Therapy For Postpartum Depression
Treatment For Postpartum Depression For California Moms
While the focus of the pregnancy and birth experience tends to be on the baby, the reality is that moms often find themselves struggling with their own mental health, often with guilt, shame and isolation and need much more care and attention than a “6 week check in” with their doctor. If you're feeling overwhelmed, isolated, or deeply sad after giving birth, know that you're not alone, and support is available, postpartum depression is treatable and therapy is a total game changer in your journey through postpartum depression.
What Is Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum depression is a form of depression that can occur after childbirth, often within the first few weeks to months. Unlike the "baby blues," which typically last only a few days or weeks, postpartum depression is more persistent and can significantly affect your ability to function in your day-to-day life.
It’s important to understand that PPD is not a sign of weakness or failure. It’s a medical condition that requires support, compassion, and healing. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or deeply sad, it's okay to reach out for help. You’re not failing as a mom; you’re simply navigating a challenge that many women face.
Common Symptoms of Postpartum Depression
The symptoms of postpartum depression can vary, but here are a few common signs to look out for:
Persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness
Intense guilt or feelings of being a "bad mom"
Difficulty bonding with your baby
Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
Extreme fatigue or lack of energy
Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
Anxiety or panic attacks
Irritability or anger
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby (If you have thoughts of harming yourself or others, please seek immediate help.)
Postpartum depression doesn’t make you a bad mom—it makes you human with a treatable condition.
Why Postpartum Depression Happens
There’s no single cause for postpartum depression. It can happen to any mom, regardless of age, background, or experience. However, there are a few factors that may increase your risk:
Hormonal changes after birth can significantly impact your mood and emotional state.
Stress and fatigue from the demands of a newborn, combined with little sleep, can contribute to feelings of overwhelm.
Personal history of depression, anxiety, or postpartum depression can increase the likelihood of experiencing PPD.
Lack of support—whether it’s from a partner, family, or friends—can make it harder to cope with the changes that come with motherhood.
Remember, none of these factors are your fault. Postpartum depression is complex, but it is treatable with the right support and strategies we will focus on during individual therapy.
How Therapy Can Help You Heal from Postpartum Depression
As a therapist specializing in working with millennial moms, I understand how hard it can be to take the first step toward seeking help. You don’t have to go through this alone—there’s support available that can help you feel like yourself again.
Therapy for postpartum depression focuses on reducing feelings of guilt, shame, and anxiety, helping you reconnect with your identity as a mom (and as a woman), and guiding you toward practical coping strategies. We’ll work together to:
Challenge negative thoughts that feed into feelings of guilt and inadequacy.
Develop healthy coping mechanisms for managing stress, anxiety, and exhaustion.
Improve your relationship with your baby by addressing any feelings of disconnect.
Find self-compassion—because you deserve it. You’re doing your best, and that is enough.
Therapy is a judgment-free zone, where you can be honest about your struggles and work on rebuilding your mental and emotional health.
Healing Starts with Self-Care
One of the key components of overcoming postpartum depression is self-care. Many moms feel like they should always put their baby first, but you can’t pour from an empty cup. By learning to prioritize your own needs and well-being, you’ll have more energy, patience, and love to give to your baby and your family.
Therapy helps you redefine self-care, providing you with the tools to incorporate it into your daily life, even when things feel chaotic. Self-care isn’t selfish—it’s essential for your mental health and the health of your family.
Reclaiming Your Joy and Balance
Postpartum depression doesn’t have to define your motherhood experience. You deserve to enjoy the moments with your baby, reclaim your identity, and find balance in the chaos. Therapy can help you get there, providing the support you need to thrive instead of just survive.
Take the First Step Today
If you're struggling with postpartum depression, I’m here to help you navigate this journey. Through virtual therapy for moms across California, I offer a safe space to talk through your feelings, gain clarity, and develop a plan for healing. Together, we’ll create a path toward feeling like yourself again—without the guilt, shame, or overwhelm.
Ready to take the next step? Book your free 15-minute consult today, and let’s start working together to overcome postpartum depression and find the joy and balance you deserve.
Postpartum Anxiety vs. Postpartum Depression: What’s the Difference?
Alright, mama, let’s get real for a second. Motherhood is tough, and it’s normal to feel overwhelmed. But what if those feelings of stress and fear aren’t just “part of the deal” after having a baby? What if they’re actually something bigger, something that’s taking a toll on your mental and emotional health? Let’s talk about postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression—two very real, very common conditions that often get confused, but are actually pretty different.
Postpartum Anxiety: The Constant Worry Machine
Let’s start with postpartum anxiety. If you’ve got this, you’re probably no stranger to the nonstop worrying. You know, the kind that makes you check your baby’s breathing 15 times a night (and yes, even when they’re sleeping soundly) or the constant fear that you’re somehow messing everything up, even though you’re doing your absolute best.
Here’s the thing about postpartum anxiety—it’s all-consuming. It’s not just a little worry here and there. It’s the constant sense of dread, the racing thoughts, and the physical symptoms (like a racing heart or shallow breathing) that never seem to let up. Maybe you’re terrified of your baby getting sick or hurt, or maybe you feel paralyzed by fear of making the wrong decision, even about the smallest things.
And don’t get me started on the guilt. If you’ve got postpartum anxiety, you may feel like you're failing at motherhood because you can’t stop worrying or feel like you're always on edge. But mama, let me tell you: You’re not failing. Anxiety is a chemical reaction in your brain, and just because it feels like you're stuck in a never-ending loop doesn’t mean you’re broken.
Postpartum Depression: The Emotional Weight You Can't Shake
On the flip side, we have postpartum depression. Now, before you think this is just about feeling sad or blue, let’s get clear—it’s more than that. Postpartum depression isn’t just about feeling down one day and then better the next. It’s a deep, lingering sadness that seems to hang around no matter what you do. It’s the kind of sadness that makes you feel disconnected from your baby, like you’re just going through the motions rather than soaking in the joy of motherhood.
Moms with postpartum depression often experience a loss of interest in things they used to love. Maybe you’ve had moments where you can’t even muster the energy to take care of yourself, or where the thought of being around others (even your baby) feels overwhelming. And the guilt—let’s not forget about that. The guilt that says, “I should be happy. I should be enjoying these moments,” while feeling like you're trapped in a mental fog that won't lift.
Unlike postpartum anxiety, where the focus is on constant worry, postpartum depression is more about numbness, disconnection, and feeling emotionally drained.
How Do You Tell Them Apart?
The key difference between postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression is how they make you feel, and how they affect your daily life:
Postpartum anxiety is like a nonstop race of worries in your head. It’s the dread that something’s wrong, the panic attacks, and the feeling that you can’t relax or breathe. It often comes with physical symptoms—like rapid heartbeat, sweating, and tightness in the chest.
Postpartum depression, on the other hand, is a deep emotional heaviness. It’s the inability to feel joy, the overwhelming sadness, and the disconnection from yourself and your baby. It can make it feel like the light at the end of the tunnel is just too far to reach.
Both conditions are tough, but the good news is that you don’t have to deal with them alone. Therapy is an amazing way to start untangling the mess of emotions that come with either of these conditions, and it’s a huge step toward feeling like yourself again.
What Can You Do About It?
First off, know that you’re not alone in this. Whether you’re dealing with postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, or both, there’s help available. You don’t have to keep pretending everything’s fine when you’re struggling. In therapy, we’ll work through these feelings together—whether that means tackling the underlying anxiety, working through the emotional weight of depression, or both. You deserve to feel good again, mama.
Self-care is another critical piece of the puzzle. It’s not about running on fumes or pretending to have it all together. It’s about giving yourself the grace to take breaks, set boundaries, and prioritize your mental health. Your well-being matters—you matter.
What’s Next?
If postpartum anxiety or depression is making it hard to get through your days, don’t wait any longer to seek support. Therapy can give you the tools and space you need to start feeling better, reconnecting with your identity, and finding joy in motherhood again. And if you’re in California, I’m here to help with virtual therapy that fits into your busy life.
Ready to take the next step? Book your FREE 15-minute consult today. Let’s work together to ditch the guilt, tackle the anxiety or depression, and get you back to feeling like YOU again.