You can find freedom from postpartum depression, rage, intrusive/scary thoughts, anxiety and depression. There is support for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. You are not alone.
Pregnancy, PMADS, Postpartum Depression, OCD, & PTSD Therapy in Illinois
If you’re feeling overwhelm, guilt, shame or hopelessess, there is support available. Book a free 20 minute consultation today!
Pregnancy, PMADS, Postpartum Depression, OCD & PTSD
Holistic Therapy in Illinois
I offer resources, and emotional support for pregnant, mothers postpartum, and families who are suffering from the effects of postpartum anxiety, depression, OCD, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. I help parents cope with the pressure of being a parent and manage the stress it brings.
Do you feel so overwhelmed, wondering if you have time for anxiety therapy right now? I know how difficult it is to find free time for self-care or to relax. Being a parent is a full-time job in itself. Add on if you are a single parent, working, and having to deal with other difficult life circumstances at the same time. At Finding Freedom Holistic Therapy, the process of setting up therapy services is made simple.
I offer teletherapy sessions you can attend from the comfort of your home. This way, you do not have to worry about childcare or about rushing from the office to a therapy session. The process includes a free 20 minute consultation call, a link to fill out online intake forms, an insurance benefit check, and setting up the first appointment. Appointments can be scheduled as soon as 48 hours from the consultation.
Contact me so we can discuss individualized support. Talk therapy, a thorough assessment, linkage to resources, and stress management techniques will be provided to help you to receive symptom relief and emotional support as quickly as possible.
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders
PMADS occurs when baby blues symptoms last beyond a two- to three-week period and become worse or begin to interfere with everyday living. There are a number of reasons why parents may become depressed or anxious. As a mother, your body undergoes many changes during and after pregnancy. You may experience mood swings. A new baby will change parents’ sleeping schedules and lifestyles. In addition, there are many stressors to having a baby who has undergone surgery and an ICU hospitalization after birth.
Perinatal or postpartum mood and anxiety disorders affect 1 in 7 women and can happen even before your baby is born. These feelings get in the way of doing activities of everyday living, particularly caring for yourself and your baby. Symptoms such as feeling overly tired, experiencing appetite changes and poor sleep are often dismissed as “just part of being pregnant” or “being a new parent,” but if the things you do every day are affected, you should consider seeking help.
The changes that your body and emotions go through during and following pregnancy are very real and so are the risks for a PMAD. It is a serious illness, just like diabetes or heart disease, and it can be treated.
Types of PMADS
- Perinatal or Postpartum Mood Disorder
- Perinatal or Postpartum Anxiety Disorder
- Perinatal or Postpartum Psychosis
- Perinatal or Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders
The most common signs of a Perinatal Mood Disorders (PMADS) include:
- Experiencing persistent sadness.
- Relentless worry and/or anxiety. This may affect the ability to sleep or allow others to care for the baby.
- Feeling “empty”, overwhelmed or helpless.
- Heart Palpitations
- Experiencing frequent crying episodes (one or more a day for two weeks).
- Panic attacks- this can feel like the heart is racing, often includes difficulty breathing and emotional paralysis.
- Chronic fatigue (this is tough because all new moms are sleep deprived). It is recommended that new moms try to sleep at least 4 hours per night, when possible, to stay healthy.
- Pressured Speech
- Loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities.
- Avoidance of romantic partner, social supports and/or the baby.
- Persistent self-doubt, self-criticism, shame, and/or guilt.
- Intrusive thoughts of accidental harm coming to the baby.
- Intrusive thoughts of enacting harm on the baby.
- Significant changes in eating and/or sleeping patterns (outside of the typical sleep deprivation and schedule shift that comes with taking care of a newborn).
- Feeling irritable and/or angry at oneself and/or others.
- Fear of being alone or separated from baby, which can result in not being able to let others care for or hold the baby or put the baby down.
- Trouble making simple decisions and/or concentrating.
- Heightened Paranoia
- Feelings of dread or impending doom
- Inability to control obsessions and the need for control related to child safety
- Compulsive tendencies impacting daily living (washing, cleansing, checking, inability to leave the house, etc.)
- Frequent thoughts of death or falling asleep and not waking up.
Book a free 20 minute consultation call to explore your needs and address your questions.
