Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders
Getting pregnant and having a baby is not always the experience we dream it to be or others tell us it is. No one told you about the difficult or lack of emotions you could experience while pregnant or after the birth of your child. No one said you would feel disconnected or unable to bond, that you would want to run away from your new life and go back to your old one, feel you made a huge mistake having a child or suffer the unrelenting anxiety, sadness, pain or emptiness that fills your body and mind every day.
Perinatal and postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD and psychosis have become more familiar terms in our society, but often people still struggle to seek or receive treatment. As a perinatal mental health certified specialist, PMH-C, I offer a safe space to express your thoughts, feelings, fears and hopes about motherhood/parenthood. I help to create a supportive environment in a client’s life where they believe and see they can heal and feel better.
There are many different reasons for seeking counseling for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders that can include the following:
• Identify and change negative/distorted/automatic thoughts that cause depressed and anxious feelings
• Develop awareness of triggers and stressors
• Acknowledge, discuss and understand “scary thoughts” (intrusive thoughts) (80% – 100% of the population experience intrusive thoughts)
• Develop and learn to use healthy coping skills
• Explore and process feelings of helplessness, guilt, anger, shame
• Learn to remove judgment about your symptoms and know that they are symptoms not who you are
• Learn to express your thoughts and feelings
• Utilize self-care and ask for what you need
• Identify your strengths and support network
• Identify additional therapies for support
• Begin to feel like yourself again