Perinatal anxiety encompasses anxiety disorders that occur during pregnancy (prenatal anxiety) and after childbirth (postpartum anxiety). Unlike the "baby blues," which are temporary and usually resolve within a few weeks, perinatal anxiety can persist and significantly impact a person's daily functioning.
Bringing a new life into the world is a beautiful experience, but for many moms, the postpartum period can be challenging. Amidst the joy and wonder of welcoming a newborn, some mothers may find themselves struggling with intrusive thoughts – unwelcome, distressing, and often disturbing mental images that can be deeply unsettling. Today, we'll explore what intrusive thoughts are, why they might surface during postpartum, and most importantly, provide moms with practical coping strategies to manage and reduce these intrusive thoughts.
Perinatal mental health issues affect a significant number of individuals during pregnancy and the postpartum period. These challenges can manifest as anxiety, depression, or other mood disorders, impacting not only the mother but also the overall family dynamics. IPT has gained prominence as an evidence-based therapy for perinatal mental health due to its focus on interpersonal relationships and its adaptability to address the unique challenges faced by individuals during this transitional time.
The theoretical foundation of IPT revolves around the idea that one's mental health is intricately linked to the quality of their interpersonal relationships. IPT operates on the premise that life events, particularly changes in relationships, can trigger or exacerbate mental health issues. The therapist and the individual collaboratively explore and address problematic interpersonal patterns, enhancing the individual's ability to navigate and manage social interactions effectively.
Baby is coming, you have read all the books and taken the classes on labor, delivery, caring for baby etc. What is your plan for how to take care of yourself during postpartum? I remember not feeling as prepared as I wanted to be for the emotional ups and downs of this time with baby.
As a therapist specializing in postpartum care, I understand the unique challenges new moms face in balancing the needs of their newborns, their own well-being, and the dynamics with family, your partner, and their return to work if that is part of the plan. One crucial aspect of navigating this transformative period is creating a comprehensive postpartum care plan that not only addresses the logistics of caring for your baby but also prioritizes your mental and emotional health. Here's a guide to help you develop a plan in collaboration with your partner:
remember when I was pregnant, I probably read about 10 books on pregnancy and having a newborn. And after I had my first child I remember so many things happening with my body and emotions postpartum, that I said “why don't they write books on this experience?” I felt unprepared as my body recovered from giving birth, navigating my body image, emotions, and questioning if I could do this “mom thing”.
You have maybe been there before, that impending doom, feeling and thinking you are going to die. Maybe even have gone to the emergency room because the panic would not dissipate. Having a panic attack is a scary feeling. In the moments of having a panic attack, there is no control over your body and how you feel, which leads to further panic. Sometimes, people think they are having a heart attack due to the pain in their chest and feeling like they are going to die.
A time to raise public and professional awareness of perinatal mental illness
Advocating for women affected by it
Opportunity to help women gain access to information, care, and support
Pregnancy and postpartum period can affect your emotional well being
Mental health is also referred to as emotional health or well being. Is always important and impacts your physical well being too.
Group suspended until further notice
Hey everyone! I have been wanting to create a space for moms to come together and connect with one another. So here it is a Postpartum Support Group. I have been wanting to create a postpartum support group for awhile and with my therapy practice completely online, I thought why not also have an online support group for moms to drop in as needed. Plus right now with all the “stay at home” and “safer at home” orders this will keep everyone safe and healthy from the comfort of their homes.
WIth the current state of the world, our lives have made a dramatic shift from our everyday routines. There is a lot of uncertainty and there are no definite answers when life will return to normalcy.
With this in mind, it is key to take care of your mental well being. I remember reading an article a couple years ago reporting that Colorado was one of the worst states for lacking access to mental health services for adolescents in the United States. That fact really shocked me and is cause for concern especially since suicide rates are the increase and Colorado is 6th in the nation. Colorado has a lot of rural areas that lack access to care and stigma is still high about reaching out for mental health problems.
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