Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month ~ YOU are not alone

No matter the struggle you are experiencing during your pregnancy or postpartum, you are not alone. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) are the #1 complication of childbirth. 

This month we acknowledge the 1 in 5 new or expectant mothers who experience a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder. We celebrate the women who have recovered. We thank the women who share their stories. We honor the women who have silently suffered. We share hope, encouragement, strength, education, advocacy, and resources to empower and support women in their mental health journey.

We see you; we hear you; we are here for you! If you are unsure if you are experiencing symptoms of a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder or are uncertain about how to get help, we encourage you to review the following: 

NORMAL THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS	SYMPTOMS OF A PMAD ~ SEEK SUPPORT
Feeling tired and overwhelmed	Feeling irritable, angry, or having mood swings
General worries about your baby’s health or safety	Having scary, unwanted thoughts or images about your baby
Feeling distracted or forgetful on occasion	Having frequent racing thoughts or difficulty concentrating
Wanting a break	Feeling a strong desire to escape
Having an occasional bad day	Having more bad days than good days
Questioning how other moms seem to “do it all” or comparing yourself to others	Feeling as though you are not good enough or your baby would be better off without you

To learn more, please visit: Demystifying Postpartum 

If you are experiencing symptoms, help is available, and you will get better. We recommend:

• Talking to a loved one such as your partner, family, close friend, or your doctor.
• Counseling with a perinatal therapist
• A peer support group
• Holistic therapies such as vibrational sound therapy, guided meditation, reiki, or acupuncture. 

In the spirit of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, we celebrate and care for YOU!

YOU are strong. YOU are brave. YOU are enough.

YOU are worthy. YOU are loved. YOU are not alone.

About Courtney

Courtney Daniels is a psychotherapist who holds Perinatal Mental Health and Bringing Baby Home certifications. She specializes in helping women and couples achieve pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting wellness.