Maternal Mental Health Month Is a Reminder You're Not Alone

"Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) are mental health conditions that can occur during pregnancy and throughout the postpartum period. Many people have heard of postpartum depression, but PMADs also include postpartum anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post- traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD), bipolar disorder, and postpartum psychosis."

"Intrusive thoughts after birth are common and do not reflect intent or character. Many women struggle silently because they believe they "should" be coping better. Early support for perinatal mental health symptoms can improve recovery and connection."

"While new motherhood is often portrayed as joyful and fulfilling, many women quietly struggle during this transition. They may feel anxious, emotionally overwhelmed, disconnected, irritable, or unlike themselves in ways they did not anticipate. And often, they feel alone in it."

"The transition into motherhood involves enormous physical, hormonal, relational, and identity shifts. Sleep deprivation, medical complications, fertility struggles, birth trauma, feeding difficulties, lack of support, and prior mental health history can all affect emotional well-being during this time."

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders can occur during pregnancy and throughout the postpartum period. Emotional suffering during the transition to motherhood may include anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and postpartum psychosis, not only postpartum depression. Intrusive thoughts after birth are common and do not reflect intent or character. Many women experience anxiety, feeling emotionally overwhelmed, disconnected, irritable, or unlike themselves, and they often struggle silently because they believe they should be coping better. Sleep deprivation, hormonal changes, relational shifts, identity changes, medical complications, fertility struggles, birth trauma, feeding difficulties, lack of support, and prior mental health history can contribute. Early support for symptoms can improve recovery and help people feel connected.

Read at Psychology Today