Often, what is most beautiful in life can come with some of the most difficult mental health challenges. This is especially true when it comes to bringing a new life into the world. This season of life is often portrayed as a time of immense joy and fulfillment. However, the reality can be far more complex for many new mothers. Perinatal (the period of time from when you become pregnant and up to a year after birth) mental health issues, encompassing a range of emotional and psychological challenges, are a significant and often misunderstood aspect of the perinatal experience.
The Spectrum of Perinatal Mood Disorders:
For those in this pivotal time of life, it’s important to understand the distinction between baby blues and perinatal mood disorders. So, what do perinatal mood disorders look like? Many new mothers experience mood swings, tearfulness, and anxiety within the first few days after giving birth. This is often called baby blues and is considered a normal response to hormonal changes and the adjustment to new motherhood. If these symptoms persist for months after birth, it is important to consider getting treatment and support. Many risk factors may impact the development of a perinatal mood disorder including lack of support, financial stress, birth or postpartum medical trauma, and previous mental health diagnoses. Below is a general overview of some of the potential perinatal mood disorders and some of the symptoms associated with each diagnosis:
Depression: feelings of anger or irritability, lack of interest in baby, appetite and sleep disturbance, crying and sadness, feelings of guilt, shame or hopelessness, loss of interest in things you used to enjoy, or thoughts of harming yourself or the baby.
Anxiety: constant worry, feeling that something bad is going to happen, racing thoughts, disturbances of sleep and appetite, inability to sit still, or physical symptoms like dizziness, hot flashes, and nausea.
Obsessive Symptoms: obsessions (or intrusive thoughts) which are persistent and repetitive thoughts or mental images related to the baby, compulsions which are repetitive actions or thoughts to reduce fears and obsessions, a sense of horror about the obsessions, fear of being left alone with the baby, or hypervigilance in protecting the baby.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Birth Trauma: intrusive re-experiencing of past traumatic events, flashbacks, and nightmares, avoidance of stimuli of the event, persistent increased arousal, anxiety and panic attacks, or feeling a sense of unreality or detachment.
Seeking Help and Support
Recognizing the signs and symptoms of perinatal mood disorders is crucial for early intervention and treatment. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and are concerned about your experience in motherhood, seek help from someone who specializes in perinatal mood disorders. You deserve to find joy and fulfillment in this time of life and help is available. When it comes to treatment, therapists (such as myself and Rubi Garcia) use a variety of modalities including IFS and CBT to help my clients find increased support, peace, and healing. Additionally, in the case of trauma, we can use EMDR and Trauma Narratives to help address PTSD and traumatic experiences related to a client’s pregnancy, birth, or postpartum.
Sources: Postpartum Support International
Written by Tiana Hoffman
