For new moms, it can be upsetting and frightening to have feelings about motherhood that don’t seem “right.” These feelings go beyond the “Baby Blues” that affect 60-80% of new moms and lasts no more than two weeks. What happens when these symptoms go beyond that and it feels more intense than hormone fluctuations and adjustments to caring for a baby? What do you do when symptoms effect every part of every day and the thought, “this doesn’t feel like me” is constant?
For some women, a morning run, a healthy diet and receiving help and support from family and friends are sufficient enough to get through the initial adjustment period. For others, talking to a therapist who specializes in dealing with new motherhood issues can be comforting, relieving and enlightening.
Therapists who have extensive education and training in postpartum disorders understand that hormone changes, personal and family history, and social support are all vital factors in understanding and alleviating postpartum symptoms.
Common postpartum symptoms include:
- Feeling overwhelmed and wondering if you should have become a mother in the first place
- Feeling guilty due to high self-expectations
- Not feeling “bonded” with the baby
- Your thoughts are racing and you can’t quiet your mind
- Feeling empty and numb as if you’re just going through the motions
- Lack of focus and concentration
- Being afraid that if you reach out for help, others will judge your inabilities
- Thoughts of running away or leaving your baby behind
- Being constantly in a state of worry
If one or more of the above symptoms resonates with you, we invite you to contact us today for a free consultation. Together, we’ll find the underlying issues that make you feel disconnected and create a strategy for moving forward. Contact us today to see how we can help.
“It takes a whole village to raise a child, but we need to remember that it was the mother who had the baby, and she needs our help, too.” Jane Honikman, Founder Postpartum Support International