How Therapy Can Aid in Managing Postpartum Anxiety
Whether it is your first baby or not, the adjustment to bringing home a newborn comes with complex feelings and emotions, both wonderful and hard. While joy is often associated with the arrival of a baby, feelings of overwhelming worry, fear, and unease can also arise and significantly impact a parent's well-being.
Postpartum anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are commonly experienced by birthing parents and non-birthing parents, often peaking during what is called “the fourth trimester” which includes the first three months after your baby is born.
Understanding Postpartum Anxiety
Postpartum Anxiety (PPA) goes beyond the typical baby blues. The Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health reports that 20% of birthing parents develop a maternal anxiety disorder. Commonly, it presents as intrusive and excessive worries about the baby's health, safety, and well-being. At times, it can have a significant impact on the parent's ability to care for themselves.
Symptoms include:
Constant worry and/or rumination
Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep (even when the baby is asleep)
Racing thoughts
Physical symptoms like rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, and dizziness
Irritability or restlessness
Panic attacks
While it is common for it to take time to bond with your baby, the persistent presence of these symptoms can create significant challenges. In this case, adding a perinatal mental health therapist to your support system may help.
The Role of Therapy in Managing PPA
Therapy provides a safe and confidential space for parents to process complex feelings and have non-judgemental support as you navigate one of the most vulnerable seasons of life. While your treatment plan will be created with your therapist, and tailored to your needs, some general topics you can expect to explore are:
Emotional Processing: Often a goal of therapy is to have a dedicated space to connect with, express, and process the full spectrum of emotion.
Skill Development: Practical tools and strategies to manage anxiety effectively in your daily life. As a parent, we also want to make sure these tools and strategies are actually accessible and realistic given the demands of newborns and children.
Improved Connection to the Present: By addressing anxiety you will have more bandwidth to connect with your baby, and all of the fleeting moments that pass each day.
Support System and Community: While in therapy, therapists can help parents find community in support groups, and parent-centered activities. We can also help identify and utilize your existing support networks more effectively.
When to Seek Help
Parenthood was not meant to navigate alone. It is important to seek support and community. If you are experiencing symptoms of postpartum anxiety resulting in challenges in coping, please reach out to a trusted support person and explore perinatal mental health therapy. Early intervention can significantly improve outcomes, and most importantly your quality of life right now, in the present. There is no need to wait.
Remember, you don't have to navigate postpartum anxiety alone. It is a sign of strength to ask for help and seek support. You are worthy and deserving of feeling better, both for yourself and for your baby.
