This post answers: How to deal with post puppy depression? What causes post puppy depression? What are the symptoms of post puppy depression? What are the causes of post puppy depression? What is depression? What are the symptoms of depression? What are the treatment options for depression?

How to deal with post puppy depression?

Some ways to deal with post puppy depression are:

Connect with other puppy owners

The best way for individuals to deal with their post puppy depression is to get in touch with other individuals who are experiencing the same with their puppies. Talking to other pet owners can give individuals a sense of relief and also encourage them to get through the initial stages of puppy blues.

Ask for help

Individuals who feel mentally and physically exhausted after getting a puppy home which affects their mental health conditions can actively try and seek help from their family and friends in terms of helping them with training their puppies or also just looking after them for a little while so that they can take a little break off the exhausting routine.

Research

Individuals must carry out in-depth research about the breed of puppy that they are interested in before getting them to understand if that particular breed suits their expectations and If they will be able to take the challenges associated with a particular breed.

This prior research and detailed study on the breed individuals are interested in can help them avoid depression after getting one.

Take a break

Getting a puppy can be mentally and physically exhausting but individuals must keep in mind that they have a life of their own and it must be balanced, individuals must take frequent breaks from their daily routine to clear their heads and also get back to the routine with a light mood.

Talk to a therapist

When the feelings of managing a new puppy gets very overwhelming and reaches a point of self-harm individuals must consider talking to a therapist and seeking professional help such that they can manage and regulate their emotions effectively and also take care of their puppy as they expected to without any sense of guilt in future.

Remind yourself that it’s just temporary

Individuals must remind themselves that whatever they’re going through in terms of puppy blues is temporary and they will get through it within a few weeks once they as well as their puppy settle down and get used to living with each other.

What causes post puppy depression?

Post puppy depression refers to the feeling of sadness, regret, and anxiety that an individual experiences after getting a puppy home. In milder cases, this is also called puppy Blues.

Individuals might experience post puppy depression for the initial few months after getting a new member home due to various reasons.

Post puppy depression can last between a few days or a few months. Many studies indicate that the puppy Blues are most intense at three weeks following its onset after which the symptoms become more manageable and can be resolved by individuals completely within three months.

What are the symptoms of post puppy depression?

Some signs and symptoms of post puppy depression are:

Feeling sad and anxious
Feeling helpless
Feeling angry
Frequent bouts of crying
Suicide ideations
Feeling a sense of guilt
Feeling overwhelmed
High levels of irritability
Difficulty concentrating
Nausea
Headache
Stomach upset
Weight gain or weight loss
Changes in sleep pattern

What are the causes of post puppy depression?

Some causes of post puppy depression are:

Changes in sleep pattern

Getting a puppy home can be mentally and physically exhausting and also causes changes in the sleeping pattern where new puppy owners might get very little to no sleep during the initial days to make them feel comfortable and at home.

Improper sleep or lack of sleep makes individuals more grumpy and sad causing depression amongst individuals with new puppies.

Increased distractions

Managing a puppy and giving them a sense of comfort during the initial few days keeping in mind that toilet training and food needs can act as a major source of distraction for many individuals while they are carrying out their daily routines such as household chores or work-related tasks.

This constant distraction and inability to complete one’s work satisfactorily might cause a sense of sadness in many individuals.

Lack of freedom

Many individuals also experience decreased levels of freedom after getting a new puppy as they cannot move out for long hours and do things that they enjoy outside their daily routine this can further make them feel isolated and depressed.

Lack of information

Many individuals might also experience a sense of fear, panic, and depression when they lack sufficient information regarding their new puppies this might be about their basic needs and their characteristics.

Underlying mental health conditions

Getting a new puppy home can also be the main reason why many people with underlying mental health conditions resurface or accelerate due to the demanding challenges and attention that is required by the puppy this, in turn, makes an individual overwhelmed and depressed. In extreme cases, individuals might also experience suicidal ideations.

What is depression?

Depression is one of the most common serious mental health conditions that negatively impact how an individual feels and thinks.

Depression is associated with feelings of sadness, a loss of interest in daily activities, and drastic changes in the energy level and the daily routines of an individual.

Depression in itself can lead to other physical and emotional problems which can be detrimental to a person’s functioning.

The symptoms of depression can vary from individual to individual from mild to severe depending on various factors.

Studies indicate that depression affects about 15% of adults every year and one in every six people experience depression at some time in their life.

Although depression can occur at any age it is more common among teenagers and early adults. Research indicates that women are more vulnerable to depression than men.

What are the symptoms of depression?

The characteristic symptoms of depression are:

Feelings of sadness or depressed mood
Loss of interest in activities enjoyed in the past
Changes in appetite leading to weight gain or weight loss
Changes in sleep patterns with very little sleep or long hours of sleep
Decrease in the level of energy
Feelings of worthlessness
Feeling guilty
Difficulty thinking and concentrating
In severe cases thoughts of death or suicide

Symptoms of depression must last up to two weeks and cause significant impairment in an individual’s daily functioning to meet the diagnosis of depression.

What are the treatment options for depression?

Depression though widespread is one of the most treatable mental illnesses. About 90% of people with depression respond well to treatment.

Some possible treatment options for depression are

Medication

Antidepressants are very commonly prescribed by doctors to individuals with depression. These medications are not sedatives or tranquilizers. They generally do not have any stimulating effects on people who do not experience depression.

Antidepressants usually show their effects within a few weeks. However, in cases where patients do not see any improvement after several weeks, they can alter their doses based on the suggestions provided by their health care practitioners.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is also called talk therapy. It is used as a single mode of treatment for mild depression or for moderate to severe depression along with antidepressants.

Psychotherapy might involve the individual alone or other related individuals for instance the family of the concerned person.

Depending on the severity of depression psychotherapy might take a few weeks or much longer for significant improvement

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy where the therapist actively focuses on problem-solving. This is done by helping individuals replace their negative thoughts with more positive ones.

Electroconvulsive therapy

Electroconvulsive therapy is a treatment model that is commonly used for patients with severe and major depression who usually do not respond to other lines of treatment.

It involves brief electrical stimulation of the brain while the patient is under anesthesia.

Patients receive electroconvulsive therapy two or three times a week for a total of 6 to 12 sessions.

Self-help and coping strategies

Apart from therapy and medicine individuals can also carry out some self-help coping strategies such as carrying out regular exercises, getting sufficient sleep, indulging in pleasurable activities, maintaining a healthy diet, and avoiding alcohol to reduce their symptoms of depression

Conclusion

getting a new puppy can be overwhelming for any individual however if it impacts an individual’s daily functioning and then mental health conditions individuals must seek immediate help from officials and also their family members.

Frequently asked questions: How to deal with post puppy depression?

Is it normal to be depressed after getting a puppy?

Experiencing depression after getting up early is normal amongst many individuals.

What is the most difficult time with the puppy?

Many puppy owners report that the initial 8 to 12 weeks with the puppy is the most challenging and the toughest.

Do puppy Blues go away?

Puppy Blues usually go away once the training period is over and individuals get a sense of control over their life again.

How long do puppy crazies last?

The crazies usually cease within 5 minutes or lesser.

Citations

https://www.choosingtherapy.com/puppy-blues/

https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression

How to deal with post puppy depression?