Welcome to Full Circle Psychology
Perinatal Mental Health
Youāre a mom, are about to become a mom, or have been trying to become a mom for months or years – and things are just not going as you expected. You may have thought that the process of becoming a parent would be straightforward or even exciting. You didnāt expect the grief and loss you have endured, possibly multiple times. You may have thought that once having a baby, sure you would be tired but you would also be overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. It turns out this isnāt the case at all. You may feel you are on an emotional rollercoaster that wonāt slow down enough for you to get your bearings straight. Your emotions might range from sadness and doubt, to guilt and shame, to anger and resentment. Whatever it is you are feeling, the one thing you know is that it is all so overwhelming.Ā
The reality of it is, what you are experiencing is not as uncommon as you may think. The rates of perinatal anxiety and depression are alarmingly high, and unfortunately it is common for women to go untreated due to a multitude of reasons. Feeling shame or guilt, fear of reaching out, being unaware of what it is you are experiencing, having a lack of support, or inadequate screening are just a few examples of why some women do not receive the support and treatment they need. Many women thus suffer in silence, while still doing their best to carry on through pregnancy or mothering their child.Ā
Any of these symptoms, and many more, could suggest that you may benefit from increased support:
- Feel sad or depressed and find yourself crying often
- Experience excessive amounts of anxiety or panic attacks
- Feel helpless or overwhelmed by everyday activitiesĀ
- Have racing thoughts that cause you distress and you find it difficult focusing on anything elseĀ
- Have intrusive thoughts that you may hurt yourself or your baby
- Feel a lack of closeness to your baby
- Feel like you are not good enough and label yourself as a ābadā mom
- Have difficulty sleeping or eating
- Find it difficult to care for yourself
- Feel isolated and aloneĀ
Although postpartum depression is the most commonly referred to perinatal disorder, there are several different forms of mental health struggles that a woman may be suffering from throughout pregnancy or postpartum. Women may experience anxiety during and after pregnancy, postpartum post-traumatic stress, postpartum psychosis, pregnancy or postpartum OCD, or bipolar mood disorders.Ā
My goal is to increase the awareness of, and provide treatment for, any symptoms related to perinatal mental health. Whether it be working on alleviating anxiety, increasing feelings of hope and pleasure, rebuilding a healthy, loving relationship with yourself, or healing from a traumatic experience, I want you to know you are not alone in this, and ensure that you have the support you need to help you thrive. Asking for help can be a difficult and overwhelming first step. Once you do it, you will be so relieved to discover how far you have already come.Ā
If you think I can help, please reach out to book a free 20-minute consultation.