Perinatal Anxiety and Therapy: Implementing Treatment Options
It’s common to have hesitations about therapy, especially as a pregnant mom. Many expecting women believe if they share their true feelings and challenges with perinatal anxiety that they will be labeled as a bad mom. Even worse, some believe a therapist will report them to child services. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Perinatal anxiety and therapy could actually be a beautiful combination to a better mental state overall.
If you are struggling to cope with perinatal anxiety alone, you don’t have to do this by yourself. Therapy is a great solution to finding yourself again in the fog of hormones, an expanding body, and waiting around for the day your baby enters this world. If perinatal anxiety is preventing you from enjoying your pregnancy, take a look at therapy as your solution.
What is Perinatal Anxiety?
Perinatal anxiety is a mental health disorder that can present itself during pregnancy. It is recognizable by overwhelming worries or fears that prevent an expecting mother from finding joy in her pregnancy or being able to see a happy future with the baby. Perinatal anxiety is a temporary mental health disorder that can be overcome with the right treatment options. Therapy has been known to help expecting moms with perinatal anxiety.
What is Therapy?
Therapy is one of the treatment options to assist mothers in overcoming perinatal anxiety. It is not a one-size-fits-all treatment. You don’t just pay to talk to someone. There are many strategies a therapist can implement to help you overcome your challenges. There is behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, holistic therapy, and more. You get to have a say in the kind of therapy you want and the type of plan you want to implement in your life.
Perinatal Anxiety Therapy Treatment Option
If you are ready to kick perinatal anxiety from your life, consider how therapy can help you. Below are the steps you can take with therapy and perinatal anxiety.
Find a Therapist
Making a decision to start therapy is half of the battle. Finding a therapist is another piece of it. You will want to focus on therapists that have the PMH-C credential following their name. This means they are equipped to help clients of maternal mental health challenges. For example, I am a therapist with the PMH-C credentials.
Therapists have their own specializations. Therefore, it’s not the best practice to just go to any therapist. Going to someone who specializes in your current life needs will be most beneficial to you.
Discuss Treatment Options
When you establish a partnership with a therapist, it is important for you to discuss treatment plans. Make your desires known right off the bat. If you are for or against medication; if you desire more holistic treatment, etc.
It is best to be as open as you can with your therapist so that they can help you to the best of their abilities. Also remember to advocate for yourself; if the therapist offers an option that does not seem beneficial to you or that you don’t want to do, you need to speak up.
Follow Your Plan
You can’t make progress in therapy if you don’t follow your treatment plan. This plan is tailored specifically for your current needs and to help you get to a state of mind that is more comfortable, especially during your pregnancy. If you neglect to follow the plan your therapist has set before you, it is likely you won’t see any progress in your healing with perinatal anxiety.
Meet with Your Therapist Regularly
Some therapists like to see their patients on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. If you stick to a regular schedule with your therapist, you will see improvement sooner than if you falter on your schedule. Faltering is more than just missing a session or two due to illness or unexpected life circumstances. Faltering is when you regularly miss sessions instead of regularly attending. Find a schedule with your therapist that works for you.
Be Patient
Therapy takes time. In some cases, the first session can help you feel tremendously hopeful, but that doesn’t mean you should stop therapy. In other cases, you might not feel a difference for a few sessions, but that is all part of the process. The work your therapist is doing with you will take time to implement, adjust, and see results. Be patient with the process and don’t give up.
Therapy is a Beneficial Option for Perinatal Anxiety
If you aren’t sure if you have perinatal anxiety, you can read through the signs and symptoms to assess yourself. You don’t have to have a diagnosis to begin seeing a therapist for it. You can find your own therapist and make your own appointment without having to go through a doctor if you choose.
While you work on seeing a therapist that is right for you, consider implementing some ways to cope with perinatal anxiety. Coping is a way of getting through the challenges you are facing and can be used as a stepping stone to healing. In addition to therapy, you could be on your way to feeling more like yourself and experience the joy you have been missing out on in your pregnancy.
Find a therapist sooner than later to get started on your healing journey. I would love to be considered as your therapist for perinatal anxiety. As a therapist with a passion for maternal mental health, it is my mission to help pregnant and postpartum moms through this transitional time of life. If you are ready to take action now, let’s set up a free chat so that we can meet and get to know each other. As a maternal mental health specialist, it would be an honor to walk this journey with you.