The postpartum period is supposed to be full of joy. When it isn’t, when you’re depleted, overwhelmed, disconnected from your baby, or haunted by intrusive thoughts you’re terrified to tell anyone about, the gap between what you expected and what you’re actually experiencing can feel enormous. And the shame around not feeling happy, when everyone assumes you should be, makes it even harder to reach out.
Postpartum mood disorders are far more common than most people realize, and they are treatable. You are not a bad parent. Something is happening that can be addressed, and help is available.
What Postpartum Mental Health Looks Like
Postpartum mood disorders include a range of experiences:
- Postpartum Depression (PPD) — persistent sadness, emotional numbness, difficulty bonding, loss of interest, exhaustion that goes well beyond typical new-parent fatigue, and sometimes intrusive or scary thoughts
- Postpartum Anxiety — constant, uncontrollable worry, hypervigilance about the baby’s safety, racing thoughts, panic attacks, and difficulty resting even when the baby sleeps
- Postpartum OCD — intrusive, unwanted thoughts about harm coming to the baby that feel distressing and shameful, and that don’t reflect what you actually want
- Postpartum PTSD — a trauma response, most commonly following a frightening or difficult birth experience
All of these are real. None of them are your fault. All of them respond to treatment.
How We Work With Postpartum Clients
We use evidence-based approaches tailored to the postpartum period, including CBT, interpersonal therapy, and mindfulness-based approaches. We also offer telehealth sessions for parents who can’t easily get to an office, which is most new parents, and that’s completely understood.
Postpartum Support for Tampa and Surrounding Areas
Our in-person office serves Brandon, Riverview, Valrico, and the broader Tampa area. We accept most major insurance plans. Telehealth postpartum therapy is available anywhere in Florida. Contact us today to get started with postpartum therapy.