Therapy for Postpartum Depression Can Transform Your Life and Bring Your Peace
Your world has dramatically changed since having a child.
You want to be happy, but you feel like you can’t catch your breath. Exhaustion, constant feeding demands, and lack of downtime affect your well-being. The joy of motherhood you expect to experience is swallowed by anxiety, overwhelm, and depression.
You feel lost and out of touch with yourself.
You’re frustrated that you haven’t had a chance to heal.
You’re on parental overload and having a hard time juggling the baby's needs and your own.
You’re not showing up for yourself or your baby the way you had hoped.
If any of these feelings sound familiar, there is a way to heal – therapy for postpartum depression.
If you’re experiencing these postpartum depression symptoms, you're not alone. Up to 20% of women get diagnosed with Postpartum depression. Yet, the real number of women experiencing postpartum depression is suspected to be much higher. Studies have shown that more than half of women who experience this go don’t share their true feelings and go undiagnosed.
Maybe you’ve thought, “It’s fine. I can handle this.”
It’s important to know that experiencing postpartum depression and anxiety is not connected to your emotional strength. Rather, it’s your body’s reaction to the life-changing event of having a child.
The truth is, sometimes our bodies need extra help. When this happens, it's not a reflection of our toughness or resiliency. It’s just our body’s way of expressing the support it needs.
As an experienced therapist in postpartum depression and anxiety, I will hold space for you to express your feelings and teach you skills to work toward healing. Together, we can improve your quality of life so you can experience motherhood the way you desire.
If you feel overwhelmed or at your limit, let’s talk.
What Is Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a type of depression experienced by mothers following childbirth resulting from hormonal changes, psychological adjustment to motherhood, and exhaustion.
What causes postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression and anxiety are still being researched in the science and medical communities. However, many believe hormonal changes or cultural surroundings can contribute to postpartum depression.
After childbirth, your body will experience a dramatic decrease in estrogen and progesterone hormone levels. This hormone level drop can cause emotions ranging from anxiety to sadness to irritability. Usually, these feelings subside about a week after delivering your baby.
If these feelings don’t go away and continue to increase, you could be experiencing the early stages of postpartum depression.
The transition to parenthood is challenging for everyone. Adapting to your body postpartum, figuring out a new schedule, and learning how to be a parent takes time. It’s also important to distinguish the difference between challenging and complete overload. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, depressed, or anxious, it may be time to seek support.
Perception can also be a contributing factor to postpartum depression. Different cultures and communities believe there are different reasons women get postpartum depression. These factors range from an increase in multiple psychosocial stressors, traumatic pregnancy or childbirth, lack of support, changing hormones, difficult partnerships, social situations, and disappointment in the baby's gender or health.
What’s important to know is if you’re experiencing any of these postpartum depression symptoms, there is a way to heal and get relief.
Signs You’re Experiencing Postpartum Depression
Signs and symptoms of postpartum depression can look and feel different for every woman. These signs can show up in various areas of your life, from how you feel, to bonding with your child, to your everyday routine.
Let’s get more specific to see if any of these feel true to you.
Change in Feelings
Feeling depressed.
An overwhelming feeling of sadness that you can’t shake.
Irritability with those around and closest to you.
Shame or guilt in your decision-making as a mother.
A sense of panic or fear takes up space in your body.
Change in Behavior
You’re not interested in connecting or spending time with others.
You’re constantly tired even if you’ve had rest.
Decision-making is overwhelming.
You’re either famished or have no appetite.
Change in Relationships
You’re struggling to bond and connect with your baby.
Your relationship with your partner feels strained or disconnected due to the new parental roles and responsibilities.
The daily overstimulation you feel as a parent is making you crave solitude and having you withdraw from family and friends.
You could be suffering from one or several of these symptoms and not even know it. Many women don’t realize they are suffering from postpartum depression because they don’t know what signs to look for. If you believe you’re experiencing postpartum depression, don’t wait to get help.
Treatment for Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression can last from several months to years. However, women that seek help and support are able to move through their postpartum depression and improve their quality of life.
One way to gain relief and move toward healing from postpartum depression is through the use of therapy. As a therapist trained in postpartum depression and anxiety, I can guide you through this life transition. I’ll provide a safe space for you to share and introduce new tools to help you move forward with your postpartum depression. Some of these tools and techniques may feel clunky at first. Yet, over time they will become second nature.
Vulnerability can be uncomfortable, especially after you have a baby.
That’s why we will go at your pace. We are embarking on this journey toward healing together. As your therapist, I will never push you but rather guide you in the direction of healing.
What will a session look like?
During our time, we’ll discuss your emotional and physical needs and how they can be fulfilled. We’ll also tackle the feelings and thoughts you have about motherhood. After understanding your associations and beliefs around this new role, we can decide what is serving you and what can be left behind.
The positive effects you will gain after our therapy sessions are…
Confidence around your role and decisions as a mother
A feeling of grounding in your life
Showing up and being present with yourself and your baby
Get Help Now and Connect With a Therapist
As a mother myself, I understand the rollercoaster of the postpartum period. Some days you wish you could freeze time so that the special moments will never end. On other days, you might be overwhelmed and want to hit the reset button to feel like your old self.
These are all understandable feelings and emotions. And you’re not alone.
As your therapist, I will help guide you through postpartum depression and this unique time in your life. Leaving space for you to experience every emotion and offer tools to help you heal while in this new role.
After our therapy sessions, you will gain more confidence and understanding of your new needs as a mother. Learning to balance the task of taking care of your child as well as yourself.
You don’t have to suffer from postpartum depression in silence.
Experience how therapy for postpartum depression can change your quality of life.
I’m ready to be your guide…are you ready to feel like yourself again?
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