Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders: What to Look For and What You Can Do by Joanna Strait

We are here with a special segment from Joanna Strait. You may be familiar with Joanna if you’ve attended our very loved virtual pregnancy stress support group, or her private practice TogetherWell servicing the DMV area. Joanna is an experienced clinician offering individual therapy to adults specializing in perinatal mood disorders and quarter life challenges. She strongly believes that treatment modalities must be tailored to each person’s unique needs and she utilizes her training in psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, somatic/sensory, and attachment theories to inform her work. Joanna writes on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders in hope of bringing awareness and resources to parents and their families.


—

Given all the changes that come with pregnancy and parenthood, you might be wondering if the emotional and physical differences you are feeling are cause for concern.   While adjustments, including some feelings of sadness and worry, can be normal, there are also signs that might indicate it is time to seek additional support. 

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) are a group of emotional and sometimes physical symptoms that can affect pregnant and postpartum parents. Symptoms of PMADs can appear anytime from conception up until 1 year after birth.  This group of disorders can affect parents in every financial, cultural, racial, religious or age group and can be caused by changes in biology (hormonal), physiology, and environmental factors. Although less commonly talked about, partners can also experience these symptoms, for men referred to as Paternal Perinatal Depression (PPND). While experiencing symptoms of a PMAD or PPND can be distressing, it’s important to remember that there is support that can help you through this period of change. 

Symptoms to Look For 

  • Feelings of intense worry or sadness that are impacting your daily functioning 

  • Feelings of irritability, anger or resentment

  • Loss of interest in activities or relationships you usually find rewarding 

  • Dramatic changes in appetite, upset stomach, or headache frequency 

  • Difficulty concentrating/making decisions that are impacting your daily functioning

  • Lethargy and/or insomnia 

  • Feelings of panic and/or 

  • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or hopelessness

  • Obsessive thoughts or paranoia

  • Possible thoughts of harming yourself or your baby 

  • Seeing or hearing things that aren’t there

**It is important if you are having thoughts of harming yourself, your baby, or someone else that you go immediately to your local Hospital Emergency Room**

What You Can Do 

Early screening and intervention can provide you, your baby and other family members with the ability to overcome these symptoms and to feel healthy and happy. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, or feel uncertain about what you are experiencing, it can be helpful to reach out to a professional for further support:

Recommended Reading 

  • Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts: A Healing Guide to the Secret Fears of New Mothers

             By Karen Kleiman, MSW

  • Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression, By Brooke Shields

  • Postpartum Men 

  • The Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook: Practical Skills to Help You Overcome Anxiety, Worry, Panic Attacks, Obsessions and Compulsions, By Pamela Wiegartz & Kevin Gyoerkoe 


Supporting Someone with a PMAD or PPND

If your partner or someone else you love is struggling, you will likely also benefit from support. Symptoms of PMADs and PPNDs can impact the wellness of a whole family and can lead family and friends to feel isolated, frustrated, and helpless.  Options for support include:

Recommended Reading 

By Karen Kleiman, MSW

  •  This Isn’t What I Expected: Overcoming Postpartum Depression

By Karen Kleiman MSW and Valerie Davis Raskin, MD. 

For further resources and blog posts from Joanna, you can visit her website at www.togetherwelltherapy.com.


 


Info, TipsAngel Yarborperinatal, mood disorders, anxiety, parent, mother, father, pregnancy, pospartum, support, healthComment