Becoming a new parent is more ‘depressing’ than losing your spouse, claim researchers

Birth of your first child is considered to be the one of the most joyous occasions in one's life. But a new study is set to prove that adage wrong. British biological anthropologist Dr Helen Fisher says having your first baby can make you more depressed than losing a spouse.

No, this is not about hating babies. It’s just that things seem a tad bit lonelier post-baby. During an appearance on CBS, Dr Fisher explained that this usually happens because all your friends and family folk pretty much leave you alone after giving all those presents and good wishes, reports the Metro. Hardly anybody stays back to help you figure out the new baby stuff.

It’s not like when you lose a job or going through a divorce when everyone just jumps in to help. After the initial celebrations people “just leave you alone because they figure you’re too tired and too busy,” says Dr Fisher.

In case you are thinking her theory is baseless, then you should know that she isn’t just making this up out of thin air. Dr Fisher’s theory is supported by a recent study from researchers Rachel Margolis and Mikko Myrskylä, who surveyed 2,301 German parents to find that 73% of them had experienced a dip in happiness post the birth of their first child, as reported by the Metro.