Therapy support for new moms
New parents face a variety of challenges and stressors. Having a new baby is a huge change that can cause a ripple effect across many different aspects of your life. If you're a new mom in Evanston or anywhere in Illinois, finding the right support can make a world of difference. This blog post aims to help you recognize the signs of maternal mental health issues or areas where you might need a little extra support, and then share some ways to manage stress and seek support such as therapy for new moms near you.
Being a new mom is hard.
Physically recovering from childbirth is taxing and can be even more difficult when you pile on sleep deprivation and emotional adjustments. A new baby can also have significant impacts on your relationships and your identity as you adapt to balance caring for your baby with your other responsibilities. There’s no guidebook for parenthood and oftentimes new parents find it overwhelming to navigate the steep learning curve.
The postpartum period has its own set of mental health challenges.
New parents sometimes experience brand new postpartum mental health issues. Or, in other cases, early motherhood can exacerbate existing mental health challenges. When dealing with postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety, it’s important to seek support and find a place where you can gain the support you need. Therapy can be a helpful way to process these feelings and together with your therapist you can build a path forward.
Some gentle tips for managing stress and anxiety as a new mom:
Establish a Routine: Creating a daily schedule can help both mom and baby have some structure and ensure you’re both getting what you need.
Building a Support System: Connecting with family, friends, and other new moms is crucial to avoid isolation and to help you know you’re not alone. Asking for help isn’t always easy, but you may be surprised by how much people are eager to help you.
Self-Care Strategies: Many of your previous self-care rituals and routines may be out the window, which can lead to feeling less grounded than you were before. As things continue to change, and the baby continues to grow, it can be super impactful to figure out how to build your self-care practices back into your routine.
Therapy: Therapy can be a great way for new parents to carve out a bit of space for themselves. To earmark a bit of time each week to check in and see what you need. It can also be a place for discovering resources and tips for coping with your changing responsibilities. Talking things through with an empathetic person can be a great way of processing your feelings and identifying a path forward.
You are not alone and seeking help is a sign of strength.
If you’re a new parent, and learning to navigate the new normal, therapy can be a helpful resource in establishing a self-care routine and carving out some time for yourself. If you’re seeking therapy for new moms in Evanston, IL or online, Dr. Sarah Van Nostrand at Moonrise Therapy could be a great resource for you. Sarah has experience working with new parents and helping them navigate challenges like postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, postpartum OCD, and childbirth trauma. Please know you are not alone and perinatal mental health support is available to you. Sarah would love to schedule a consultation and get started whenever you’re ready.
