Jump to Therapy For Pregnancy Depression and Anxiety

Treatment for Postpartum Depression Washington, DC

Are you struggling with your new role as a parent?

Are you beyond overwhelmed by keeping your baby fed and cared for?

Are you feeling guilty that you’re not loving being a parent?

Does it feel like you’ve lost yourself and are afraid you’ll never find yourself again?

Are you worried that something’s wrong with you for not feeling so connected to your baby?

Is your romantic partnership suffering with all the changes that are occurring?

Has becoming a parent stirred up some of your own trauma from being parented?

Becoming a parent is one of the most joyous, breathtaking, and exciting adventures you will ever partake in, but it sure ain't easy and it may not actually feel all that joyous or breathtaking or exciting! New moms/parents are often dealing with major hormonal changes, recovering from the rigors of labor and delivery, figuring out breast/chest or bottle feeding, all while attempting to get more than two hours of sleep at a time - it's enough to make anyone lose it! You may have experienced birth trauma, whether in terms of your delivery, your health, or the health of your baby. Childbirth can feel like you’re on a runaway train with no clarity into direction, speed, or destination. One moment, things are going smoothly and the next moment you can be faced with lots of scary, urgent decisions to make. That feeling of being out of control and not having a lot of predictability can be super triggering for a lot of people. It’s no wonder that so many mothers experience really distressing thoughts and feelings in the weeks and months postpartum.

You Are Not Alone

In fact, an estimated 70-80% of women experience the “baby blues” - a term for intense mood swings and sadness that typically begins about 2-3 days after delivery and resolves on its own by about two weeks postpartum. The baby blues are distinct from postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety but when you are within the two week window, it can feel incredibly unsettling and scary.

With the right support from friends, family, and professionals, things may begin to settle down - anxieties lessen and a new system that works (at least, some of the time) is born. Other times, the sense of being overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed starts to become intolerable - affecting relationships, self-identity, and you may develop conflicting emotions regarding parenthood. An estimated 15-20% of people who have given birth develop Postpartum Depression and/or Postpartum Anxiety (PPD/PPA). Symptoms can appear anytime in the first year after childbirth, not just in the first few months of infancy. So much is at play during that first year postpartum, whether it’s:

• Pregnancy or delivery trauma

• Massive hormone shifts

• Breast or bottle feeding issues

• Sense of detachment from your baby and the guilt that comes with it

• Lack of sleep (I’ve never understood how important sleep is until I had a newborn…)

• A potentially colicky or fussy baby

• Emotional, physical, or intimate disconnection from your partner as all of your energy is directed entirely towards keeping your little one alive and thriving

• Navigating return to work/childcare

• Family drama

• Trying desperately to recognize or feel comfortable in your own body

The list of things to worry about as a parent can feel never-ending while the internal and external pressure to do it all (and look good doing it) can feel all-consuming and terrifying.

Added onto all of the above, parents right now are experiencing the unique stress of trying to do it all while the world feels like it’s falling apart, whether for geo-political-climate reasons or unpredictably scary health concerns.

You May Be Aware of the Statistics and Still Be Caught Off-Guard

Unfortunately, when you’re in constant crisis, all you have energy for is just getting through the day (and night) one minute or one hour at a time. Even if you’re fully aware of the possibility of developing Postpartum Depression (PPD) or Postpartum Anxiety (PPA), you may still be surprised that that’s what you’re experiencing. In truth, so many of us fall into the trap of self-blame and self-criticism that it feels like the only possible explanation for why we’re struggling so much is because of some kind of personal failing. You may be feeling like you’re just not enough - not good enough, smart enough, strong enough, etc.

Here’s the good news. You’re here. And with the help of a compassionate, experienced postpartum therapist, you can regain your footing and find joy again. Postpartum therapy is effective.

Therapy can help. Postpartum depression and anxiety are temporary and absolutely treatable.

All postpartum parents go through challenges, and the perinatal therapists at Cindy Kim & Associates have a breadth of experience supporting clients through the issues that most parents face.

In our work together, you'll learn how to calm the anxieties, be kind to yourself, and stay connected with your partner. We’ll strategize so you can feel more comfortable with identifying, seeking, and utilizing more support in parenthood. Most importantly, your fears, anxieties, and deep sadness will be heard, normalized, and validated without judgment.

You can find joy in parenting and a bond with your baby. You and your partner can walk the journey of new parenthood together as a team.

All of this may sound good, but you may still have some questions…

I’m so overwhelmed, how can I find the time for therapy?

If these were pediatrician appointments for your baby, you’d make the time, right? Those feel important and essential to your baby’s health and wellbeing. As a parent, it’s so easy to ignore our own healthcare needs for the sake of our children. And yet, it is (at least, partially) for their sake that your own mental and emotional health are vitally important. Honestly, your health and wellbeing are essential for your baby’s health and wellbeing.

I don’t feel like I can leave the baby’s side, how am I going to make it to therapy?

We understand how hard it is to leave the baby (even when you desperately need to), especially if you’re breastfeeding or if you’re the only one the baby will accept a bottle from. Given all of this, you are very welcome to bring your baby along to our appointments whether in-person or virtual. In fact, with the option of online therapy, you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own home for our sessions. You don’t have to wrestle with car seats, strollers, metro rides, remembering to bring multiple changes of clothing for the baby, or even a change of clothes for yourself since your baby will, of course, inevitably spit up all over you! Online therapy is especially beneficial to our postpartum clients who may be worried for their baby’s fragile health or just feel too overwhelmed by the idea of getting out the front door on time.

If I actually make an appointment to see a therapist, I’m afraid that means I really do have problems…

It can be incredibly scary to admit to yourself that you’re struggling. It may even feel shameful. Please believe us, you are in very good, very abundant company. Acknowledging the challenges is the first step towards health and happiness. Deciding to take the risk of seeking help, is a brave and hopeful choice - one that will benefit you, your partnership, your baby, and your family. You’re not damaged, but you are human and we all need a little extra support from time to time.

You can find joy in being a parent

Think we could be a good fit? We look forward to supporting you in developing a healthy and happy transition to parenthood. Our therapists are available for clients in-person in Washington, DC and online for clients in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Contact us now.

Pregnancy Depression and Anxiety Treatment

Are you pregnant and feeling overwhelmed by your emotions?

Is pregnancy not quite what you expected?

Do you feel guilty for feeling detached from your growing baby?

Are the physical symptoms awful and interminable?

Are you feeling angry or irritable all the time?

Have you experienced miscarriage or infertility and the trauma is impacting feeling safe in your pregnancy?

Are you flooded by anxieties about your identity, career, marital shifts, labor and delivery, being a perfect mom/parent, shedding the baby weight,...?

The list of things to worry about during pregnancy can seem never-ending but you may feel that you don't have much of an outlet to express your fears which can lead to feeling pretty darn lonely in the dark. Depression, anxiety, mental fogginess, identity confusion, physical pains and discomforts, as well as the myriad ways your body changes and feels more and more foreign are not uncommon during pregnancy, but rarely are they discussed. Instead, many mamas silently panic inside while well-meaning others coo and awe over your burgeoning belly. You may feel sad that your pregnancy isn’t going how you had hoped and confused by the negative emotions stirred up by expecting a baby. You may even feel shame for having moments of regret, questioning your choice and dreading the future. Fear for self, partnership, and baby can be incredibly overwhelming and paralyzing.

Trust me when I say, “You are not alone!”

So much happens during the course of a pregnancy! Hormones run amok. Physically, you may be feeling sub-optimal, to put it mildly. Impending parenthood can bring up a lot of unresolved trauma from your own experience of being parented. Pre-existing anxiety or depression can be exacerbated by the high stakes of reproduction. You may be anxious navigating thoroughly uncharted territory both as an individual and as a couple. Your partner may be going through his or her own stress and nervousness at the coming transition. You may be having difficulty dealing with your parents or in-laws, whether they’re over or underwhelming in their participation in your life. And finally, labor and delivery is no joke! On top of all of the above, pregnancy can impact the accessibility of your tried and true coping mechanisms. (Try going for a run when you’re queasy all the time…not fun.)

It is estimated that at least 10% of women experience depression during pregnancy. In truth, that percentage is probably higher given the likelihood of underreporting due to the stigma that can be attached to seeking emotional support. After all, pregnant women are supposed to glow, not lie awake in bed, frantically googling “why am I not excited about my pregnancy?” (<-heavy on the sarcasm!) Depression and anxiety exist on a continuum from mild to moderate to severe. Wherever your experience lands on this continuum, you have a right to a sense of well-being.

Oh, I should also note, going through a pregnancy and then delivery in a world where COVID-19 exists may add a whole other layer of anxiety for you and your family. You may be grieving the kind of pregnancy you were hoping to have, one that doesn’t include masks, “should I or shouldn’t I” vaccination debates, inability to have your partner at appointments or doula at delivery, isolation from your support network, frustration at the state of the world your baby will be born into, etc. It all adds to the emotional distress of an already stressful experience.

Prenatal therapy can help you find yourself again

It may feel impossible, but there is a path towards greater hope and joy! Speaking to one of our experienced, compassionate therapists can help you sort through your feelings and give voice to your pain without fear of judgment or blame. The therapists at Cindy Kim & Associates have the advanced training and hands-on, clinical experience to support you through the ups and downs of pregnancy. In our sessions together, you’ll have a safe and judgment free space to express your fears, anxieties, sadness, and frustration. It’s truly amazing how much healing happens solely from being heard, understood, and believed. The power of validation and normalization is nearly half the battle. The other half comes from helping you to navigate all the scary unknowns. You’ll develop the skills and tools needed to manage through your anxieties and fears and free yourself from the stuck place of swirling, panicky, thoughts and feelings. Our therapists will support you in making the best choices for you and your family.

You may still have some concerns about pregnancy therapy…

Yes, I’m stressed out, but isn’t everyone? I have so much to be grateful for, I should just suck it up!

Just because there is a lot of stress and distress in the world, does not mean that you are required to suffer through your pain without support. Your pain, just like everyone else’s, deserves to be acknowledged and validated.

If I end up in therapy, doesn’t that mean that I’m not fit to become a parent?

Struggling to get through life does not mean that you are damaged, it means that you are a human being. Engaging in therapy to resolve your concerns means that you are choosing to take an active role in your personal growth, opening the doors to greater healing, hope, and happiness. Just as you’ve heard on every airplane you’ve been on, in order to be there for our children, we have to place that oxygen mask on our own faces first.

Is therapy expensive?

Think for a moment, what has your depression or anxiety cost you? The value of a fully lived life is incomparable to anything more tangible. You deserve to invest in your own health and well-being. The dividends will pay out in the end.

That being said, our practice is committed to working with you and your financial situation. We will provide you with a superbill that you can submit to your insurance for out-of-pocket reimbursement should you decide to utilize your benefits. If finances feel like they’re getting in the way of your mental health, let’s have a conversation about it.

You can find relief with our therapists

Our therapists are available for clients in-person in Washington, DC and online for clients in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Please reach out soon, you don’t have to go through this alone. We can help.

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