Image of a stressed woman leaning over a crib. Do you struggle with your emotions after birth? Learn how postpartum therapy in Atlanta, GA can help you manage your emotions in healthy ways.

Virtual Postpartum Therapy in Atlanta, GA, and 33+ states in the U.S.

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) can occur during pregnancy and one year after birth. PMADs most commonly impact the birthing person. But partners and adoptive parents can also experience difficulties after the baby joins the family.

Typically, PMADs can take away the individual’s ability to enjoy parenthood and it is important for individuals to get the support they need.

PMADs do not discriminate and can impact anyone regardless of age, income level, race, ethnicity, and culture. It is important to seek out support and help early on since PMADs can have risks if left untreated including negative impact on your physical health, relationship problems, and unemployment. Individuals who have had a previous episode of a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder are at increased risk for developing a PMAD.

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Occurrence of PMADs

As many as 1 in 7 moms (1 in 10 dads) experience symptoms of depression and anxiety during the postpartum period.

There are many underlying reasons for the occurrence of PMADs. During pregnancy, an individual’s body goes through many changes to provide for the unborn baby’s growth and development. In addition to hormonal fluctuations early in pregnancy, many other factors play into a new parent’s mental health such as lack of sleep, changes in your identity after becoming a parent, difficulties in feeding the baby, and feeling more isolated.

There are assumptions that can negatively impact an individual’s ability to transition into parenthood including breastfeeding will come easily, being a parent is instinctual, or good parents don’t take time for themselves. These assumptions can leave parents feeling like a failure or alone when they encounter difficulties during the transition. These factors can also impact an individual’s mental health and it is important to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Do I Have a PMAD?

It can be overwhelming experiencing mood or anxiety symptoms and it can be hard to tell exactly what is going on. The best course of action is to meet with a therapist and complete a first session where the therapist will complete a diagnostic interview with you. Then it will be explained if you meet the criteria for a PMAD. While it can be easy to Google symptoms, it is always best to get a diagnosis from a trained professional.

Does my Partner Have a PMAD?

If you have noticed your partner is withdrawing from you or the baby, it is important to seek help to see if your partner is suffering from a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder. While it can be easy to rationalize the symptoms away, it is crucial to have an evaluation done to evaluate for PMADs. During the first session, your therapist at Informed Therapy Group will do a comprehensive clinical interview to determine an accurate diagnosis and discuss treatment options. You can reference the resources page for additional resources.

Postpartum Therapy for PMADs

Postpartum therapy can help if you are struggling with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders because it provides the necessary support to talk about what you’re going through.

There’s a sense of safety in being able to express your feelings without fear of judgment.

As therapists, it is our job to listen, involve you in solutions, and provide additional resources. This helps make it possible for you to see hope and gain some control over your life again.

Common Therapy Focuses for PMADs Include:

Perinatal mood disorders (Depression, Anxiety, OCD, PSTD, and Psychosis)
Breastfeeding/formula support
Weaning support
Bonding and attachment after the birth
Support and healing after a traumatic birth experience
Co-parenting issues or parental conflict
High-risk pregnancy/birth and NICU experiences
Infertility
Pregnancy loss

Therapy Provides Many Benefits for Patients. Some More Common Benefits Include:

Increased self-worth
Developing healthy coping strategies
Learning how to set healthy boundaries
Decrease in depressive or anxiety symptoms
Establishing more self-confidence in your role as a mother
Improved connectedness with others

Medication for PMADs

It is up to you whether you want to take medication. When you meet with a postpartum therapist at Informed Therapy Group, your therapist will explore your feelings regarding medications and discuss the options based on several factors including severity of symptoms, access and openness to therapy, and support system. We will then refer to medical professionals for further evaluation. Postpartum therapy is the place where you explore your thoughts and feelings around medications. The medical professionals (PCP, psychiatrist) will help evaluate medications that will be appropriate given current symptoms and diagnoses. If you decide to take medication, that does not make you less of a parent. It is important to take care of your mental health.

Which PMADs are experienced postpartum?

Postpartum Depression
Postpartum Anxiety
Postpartum OCD
Postpartum PTSD
Postpartum Psychosis

Image of a woman sitting on the nursery floor looking sad. Learn to manage your postpartum emotions with the help of postpartum therapy in Atlanta, GA.

What is Postpartum Depression?

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a form of depression that can occur in some parents after birth. Postpartum depression may develop in the days or weeks after childbirth, but it usually begins within the first month. Individuals who have a history of PPD are at greater risk for developing this condition compared to individuals with no previous history of mental illness.

Postpartum depression is treatable through various therapies such as psychotherapy, medication, or both.

The most common type of psychotherapy for postpartum depression is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT focuses on the present and helps clients change negative thought patterns by examining their thoughts and testing out new ways of thinking about them. Clients learn to understand the distorted beliefs that often lead to self-destructive behaviors and then create a plan for healthy living and coping with whatever challenges they face.

In order to determine whether or not an individual has PPD as opposed to just postpartum blues, the person must have been experiencing the symptoms of PPD consistently for at least two weeks without any fluctuation.

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression

Feelings of sadness and emptiness more days than not
Difficulty bonding with baby
Frequent crying
Loss of energy nearly all-day
Disturbances in sleep
Loss of appetite
Increased irritability or anger
Increase in negative thoughts of guilt or shame
Loss of interest in activities you enjoy
Isolation from others
Thoughts of harming yourself or the baby

These symptoms can become worse if they go untreated; however, there is effective treatment available. Please reach out for support anytime you don’t feel like yourself and you want to further understand the symptoms you are experiencing during the perinatal period.

Postpartum Depression or The Baby Blues?

The key difference between baby blues and postpartum depression is the duration that a parent experiences depressive symptoms.

The symptoms of the baby blues typically last for a few days and can persist for a couple of weeks after birth. Postpartum depression symptoms typically last more than a couple of weeks.

Typical symptoms of the baby blues include:

Sadness
Irritability
Feeling overwhelmed
Crying
Appetite changes

Image of a baby laying on a blanket with a close up of its feet. Is your partner struggling with their emotions after birth? Overcome your symptoms with the help of postpartum therapy in Atlanta, GA!

What is Postpartum Anxiety?

Postpartum anxiety is excessive fear, nervousness, or worry that occurs after the birth. This disorder is becoming more common in new parents. It is treatable and it can happen to anyone. Risk factors include personal or family history of anxiety, history of previous perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, previous pregnancy or infant loss, or thyroid imbalance. It is important to reach out for support since it can consume your mind and take away your ability to be present in your life.

Common symptoms of postpartum anxiety:

Excessive worrying
Difficulty in controlling the worry
Racing thoughts
Changes in sleep
Difficulty sitting still or feeling on edge
Easily fatigued
Irritability

Individuals with postpartum anxiety may also be experiencing postpartum depression. It is important to meet with a mental health provider to obtain an accurate diagnosis and see if you are experiencing comorbidity of depression and anxiety.

Postpartum OCD

Postpartum OCD is a condition that affects new parents. It can be debilitating to those suffering from it due to its persistent nature. Individuals suffering from postpartum OCD experience intrusive thoughts on most days of the week for at least 1 hour per day and engage in behaviors such as checking on the baby several times during the night or washing hands excessively after touching something potentially unsafe.

These compulsions can take up huge amounts of time and energy, leaving individuals exhausted and unable to carry out normal daily tasks. Individuals may feel ashamed about their condition and have trouble getting help because they think their behavior is over the top. The condition can be exacerbated by a lack of understanding from family members and friends.

Postpartum OCD impacts the lives of parents in negative ways, increasing feelings of isolation, guilt, and self-blame. It has even been linked to symptoms of postpartum depression.

Individuals with postpartum OCD know their thoughts are bizarre and they are at a very low risk of harming their child.

Symptoms of Postpartum OCD

Obsessions / Intrusive thoughts (repetitive thoughts or mental images related to the baby that are upsetting)
Compulsions (doing things over and over again in order to reduce fears and obsessions such as checking on the baby repeatedly and removing items from your home that relate to the intrusive thoughts)
Fear of being alone with the baby
Hypervigilance regarding the baby’s wellbeing

Postpartum PTSD

Postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PPTSD) can occur in an individual after witnessing perceived or real trauma.

Symptoms include intrusive and repetitive thoughts regarding the distressing memories of the event, recurrent distressing dreams, flashbacks, hypervigilance, avoidance of distressing memories, negative beliefs about oneself (“maybe I did something wrong”), and feelings of detachment

Exposure to any of, but not limited to, the following past traumatic experiences can lead to the development of postpartum PTSD:

Unplanned C-sections
High-risk birth
Baby going into the NICU
Feelings of powerlessness during the birth
Physical complications during delivery

Postpartum Psychosis

Postpartum psychosis is a rare but serious psychiatric disorder that affects individuals after childbirth. In most cases, symptoms appear within one month after the birth and steadily worsen over a period of hours or days.

Postpartum psychosis can lead to the following symptoms:

Hallucinations
Delusions (strange beliefs)
Hyperactivity
Paranoia
Rapid mood swings
Disorganized speech (incoherence)

The difference between OCD and psychosis is the individual does not recognize that their thoughts are unhealthy or distorted and may have less anxiety when indulging in the thoughts or behaviors.

Any individual with these symptoms needs immediate medical attention. Please call your doctor or the emergency hotlines I have listed on my resources page.

The idea that you, or your partner, are struggling emotionally during the transition to parenthood is something many people don’t consider until they find themselves in the perinatal period. But it’s important to remember that struggling emotionally doesn’t mean you aren’t a good parent.

Don’t Struggle Alone. Get Started With Postpartum Therapy Today.

The transition to parenthood is hard and it is okay to need additional support in navigating any difficulties during the postpartum period. You are not alone.

Therapy can help make sense of your feelings and thoughts and help improve your mood.

Schedule your consultation today

Image of a mother holding a sleeping baby. If you are struggling after birth, learn how postpartum therapy in Atlanta, GA can help you explore and manage your emotions.

Start Feeling Better With the Help of Postpartum Therapy in Atlanta, GA!

Ready to start feeling better? If you feel life is spent stuck in painful emotions after giving birth, postpartum therapy can help. Call us now to get started or click below to fill out a form and we will contact you. We are here to help you get through life’s challenges. At Informed Therapy Group in Atlanta Georgia, you will work with our postpartum therapists who understand your specific needs. If you’re ready to feel heard and valued in your own space, then follow these simple steps:

Contact Informed Therapy Group
Schedule your complimentary consultation to see if Postpartum Therapy is right for you
Start feeling better and manage your emotions in healthy ways!

Other Services Offered at Informed Therapy Group

At Informed Therapy Group we understand that you may be struggling and we want to help. Our online Georgia practice offers therapy for stress management, anxiety therapy, depression therapy, and therapy for grief and loss. We also specialize in couples therapy and pregnancy counseling. To learn more about Informed Therapy read About Us, FAQs, and our blog!

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