Perinatal depression therapy in Austin
You expected joy, and what arrived was numbness, or sadness, or nothing much at all.
Maybe you noticed right away
Maybe you noticed something was wrong right away — you weren’t feeling that sense of joy and flood of bonding hormones you expected with a new baby, and you just knew something wasn’t right. Maybe it came on more slowly — yes, you were bonding with your baby, but things felt different, harder than you thought, or you were getting through all the chores but felt… numb. Or sadder than you expected. Or maybe it started as your child got older — exhaustion, numbness, irritability, or sadness that lingered more days than not. Maybe you missed the person you were before children, more than you thought you would.
And, in all likelihood, some judgment crept in — what’s wrong with me, everyone else seems like they’re loving this stage, why can’t I be happier when I wanted this so badly.
You’re far from alone
Social media might make it look like everyone is blissfully happy all the time, especially in pictures of families and kids. But depression during the perinatal period and while parenting is common. Up to 80% of new mothers experience the “baby blues” — a short-lived dip in mood in the first couple weeks postpartum. And postpartum depression, which is longer-lasting and more intense, affects an estimated 1 in 7 parents. If either of these sounds familiar, you’re far from alone. And the isolation many parents experience, along with a lack of community support and resources, doesn’t help.
What we’d explore
If depression is something you’re experiencing, we’ll work together to explore why. There are many possible reasons — the transition to parenthood and its grief, shifts in interpersonal relationships, perfectionism and self-criticism, among others. Based on what we find, we’ll work on shifting those thoughts, connecting you to resources, and supporting you through the role shifts you’re navigating. You won’t feel happy all the time as a result — but you’ll have more energy and more presence with your family. Eventually, you’ll be able to catch depression symptoms early and feel confident about what to do next to weather the season.
If you think perinatal or parental anxiety might be something you’re experiencing, you can find out more here.
If you are in crisis
If you are experiencing thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, or you’re in crisis, please call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), call 911, or go to your nearest emergency room. The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline, 1-833-852-6262, is available 24 hours a day.
For perinatal support that is not an emergency, Postpartum Support International can be reached at 1-800-944-4773. It is a callback service rather than a crisis line.
If this sounds like your week, the next step is a short conversation rather than a commitment.