As we continue practicing social distancing in the wake of COVID-19, it’s likely we are experiencing an increase in anxiety, boredom, sadness and frustration. Nothing about our current global situation is settling right now, and it’s ok to name that.
Avoiding anxiety and emotions tied up with this pandemic is not helpful, but neither is dwelling on worst case scenarios and planning for the absolute worst outcomes. So, what can we do with how we feel? Check out this infographic for some ideas on how to increase your sense of balance and mental wellness as we continue to practice social distancing.
2.3% of people in the United States report experiencing panic disorder per year, and that number doesn’t even account for those uncomfortable sharing that information (Kessler, Chiu, Demler, & Walters, 2005; Kessler, Petukhova, Sampson, Zaslavsky, & Wittchen, 2012). So, most likely, you or someone you know has probably experienced at least one panic attack or the physiological sensations associated with Panic Disorder.
When a negative life event or experience occurs, many people begin to experience emotions like sadness, hopelessness and/or depression. The goal is to resist the urge to avoid in response to those feelings, and instead, move towards active coping.
When I first started researching this topic, naturally, I went to Google. The first title that came up when I searched “Postpartum OCD” was an article posted by the International OCD Foundation titled “Beyond the Blues: Postpartum OCD”. Yes. Let’s go beyond the blues and talk about obsessions and compulsions that can arise during pregnancy and after having a child.
You are their caregiver and ultimately 100% responsible for anything that happens to them. With that being said, it is very natural to have some level of anxiety and a sense of nervousness during and after pregnancy for both parents involved. However, as with anything, this anxiety and worry exist on a spectrum.
Which Mothers Develop Postpartum OCD?
It makes sense to be hypervigilant and concerned about your baby’s well-being and safety.
“Evidence shows some women develop OCD for the first time either during pregnancy or shortly afterward, with others finding that their pre-existing OCD symptoms and traits become significantly worse.” –ocduk.org
The percentage of individuals who meet the criteria for this diagnosis is between 3-5%, and this includes new mothers as well as new fathers. While this may not seem like a large statistic, it is most likely not fully representative of each person suffering. This is largely because individuals with perinatal and postpartum OCD (PPOCD) may stay silent due to shame and the belief that they could act on their intrusive thoughts. Also, ill-informed medical providers and clinicians can mistake PPOCD for Postpartum Psychosis. Education about this diagnosis and symptoms is the first step towards normalizing the experience of someone with perinatal and PPOCD.
So, let’s begin by defining what to look for. If it’s normal to be anxious, it can be challenging to truly differentiate what is disruptive and what is within the norm of transitioning to parenthood.
What do Postpartum OCD (PPOCD) obsessions tend to look like?
Obsessions (which can be thoughts or images and are also called intrusive thoughts) that are persistent and related to their child. These thoughts and/or images are found to be disturbing for the parent. Often, they may have never experienced thoughts like this before.
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that parents engage in. For the ultimate goal of reducing distress that results from obsessions and intrusive thoughts about their child. Compulsions are different for every individual. They may include cleaning constantly, checking things many times, seeking reassurance, excessive praying, counting or reordering, and rearranging things.
A sense of horror about the obsessions
Intense fear or worry about being alone with the child
Heightened hypervigilance surrounding protecting the child
Continuous compulsive actions in response to obsessions lead to further anxiety and worry because it perpetuates the belief that in order to keep the child safe, “I must avoid ___” or “I must check her breathing ___ a number of times” or “I need to avoid being alone with her all together” etc. When you believe that these compulsions (that are disruptive to a normative routine) are the only way to keep your child safe, it keeps you stuck in your anxiety.
What to do when you think you might be affected by OCD Postpartum in Chicago, IL
The good news about this is that the prognosis for someone with PPOCD is very bright. With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and working with a therapist who can assist with Exposure Response Prevention, it is possible to notice improvements quickly. I have seen many women come to my office feeling so ashamed and nervous. Feeling that they will never “get rid” of the thoughts and images that have suddenly come into their world. While I can’t promise we will “get rid” of thoughts, the treatment approaches above help to greatly reduce their frequency to the point of rarely experiencing them. Unfortunately, getting rid of anything is like telling someone to resist thinking about a pink elephant…what are you thinking about now? A pink elephant!
To conclude, I want to offer one more normalizing statistic. “80% of all new mothers (even those without clinical OCD symptoms) report nasty, senseless, unacceptable, unwanted thoughts that are similar to those described by mothers with postpartum OCD (Jonathan Abramowitz, PhD, ABPP).” This is hypothesized to result from the striking increase in responsibility when caring for a newborn.
I hope this leaves you today with a better understanding of perinatal and postpartum OCD. As well as some normalization that we all have unwanted thoughts from time to time. Contact us today if you have questions or if you need support.
Are you looking to address your OCD Postpartum in Chicago, IL?
If you or someone you know is struggling with OCD postpartum in Chicago, IL, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can support you on your journey toward healing and recovery. Let’s work together to find the solutions that work best for you.
Learn more about Limitless Counseling Center by taking a look at the homepage. There you will find a link about the counseling approach used, the founder of practice and services offered. If you have any questions please fill out the contact form and I will get back to you within 24 hours. Thank you for your time, and have a wonderful day!
