Counseling for Postpartum Depression & Postpartum Anxiety in Florida

You are Tired of Struggling with Postpartum Depression & Postpartum Anxiety

Becoming a mother may be one of the most challenging but transformative experiences of your life. Nothing can really prepare you for all the changes that you experience as you learn to be a parent. There are moments of pure joy, but also ones that test every part of your being. There are moments of “I can’t do this anymore” and “Am I the only one feeling this? Why don’t I feel the same anymore?” I know, Mama. You are not alone.

It’s extremely common to struggle as a new mom, yet it’s something not many people talk openly about.

Becoming a parent can force you to revisit certain aspects of yourself. It can also remind you of previous traumas or issues. It intensely connects you to your own parents and forces you to examine your relationship with your family of origin. Those memories might be great memories, or they might be deeply emotional and triggering. Either way, unprocessed issues can arise and you may find yourself saying, “I never wanted to be my mother, but I fit seems that I am turning into her.”

New mamas often struggle with identity changes which may leave them wondering “Who am I now?”

You have just welcomed a new baby into your life and now you are struggling with what this means now to be a new mama. Or, maybe you are unsure how to navigate holding onto your old identity, while also embracing this new one as someone’s sole caretaker. It might be that care-taking triggers something deep inside of you. For example, perhaps you were a caretaker for your own siblings when you were younger and vowed to never find yourself in that position again.

Perhaps, you are struggling to navigate parenthood with your partner. You find yourself angry at your partner, angry that he doesn’t have to go through these huge changes. Or being upset that he gets some reprieve at work. It could be that you feel they are not supporting you as you wished they did. Furthermore, navigating intimacy and sex postpartum, is hard and difficult for many women and you’re left wondering why no one talks about these challenges. Maybe, you’re struggling with your postpartum body image. This idea that we can just “bounce back” might be plaguing you, and you’re wondering “Am I the only one who is struggling with my new body?”

Being a new mom can leave you longing for how things used to be.

Grief is another emotion that can accompany moms during the postpartum period. Your life completely shifts in a single day. Now, you can find yourself longing for how things were. You might wonder if you will ever get to do the things you used to do, be that person you used to be, or if you’ll get to travel again. You might feel guilty for not appreciating this “special time” with your baby. You might even be asking if there is something wrong with you.

Postpartum Depression and Postpartum Anxiety Are Extremely Common, and Under Recognized.

First, Mama, know you are not alone. Nearly 80 percent of mothers go through the baby blues, emotional shifts during the first two weeks post-birth. In fact, research shows that 20-25 percent of mothers experience a perinatal mood disorder, like postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety, in the first year. So know, it is not your fault. But, there are things to do that will help you feel better.

It is important to understand that after birth many women experience huge emotional shifts, physiological changes, and extreme hormonal changes. These rapid hormonal changes can happen right after birth, when you stop breastfeeding, when your period returns, and during menopause. Some people are just more sensitive to these hormonal shifts. This causes an array of painful and alarming symptoms. Mix these changes with lack of sleep, and extreme emotions, and you have a recipe for a serious challenge.