Healing Birth Trauma Starts With Help (Birth trauma therapy in South Pasadena, California)
No matter how well you’re taking care of yourself through a difficult pregnancy or how much support you have following a traumatic birth, getting outside help is often necessary.
According to @postpartumsupportinternational 9% of birthing people will develop postpartum PTSD, and more that 30% report some aspect of childbirth as traumatic. One in 5 birthing people will experience postpartum depression (making it the most common complication of pregnancy).
Events like fertility challenges, miscarriage/pregnancy loss, NICU stays, baby loss, emergency C-section, and other medical complications during pregnancy, labor and delivery are often contributors to mental health struggles for new parents. Birthing people with history of trauma, childhood trauma/abuse at increased risk for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders during this period-including depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
What makes it so hard for new moms to ask for help?
While more people are talking about PMADs (perinatal mood and anxiety disorders like postpartum depression, postpartum pychosis and postpartum PTSD), reaching out for help is usually a difficult step to take. A few things I commonly hear from new moms about what gets in the way of reaching out for help:
Scary thoughts (I can’t let anyone no I just had that thought)
Shame, guilt, self-blame
Time and energy
Comparing yourself to how other moms appear to be doing
Expectations of yourself, expectations others may have of you
Believing that it’s supposed to this hard
Money-therapy can be expensive
3 ways to begin healing:
Acknowledge your losses
When your experience is not what you wanted, dreamed of, or worked so hard for, feeling a deep sense of loss & grief is expected. Take time to grieve and process your emotions.
Find just one person to talk to
Open up to someone you can trust with your story, who can listen without judging, who won't try to "fix" you or talk you out of your feelings.
Ask for help
Reaching out for help when you’re struggling with scary or painful thoughts and feelings is so difficult. Remember that you’re not alone. Struggling with your mental health usually feels isolating and lonely. With the right kind of help you’ll feel better, you’ll recover and move forward.
Some resources to get you started
Postpartum Support International - PSI
Postpartum Support International offers information about PMADs, free online support groups, a support line in multiple languages, and a therapist directory.
PARENTS & FAMILIES - MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH NOW
Maternal Mental Health Now offers resources to new parents, serving the Los Angeles area.
The Touchstone Institute | Perinatal Trainings & Consultation
The Touchstone Institute has an online therapist directory of therapists trained and specialized in psychotherapy support to birthing people.
#healingstartswithhelp
(Postpartum Support International’s theme for Maternal Mental Health Month)
