How can therapy help you overcome postpartum depression and anxiety?

First and foremost, new moms feel and do better when they have the right kind of support.

Your physical and mental health go hand in hand-and this is especially true as you create your family. Learning to take care of your emotional and psychological well-being is an essential part of becoming a parent-it's absolutely necessary.

Finding a place to be open and honest about what you're going through is so important, and it can be difficult to find opportunities that welcome parents who need to talk about the darker, heartbreaking aspects of what can happen during this perinatal period (the time around becoming pregnant, pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum). That’s where finding therapy that specializes in perinatal mental health comes in.

If it seems like you’re losing yourself along the way to becoming a parent, if you feel overwhelmed by what you’re going through, or struggling with a sense of loneliness and isolation, you’re not alone. Problems with mood and anxiety are the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) affect up to 1 in 5 birthing people.

How do I know I need to find a therapist for postpartum depression and anxiety?

During pregnancy and postpartum, women face so many changes.  Adjusting to life with a new baby can cause unexpected challenges, and problems with depression and anxiety.  Symptoms of postpartum depression include:

• Feeling disconnected from others

• Difficulty bonding with your baby

• Feeling more irritability, unexplained anger or even rage

• Problems with eating and sleeping

• Having unwanted thoughts that scare you

• Sadness or depressed mood that won't go away

• Feeling that your baby would be better off without you

• Thoughts about suicide (active or passive)

When you’re struggling with anxiety, you may be feeling:

• constantly on edge, like something bad is about to happen

• panic

• your body is full of adrenaline, and you’re unable to relax and breath normally

• worried for reasons you can't understand, imagining worst case scenarios

• unable to focus enough to get things done

• physical tension, racing heart, nausea/stomach distress, shallow breathing, tight chest

• scary/disturbing intrusive thoughts, usually about harm coming to the baby

• sleep disturbance due to worried thoughts or behaviors, such as frequently feeling the need to check on the baby throughout the night

• avoiding certain situations or activities, such as driving or leaving the house

• concern about being alone with the baby

Depression is extremely common during pregnancy and postpartum, even if this isn't your first pregnancy. Depression and anxiety are treatable, and with the right kind of support you will feel better.

Common ways specialized therapy can help overcome postpartum depression and anxiety are:

Process your story (fertility journey, losses, shattered expectations) so that you can talk about your experiences without the same level of distress.

Overcome avoidance, be able to look at your photos, hear about others’ birth stories, or see babies or pregnant people and not be overwhelmed with painful feelings and memories-and most of all, feel more bonded to your baby.

Build your confidence by addressing fears, concerns, or unresolved trauma to prepare for another round of fertility treatment, pregnancy or labor and delivery, to adjust to the new demands of being a mom.

Stop the cycle of worry by learning how to manage intrusive thoughts, calm your mind and body

Set boundaries that support you and your family at every stage of family building

Cultivate self-compassion for what you’ve been through and the challenges you’re currently facing

Learn coping skills to help you understand and manage your emotions as you navigate fertility, pregnancy and postpartum

Feel more connected to your body, your sense of identity, and the people most important to you

Find more ease and confidence in your parenting

Getting Help For Postpartum Depression and Anxiety

Postpartum Depression and Anxiety are treatable. Opening up a conversation about how you're feeling can be difficult but remaining silent or trying keep up the appearance that everything is okay usually just prolongs the problem. The sooner you get help, the more quickly you'll find relief and get back to feeling more like yourself. If you'd like to learn more about how I can help, please contact me for a free consultation at (626) 808-5463 or write to me at hollyaevansmft@gmail.com