Therapy for Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Anxiety, Overwhelm and Stress, Located in Cary NC. Find Your Joy in Motherhood. Authorized to Practice in Most US States. See Footer for More Information.
Feel Like Yourself Again
You have gone through so much having this baby and you really thought it would feel better when it finally happened. You feel disappointed and scared. On top of that, you feel guilty for feeling this way.
Sometimes you wonder if you made a mistake and if you are ever going to feel better. You aren’t sure you can keep up with everything that comes with a newborn baby, and you are exhausted and overwhelmed.
You are worried you will never feel like your old self, never mind the mother you have always wanted to be. You’re worried you’re never going to have any time for yourself or for what YOU want and need.
You’re scared of losing the closeness with your partner. The last thing you feel like doing is having sex. You would rather take a nap.
There is so much more to do now and you don’t know how or don’t want to ask for help. You have always had it together. You don’t want others to see on the outside how you are feeling on the inside.
Problems with your parents or your in-laws make you not want to reach out to them or maybe they are just too far away. You didn’t realize things were going to feel this chaotic. You are used to having things under control. You have never felt this in over your head.
Maybe this is not your first baby, and you want things to feel different this time. You are worried about what it will be like having another baby and taking care of the child(ren) you already have.
You wonder how you could ever love another baby like you love your first one. You are scared you won’t have enough to give to another baby when you were already overwhelmed before.
You are worried about losing your connection with your older child. What if they feel abandoned by you? You worry they won’t end up getting along or even liking each other. You so badly want to be a great mother and have a loving happy family.
Are You Having Thoughts Like This?
- I am scared to tell my partner what I am thinking and how I am feeling. Will they think I am weak or a bad mother? They have always thought that I have it all together. What if they don’t love or respect me anymore?
- Sometimes I have thoughts that scare me and I am worried what other people would think if they knew what I was thinking. Other mothers look so confident and happy, how come I don’t feel like that? I just keep finding a way to get through the day. What is wrong with me?
- My partner and I are fighting a lot and our relationship doesn’t feel as good as it used to. I know I am too irritable, but I can’t seem to keep it together and I end up snapping at them.
- How am I going to handle going back to work? How will I be able to function without getting enough sleep?I thought I wanted to stay home but now I think I would feel better going back to work. A good mom wouldn’t feel like this.
- I don’t want to breastfeed but I am afraid my partner and friends will think I am not dedicated to being a mom. I am not going to be good at this or I wouldn’t be failing at breastfeeding.
- If I had that “mothering instinct,” I wouldn’t need to ask for help. I would feel like I knew what I was doing. Oh no, what if these negative feelings I am having affect the baby…
Therapy for Postpartum Depression will give you the Skills and Support You Need to Enjoy Your New Baby and your new Life.
You CAN feel better. SO MUCH better. There is no reason to suffer. There is no award for being “strong” and getting through this alone. There is no need to. This is one time you really don’t want a participation trophy. Nobody wants to be in this club, especially not again.
Together we can make this different. I have worked with hundreds of mothers navigating these feelings. I will help you find the answers you need and teach you how to take care of yourself so you can nurture yourself AND your baby.
You will learn how to communicate with your partner when you need help AND keep (or get back) the closeness you felt with them in the past. I will help you regain the energy to start doing the things you need to do to feel better.
I can help you find the confidence you need to make friends with other new mothers, talk about how you are feeling with others and not feel so alone. I will also help you learn how to manage other new challenges like conflicts with your in-laws or your parents. You will start to believe you can meet these new challenges and not feel depleted or demoralized.
You will begin to feel excited about the possibilities in your future. You can feel close and connected to your baby and know that YOU ARE ENOUGH to be a great mother.
Experience the Happiness You Always Expected Would Be a Part of Being a New Mother
Therapy for Postpartum Depression and Anxiety Can Help You:
- Find the happiness and joy you were expecting as a new mother.
- Learn how to manage your anxiety and stress and improve your confidence that you ARE and WILL BE a Great Mom.
- Reconnect with your partner and reduce the normal but stressful new conflicts that occur after having a baby.
- Identify and work through old childhood wounds that may be resurfacing now. You may not be aware of how “ghosts in the nursery” may be negatively affecting your confidence and increasing your anxiety and depression.
- Process the experience of pregnancy and childbirth, particularly when it doesn’t go as planned or you have experienced trauma.
- Feel more connected to your baby and your older children. Learn how to give them not only what they need physically, but what they need emotionally too.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know that I need therapy? When is it more than just the baby blues?
The general “rule of thumb” is when you are having more bad days than good days, it is time to go to therapy. I would even say if you are having as many bad days as good, it is time to do something for yourself and your baby and seek therapy.
Please Note: if a mother is experiencing any symptoms of psychosis such as confusion, hallucinations (hearing voices, seeing or smelling things that are not there) or delusions (for ex. Believing the TV or others are putting thoughts inside their head or buildings are glowing with a bright light), they need immediate medical help to protect both the mother and her baby. If this is happening to you or someone you love please get them immediate medical attention. You can go to your nearest ER and ask for the psychiatrist on-call or ask your doctor for the best MEDICAL resources for postpartum mothers in your area. Any symptoms of psychosis require immediate medical attention from experienced medical professionals.
Can I wait for Postpartum Depression or Postpartum Anxiety to go away on it’s own?
Research has shown that without intervention, mothers can experience postpartum symptoms off and on for up to four years. Please don’t let this be you.
You and your baby are worth feeling your best.
How long will it take to feel better? How quickly can I expect results?
I have found mothers start feeling better right away. Often it is a relief to tell someone who understands what you are going through and start to make small changes that really make a big difference. Some mothers may start medication either through their OB/GYN or a Psychiatrist. This often “ jump starts” the healing process; however, whether you take medication or not is up to you. I never push a mother to take psychiatric medication unless they are severely depressed, have symptoms of psychosis and/or are suicidal or homicidal. Therapy, however, is essential for feeling better whether or not a new mother decides to take psychiatric medication. I see my job as “mothering the new mother.” Initially, many mothers need help with the basics of getting enough sleep, eating healthy (or just taking the time to focus on eating ), getting moving again both physically and socially, and growing the confidence to engage in a new life with an unpredictable baby.
How long will I need to be in therapy?
This really depends. Many of my pregnant and postpartum clients have never been to therapy before. Some stay in therapy for 6-12 sessions and feel like they have met their goals and they are finished. Others stay longer and work on other more longstanding issues they did not have the opportunity to work on before because they have never gone to therapy. Quite often, mothers will finish therapy and then return months or years later when other challenges occur and they feel like they need a “booster shot.”