Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders

Are you pregnant or a new mom experiencing anxiety and/or depression? Perhaps you feel overwhelmed, empty, or have unexplained crying spells. Are you experiencing diminished interest in becoming a mother?  Are you struggling with infertility or pregnancy loss? You may be wondering if what you are feeling after birth is normal. Perhaps you had a traumatic birth and are finding past traumas come up. Motherhood is filled with new expectations, and they can be overwhelming. While common, it can be crushing to balance the expectations from partners, family members, friends, work, social media, and even yourself. Regardless of what stage of motherhood you are in, we can work with you. 

"Perinatal" is defined as the period between pregnancy up until 12 months postpartum. It is a monumental transition, and it is not uncommon to experience feelings of guilt, hopelessness, or mood swings. You may be struggling with a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder if you are feeling sad or depressed, anxious or fearful, finding yourself more irritable or angry with yourself or others, finding yourself avoiding other people or places, having a hard time bonding with your baby, struggling to eat or sleep despite feeling fatigued, having upsetting thoughts that won't go away, experiencing shame in your identity as a parent, or being worried that you might hurt yourself or your baby. Please know you do not need to continue to suffer alone, and informed care can help your symptoms subside. 

If you feel like you're not yourself, overwhelmed, alone or unsure of what to do next – we can help! We have worked with many women who have been excited to enter the stage of motherhood only to hear the word ‘infertility,’ and expectant and new mothers who are coming to terms with loss, unexpected diagnoses, anxiety and/or depression, unmet expectations, intrusive thoughts, and juggling their new role and identity. If this resonates, you do not have to continue alone. Let us walk with you through this transition. We can work with you in bringing relief to the symptoms you may be experiencing and help you discover your identity.