Postpartum Anxiety & Depression

The postpartum period is an enormous transitional time, which involves taking on a new identity and discovering your role as a mother. Hormonal changes, lack of sleep, recovering from the birth process, and adjusting to caring for an infant 24/7, can make this period incredibly stressful and overwhelming. Some women may seek counselling to help find tools for managing stress and coping with this difficult transition. Other women may find that this period brings with it strong feelings of anxiety & depression. It is estimated that 1 out of 6 women experience a perinatal mood disorder within a year of the birth of their child. Some of the common symptoms of postpartum depression and/or anxiety include:

• Excessive worry and fear (often related to the baby’s health) or panic attacks

• Outbursts of crying and/or strong feelings of sadness, anger, or resentment

• Difficulty connecting with your baby

• Feelings of guilt or hopelessness

• A lack of energy or motivation

• Difficulty concentrating

• Strong feelings of shame, failure & inadequacy

• Extreme sleep deprivation and difficulty sleeping (beyond the normal disruptions that come with being a new mom)

• Withdrawing from family and friends or the inability to connect with your partner

• Difficulty integrating a traumatic birth experience: flashbacks, hyper-vigilance, numbness

Perhaps you might find yourself thinking thoughts such as:

There is something wrong with me. Why can’t handle this when everyone else can?

I’m failing at motherhood

I can’t connect with my baby

Some women experience these symptoms during pregnancy, others immediately following the birth, and for others the symptoms may not show up for many months. Struggling with postpartum depression and/or anxiety can be incredibly distressing for the new mother and can have significant effects on her mental health, well-being and relationships with her family.  

Through postpartum counselling, I offer emotional support to help you explore your feelings of sadness, anger, isolation, shame, or guilt and tools for coping with your depression, anxiety, and/or trauma. Together, we will explore ways of managing your stress, increasing self-care, and discovering your identity as a mother. We will also explore ways to help you feel more connected to yourself, your partner, and your baby. Additional areas of exploration might include, developing a healthy relationship with food and your body, learning skills for improving communication and your relationship with your partner, and taking the opportunity to process and explore your birth experience.