You may already be aware of postpartum depression. But there are other ways your mental health can be affected that most folks don’t know about.
It’s not always rainbows and sunshine as we are told it’s “supposed to be”. For about 20% of women, the lead up and transition to parenthood can lead to clinical mood changes.
There are things that don’t go as planned such as pregnancy or postpartum depression, anxiety, trauma, OCD, and less frequently, bipolar disorder or psychosis. These are serious, but very treatable conditions.
Most people who are going through these conditions feel very alone and may experience guilt and overwhelm. But you are not alone. The realities of pregnancy, birth and postpartum are often not discussed enough, so when a parent is suffering, they might think that there is something wrong with them. This is simply not true. There is something they are dealing with though, a real condition that deserves treatment. And care. And understanding. With the right kind of help, you can and will feel better.
If you are trying to conceive, are pregnant, had a loss of pregnancy, experienced a difficult birth or have had a hard postpartum, you’re in the right place. I’m here to help.
I can help and support men and women of all ages and stages with perinatal mental health:
Birth Trauma and PTSD
Birth debriefing
Postpartum mood and anxiety disorders. Dad’s get postpartum too. I take a whole-family, father/partner inclusive approach.
Intrusive Thoughts and OCD
Bipolar Disorders
Psychosis
Attachment and Bonding
Perinatal loss includes stillbirth, abortion/intentional pregnancy release, early birth or miscarriage and neonatal loss.
Infant mortality, maternal mortality
Infertility
NICU
Cultural Humility, racism and health disparities
LGBTQAI+ birth people
Breast, chest, body feeding
Highly Sensitive Mothers - have a trait and not a disorder. High sensitivity is NOT the same as introversion.
Leanne Sim is a certified Psychotherapist and Art Therapist based in Howick, East Auckland and accepts online and in-person appointments.
Email: leanne@leannesim.com
Tel: 021 476 940
