Treatment for postpartum anxiety (PPA) and depression (PPD)
All therapists at The Centered Space Psychology Group are experienced in treating perinatal anxiety and depression and have received extensive training in this specialized field.
The perinatal period
The term “perinatal period” corresponds from the time you conceive a pregnancy through the first year after delivery. However, we believe that postpartum truly extends for years after you give birth. The neurological, hormonal, physical, and psychological changes that occur during pregnancy and postpartum never go away or go back to what they were before pregnancy, so why do we expect that we should? Why is there so much pressure to return to the old self when there is a whole new self that has developed along with the creation of a new child?
I believe that in part it is because we have not as a society given significance that the perinatal period is a developmental phase in a parent’s life, after which they will never be the same again. This is a period of profound cognitive and neurobiological development, and we will explore how that is both challenging as well as beneficial to our brains.
Matrescence
Recent research has given some very needed attention to Matrescence, the process of becoming a mother. Matrescence is a huge shift which encompasses changes in the body, the mind, the self image and how we interact with the world.
Just as with adolescence, matrescence is a natural process of change which brings with it rewards and challenges. The most obvious change is how the mother’s body changes, which often affects how she sees herself, and may include her sense of self-worth, since women are often praised or judged based on appearances.
Research is also giving us fascinating insights into these neurobiological changes, for example that matrescence changes or “rewires” the brain. A pregnant woman’s brain changes both functionally and structurally. Are you familiar with “mom brain?” or the forgetfulness that often accompanies pregnancy and parenthood? Well, it’s not the whole story! We are learning that during the perinatal period, the brain increases in resilience, becomes more highly adapted to loss of sleep, more sensitively attuned to baby’s needs, and many other complexities that improve mom’s ability to take care of a new baby.
Typical difficulties vs. PMADs
Going through the shift that is pregnancy and postpartum naturally brings stress and new challenges. Let me be clear: Although this shift is natural it is not easy or pain free. Please do not misunderstand and think this means you should minimize your struggles or suffer through the pain in silence.
Under normal, or even ideal circumstances, you and your family are adjusting to sleep loss, reduced or loss of alone time, increased demands for your time, attention, and caretaking, and a whole slew of new responsibilities and costs. Not to mention that your body will need months to recover to a new normal, and if you choose to breastfeed, your body changes will happen over an even longer period of time. Again, these changes are all normal and expected, but that does not make them easy or mean that they aren’t real. You should never have to suffer through them on your own.
It is completely normal to feel overwhelmed by a new baby, it is completely normal to feel like you miss your old life, old body, old sense of freedom, etc. It is normal to have a reduced tolerance for emotional experiences due to sleep deprivation, and it is normal to experience physical and emotional pains. However, it is also normal to need not only the support of a partner, but also family support, friend support, professional support (obstetrician, PCP, psychologist, sleep nurse, physical therapist, etc.) and to feel sad, angry, or even grief at times due to the changes.
At times, the experiential shift of a new baby may be so intense that a new parent begins to experience prolonged and intense anxiety, depression, OCD, or even trauma symptoms which last several weeks after postpartum. We know through research that at least 1 in 4 women, and 1 in 10 men will experience a PMAD, or perinatal mood and anxiety disorder, after the birth of a child. That is a lot of people, and it’s because this is a huge shift neurologically, hormonally, physically, psychologically and logistically.
What helps postpartum anxiety and depression?
If you are suffering from postpartum anxiety or postpartum depression or postpartum OCD, it is not your fault, there is no blame, and there is help available! Most parents experience a huge improvement with time, increased sleep, assistance with household chores and meal prep, mental health therapy, physical therapy and sometimes medication too. If you are a partner, have you made a sleep plan and do you know that your biggest job at the beginning may be to care for your partner (not the baby?). If you are a friend, or family member: can you bring a meal once a week, walk the dog, help with cleaning the house? If you expect to be treated like a guest, it will add to the burden the new parents are already feeling, and even though they may be excited to see you and introduce the baby, the extra hosting duties can be overwhelming early on.
Speaking with a therapist can be a great way of creating space for yourself as a parent or expecting parent. At The Centered Space, we will meet with clients at all stages: some who are in the trying/thinking about pregnancy phase, some establish treatment during pregnancy, and others in the postpartum - there is never a wrong time if you are looking to process and find support and skills during this time. Contact us and we will set up a consultation with one of our therapists.