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How Postpartum Therapy can Help New Mothers

Bringing a baby into the world is one of the most life-changing experiences that many people will have in their lifetime. 

While it’s exciting, it can also be overwhelming, stressful, and a shock to a new parent’s daily routine, especially for new and first-time mothers.

Studies have shown that around 15% of new mothers experience postpartum depression within a year after having a baby. While the symptoms can fade for some mothers on their own, many mothers could use postpartum therapy to help them manage all of the change and stress that’s happening in their lives and affecting their mental health. 

Postpartum therapy can help new mothers manage their emotions, help them discover joy in change, create healthier bonds within a family, and also help them understand and embrace their new identities as a parent. 

While the reasons why new mothers seek therapy can be different from person to person, here are some of the biggest benefits that many mothers receive from seeing a therapist for postpartum depression.

Have a trusted person who listens 

It sounds simple, but one of the biggest benefits of seeing a therapist for postpartum depression or anxiety is that there’s someone there to listen to you. It’s their actual job to listen to whatever you’re feeling and want to share.

Therapists do more than just listen. They ask questions and help you build skills to improve your everyday life. While it’s good to talk to a trusted friend or family member when you feel stressed, you can talk to a therapist without judgment or fear of them sharing your story with others. 

A therapist’s job is to focus on you. Knowing that someone is giving you their undivided attention in a time when you’re constantly giving of yourself can provide significant benefits to your mental health.

Learn how to manage stress

While you might be temporarily fooled by your friends’ perfect Instagram pictures of them and their newborn babies, the reality is that almost every new mother experiences stress of some kind with their baby. 

You might be navigating naps, feeding schedules, thinking about returning to work, and wondering how you’re also supposed to take care of your pets at the same time. 

Therapists can show you how to use practical coping skills that help you identify stressful situations and ways to react to them. The skills you learn in therapy can be extremely helpful for postpartum depression and anxiety, and you’ll continue using them long after your therapy sessions have ended. 

Better communication

After having a baby, communication can be extremely important and uniquely challenging, whether that’s communicating with your partner, family members, or setting boundaries with people around you.

A therapist can help you express what you need and identify areas of your life where improved communication can positively influence your quality of life.

Give yourself time that’s just for you

Some people call it self-care or prioritizing your mental health, but by any name, it can be incredibly beneficial for new mothers to get help for themselves. 

Many new mothers feel like a new baby is the center of their newly changed world, and they hear similar things from those around them. It can create feelings of guilt that make new mothers feel like they’re not supposed to want help.

However, new mothers also need to continue existing as a person with their own identity, needs, and struggles. And it’s more than ok for mothers to want some help with their mental health and self-care while they’re caring for a new member of the family. With all the time new mothers devote to a baby, prioritizing your mental health when you need it could be one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your family.

Make yourself feel better, physically and emotionally

Stress, anxiety, and depression are parts of many new mothers’ postpartum experiences. While most people would call these mental health conditions, they can also physically manifest in many different ways. 

Beyond feelings of depression, you might experience physical pain, like headaches, loss of appetite, and problems sleeping. Just like there are trained therapists in Denver for new mothers, a quick search on sites like Psychology Today can help you find a therapist near you who can help you start to feel like yourself again.  

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