New moms shouldn’t have to explain, justify, defend or substantiate the reasons they do things or the way they are feeling. But we live in a culture that demands that they do so, usually indirectly, but sometimes, blatantly. Do this. Don’t do that. Feed this way, not that way. Go here, not there. Wear this, not […]
Are you trying to find a perinatal therapist? • A personal recommendation from someone you trust is one of the best places to start. • The following organizations have searchable lists of therapists in the U.S. and outside the U.S. who are trained as postpartum specialists. The Postpartum Stress Center Postpartum Support International Postpartum Progress […]
Yep. That’s me. Working on my first book, This Isn’t What I Expected circa 1992. In one month from today, Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts: A healing guide to the secret fears of new mothers is coming out. (March 1, 2019, Familius) Please indulge me with this personal post, so I can tell you why this […]
Image Credit Jillian Tamaki New York Times Readers react to articles on the various ways that mental disorders can afflict new moms. Opinion LETTERS June 21, 2014 To the Editor: Re “ ‘Thinking of Ways to Harm Her’ ” and “After Baby, an Unraveling” (“Mother’s Mind” series, front page, June 16, and Science Times, June 17): Bravo. […]
“Nobody would believe what an effort it is to do what little I am able.” -Charlotte Perkins Gilman 1892 NOBODY WOULD BELIEVE… Maybe it’s because nobody’s listening Or maybe it’s because women are not telling us how bad they feel Or maybe it’s because nobody’s asking the right questions Or maybe it’s because women […]
For couples who believe in their relationship, aspire to keep it strong, and wonder how awesome it will be to read this together in 20 years… Each of you should fill it out separately and share as a gift for a special occassion that is meaningful to you. Then, put somewhere for safe keeping. Date_____________ […]
“I know what I’m ‘supposed to do’ to feel better. Everyone keeps telling me the same thing. I should exercise. I should sleep more. I should eat well. I should take the medicine. I know, I know, I KNOW. But something inside my head keeps telling me to push through this. I can get better. I […]
It has been reported that maternal suicide is the leading cause of death during pregnancy and the first year after birth. This is why the current shift in attention toward greater awareness to maternal mental health is urgently necessary and long overdue. We are just scratching the surface, and have far to go, but this momentum toward improved […]
1. Book for new mothers and their treating healthcare providers Dropping the Baby and Other Scary Thoughts: Breaking the Cycle of Unwanted Thoughts in Motherhood 2. Information on scary thoughts and our #speakthesecret campaign What if I’m having scary thoughts? 3. Article by Jon Abramowitz, MD, expert on perinatal OCD Beyond the Blues: Postpartum […]
In light of the recent focus on the inexcusable ways some healthcare providers respond to acute distress in postpartum mothers, let us do some teaching here. Please share and inform your local resources. **NOTE TO ALL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS** Some postpartum women are afraid to tell you how they really feel. They are worried that you […]
Experts and postpartum women themselves have long been aware of the interrelationship between postpartum distress and some individual predispositions. We cannot make any claims of direct causality, nor do we have research to back it up. What we have is tons of anecdotal evidence that postpartum women are doing too much. Women who describe themselves […]
A CAUTIONARY NOTE TO THERAPISTS WHO THINK THEY CAN/SHOULD TREAT PREGNANT AND POSTPARTUM WOMEN IN DISTRESS WITHOUT SPECIALIZED TRAINING This past weekend, I was fortunate to speak at Postpartum Support International’s (PSI) annual conference, whose clear and inspirational mission is posted on their website: “The mission of Postpartum Support International is to promote awareness, prevention and treatment of […]
You do not feel like yourself. You wonder if this is what being a new mother feels like. You are worried all the time and find it’s hard to take a deep breath. You believe that if you tell anyone how you are feeling they will either dismiss it as normal or tell you that […]
You’ve recently had a baby. You are more than 3 weeks postpartum. You do not like the way you are feeling. You wonder if you are too anxious or too depressed. Your family, friends and healthcare provider have tried to reassure you, but you wonder if they really understand how bad you feel. You worry […]
Women have been telling me, for almost 30 years, what they need, what they want, to help them recover. Most of what has been written in my books, came directly from their voices and their experiences. Postpartum women are very tuned in to what works, what doesn’t work, their sensibilities are often on hyper alert […]
Ever wonder why some women with postpartum depression take medication and some do not? There may be any number of reasons that vary from woman to woman, but one reason may be that a certain set of symptoms are more responsive to biologic intervention than others. The following is a list of some symptoms of […]
