Q When does postpartum depression get better? This state won't last permanently, will it?
A With treatment, most cases improve within a few months. If left untreated it can persist for over a year, but with appropriate care and support, full recovery is entirely possible.
Detailed Answer
If left untreated, postpartum depression can persist for more than a year in about 50% of mothers. On the other hand, with psychological counseling and, when necessary, antidepressant treatment, most show meaningful improvement within 3 to 6 months. The speed of recovery depends on the severity of symptoms, the level of social support, whether adequate sleep is secured, and how early treatment begins. Having postpartum depression does not mean depression will remain permanently, though the risk of recurrence may be somewhat higher in a future pregnancy, so it is wise to be attentive in advance.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
Dongjedang views recovery as "the process of replenishing qi and blood and settling the Heart." Typically, the first three months postpartum focus on replenishing qi and blood, and the next three months focus on settling the Heart-spirit and restoring stamina, adjusting the prescription stage by stage with the goal of a complete return to daily life.
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