Postpartum Anxiety Therapy
Postpartum Anxiety Therapy in Denver, Greenwood Village, Boulder and Throughout Colorado
Are you a new parent struggling with anxiety, overthinking or intrusive thoughts?
Maybe it feels like since becoming a parent, you can’t stop worrying that something bad is going to happen to your baby. You find yourself checking constantly to make sure that the baby is breathing, or worrying that you’re going to mess something up. You’ve been up late at night, Googling symptoms and spiraling that something is seriously wrong. You’re snapping more at your partner, feeling agitated that they’re not doing things the “right” way. Everything feels so heavy - like if you make the wrong choice, the world will come crashing down.
All you want is to feel confident as a new mom and enjoy this special time with your baby
But instead, you’re stuck in your head, drowning in worry.
It doesn’t have to be like this. Postpartum anxiety therapy can help.
Postpartum anxiety (PPA) is when intense, constant worry shows up after having a baby. For many women it begins in the first few weeks, but it can show up anytime in the first year after birth. Postpartum anxiety is usually caused by some combination of the hormonal changes after birth and during the postpartum period, new pressures and responsibilities as a parent, and lack of sleep. Things like changing schedules, new pressures on your relationship, shifting identities and other co-occurring stressors (like a traumatic birth, having a child with a disability or medical complications, or a recent loss) can also play a role. You may be more likely to experience postpartum anxiety if you’ve experienced anxiety earlier in your life, but that’s not always the case. Even moms (or dads) who have never dealt with anxiety before can find themselves experiencing it as they adjust to parenthood.
Working with a postpartum anxiety therapist may be right for you if you experience things like:
Constant feelings of worry, often centered around your baby’s health and safety
Overwhelming thought spirals that might include worst-case scenarios, “what if” fears, or thoughts and images that pop into your head even when you don’t want them to
Feeling unusually irritable, snappy or full of rage - sometimes out of nowhere
A heavy sense of dread, or the looming sense that something bad is going to happen
Feeling tense, alert and on guard all the time, making it difficult to relax
Experiencing intense anxiety at the thought of letting anyone else care for your baby, sometimes even your partner
Forgetting things, struggling to focus or your mind going blank
Lying awake even when your baby is finally sleeping, unable to shut your brain off because your thoughts keep racing
Physical symptoms like tight shoulders, headaches, a racing heart, shortness of breath, nausea, or a constant “butterflies” feeling in your stomach
Sudden waves of intense fear or panic that seem to come out of nowhere, sometimes with dizziness, chest tightness, or the feeling that you might lose control
What is Postpartum Anxiety?
Postpartum Anxiety Therapy in Denver, Colorado Can Help
As a postpartum anxiety therapist at Root to Rise Therapy, I help new moms (and dads!) to feel calmer, more present and more confident as they transition to parenthood. I will help you to navigate your new role and responsibilities as a parent to find balance with your pre-motherhood values and identity. Together in therapy, we will:
Help you develop coping skills to better manage both the physical and mental ways that your anxiety manifests
Teach you about the origins, triggers for and impact of postpartum anxiety to help you gain a deeper understanding of your experience
Teach communication techniques that can help you and your partner better manage the impact of stress on your relationship
Help you build strategies to change your relationship to spiraling and intrusive thought patterns
Provide emotional support, validation and help you find acceptance for your unique experience of parenthood
Help you to process experiences and memories from your own childhood that may be surfacing as you take on this new challenge, and use this to better understand yourself
Suggest relevant books, articles and tools that can help you to get a deeper understanding of your experience and make progress in between sessions
Through postpartum anxiety therapy, I will help you to get out of your head so that you can be more present with your baby. I will help you to stop beating yourself up so that you can feel confident in your abilities as a new mom. I will help you to care for yourself, so that you can model the same for your child.
Work with a Postpartum Anxiety Therapist in Denver, Greenwood Village, Boulder, Longmont and Throughout Colorado
At Root to Rise Therapy, I specialize in supporting women who are navigating the challenges of new motherhood, including postpartum depression, anxiety and more. I especially love helping new mothers heal from people-pleasing and perfectionism, and the ways in which they can manifest in early parenthood. I also specialize in treating ADHD in women and moms. My approach is compassionate, personalized to each client, and designed to help you feel seen, supported, and empowered.
I offer online therapy for postpartum anxiety in Colorado, New York and New Jersey at my practice, as I know how hard it can be for new moms to find childcare or take space away from their babies in the early days of motherhood. Virtual counseling allows you to receive support from the comfort of your own home when leaving the house can feel overwhelming.
You don’t have to live with constant anxiety, dread and overwhelm. Working with a postpartum anxiety therapist can help you to be more present in your life, get out of your head and make space to really enjoy these precious days as a new parent.
You deserve it.
Postpartum Anxiety Therapy FAQs
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Symptoms of postpartum anxiety can start anywhere from immediately after childbirth to close to 1 year after. Triggers can include things like changes in breastfeeding patterns, the onset of menstruation, return to work, or other hormonal or stress-related factors.
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Risk factors for developing postpartum anxiety include pre-existing anxiety or mental health conditions, a traumatic birth or pregnancy, history of pregnancy loss or difficulty trying to conceive, and recent losses or other life stressors. However, even women with no known risk factors can still develop symptoms of postpartum anxiety.
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Receiving mental health treatment as soon as possible can significantly shorten the duration of postpartum anxiety.
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Postpartum anxiety is characterized by symptoms like intense worry, fear, overthinking or a general sense of dread and unease, whereas postpartum depression is marked by feelings of sadness, loss of interest in things you previously enjoyed, and feelings of hopelessness or despondence. However, postpartum anxiety and depression often co-occur, and a skilled postpartum therapist can help you treat both.
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Evidence-based treatments for postpartum anxiety include cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based therapies (including acceptance and commitment therapy), interpersonal therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy.
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Yes! Online therapy can be especially effective because it reduces barriers to care that often exist for new parents. You can participate in therapy from the comfort of your own home with your baby present, and don’t need to stress about coordinating childcare, exposing your baby to germs or finding the time to look “presentable.” Online therapy helps new mothers get treatment faster, rather than waiting until they are able to coordinate attending regular appointments outside of the home.
Postpartum anxiety counseling isn’t the only service I provide at my Denver, Colorado based therapy practice. Other mental health services at Root to Rise Therapy include Postpartum Depression Therapy, Pregnancy Therapy, Therapy for Anxiety, Therapy for Perfectionism, Therapy for People-Pleasing, ADHD Therapy, Counseling for Moms and Cultural Identity Counseling. I see clients located in Colorado, New York and New Jersey. Contact me to learn more about how I can help you overcome anxiety and reclaim your life!
Postpartum Therapy Resources
I am a certified perinatal mental health provider (PMH-C) through Postpartum Support International (PSI), which has many great resources and support groups for new moms. They also run a HelpLine that you can contact for additional information and support.
Mental Health Resources for New Moms in Denver
Questions before starting postpartum anxiety therapy in Denver, Boulder, Greenwood Village and throughout Colorado? Get in touch.
My Denver-based postpartum therapy practice specializes in treating women and new moms coping with perinatal mental health challenges. To start your counseling journey, follow these simple steps
Step 1
Contact Victoria
Step 2
Meet with Victoria, postpartum therapist for an intake session
Step 3
Get started on your journey towards healing emotionally and becoming the mom you want to be!