Post Partum Issues (Depression  and Related Disorders) Therapy and Treatment

Short and Simple Depression Symptom List:
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Irritability
• Weepiness
• Hopelessness
• Sleeping or eating problems
• Feeling unconnected to the baby

Short and Simple Anxiety Symptom List:
• Excessive worry
• Nervousness
• Stress about the baby’s well-being

Women are at much higher risk for developing mental health disorders during the postpartum period than at any other time in their lives.As many as 20 percent of new mothers experience postpartum depression and related disorders. Depression and anxiety can occur during pregnancy and any time up to a year after childbirth.

Specific anxiety disorders that can occur are: panic disorder in which panic attacks develop and a fear of them recurring; obsessive compulsive disorder in which repetitive and unwanted thoughts, images, or behaviors are experienced that are disturbing (including thoughts of harming or harm coming to the baby); and post-traumatic stress disorder in which a traumatic pregnancy or birth experience triggers re-experiencing the event through vivid memories, flashbacks or nightmares, and symptoms of jumpiness or hypervigilance, numbing and detachment.

Bipolar disorder, in which there are alternating periods of depression and elation, can develop or worsen (if pre-existing) and postpartum psychosis, which is very rare, is usually associated with an underlying bipolar disorder. It generally occurs within the first 4 weeks postpartum and symptoms include agitation, confusion, loss of touch with reality, hallucinations, and delusional thoughts usually around harming baby or self that frequently are religious in nature.

Motherhood is one of the biggest transitions in a woman’s life. There are losses and gains associated with this transition, and the change can feel traumatic and overwhelming for many. EMDR with an EMDRIA-Certified EMDR Therapist can ease the transition by helping process the areas where a mom feels stuck. There are specific effective protocols for dealing with PTSD, panic attacks, etc. The protocol for PTSD has been well-validated by much research. EMDR is considered experimental for other applications, as much research remains to be done.

EMDR therapists have helped many mothers cope and adjust to the transition, recover efficiently from traumatic experiences, ease their anxiety, feel better about themselves, and bond with their baby.

Back to Psychotherapy Specialties for San Diego

San Diego therapist, post partum depression