advises that if depressive symptoms seriously interfere with daily life or become severe enough to cause thoughts of suicide, medication, psychological counseling or psychotherapy may be provided following consultation with a specialist.
If postpartum blues last for more than two weeks, depression, anxiety or anger become severe, or daily life and child-rearing become difficult, the mother should have her condition evaluated by a psychiatrist or obstetrician-gynecologist. If symptoms become severe enough to cause thoughts of harming herself or her baby, she should immediately seek help from an emergency medical facility or a specialized mental health service.
[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter