Counselling for postnatal depression in Berkhamsted

There are many common misunderstandings that abound about post natal depression. One of those is that postnatal depression is solely due to hormonal changes in the body, and while hormonal fluctuations are thought to be contributory it’s not thought to be the sole cause of depression in mothers after birth. It’s true that the sudden drop in oestrogen and progesterone after birth can affect mood, as can changes in the functioning of the thyroid gland which can also cause tiredness and exhaustion, but there are many other factors too that are different for each mother.

Having a baby is one of those experiences that is often idealised in society and as a result the potential for the mismatch between the ideal and the reality of motherhood is huge. It can be very distressing to feel drastically different than you expected to feel after you have a baby. Fantasies of motherhood don’t often involve feeling disconnected. emotionally numb, or wanting to escape. Likewise feelings of guilt and anxiety can be very intense but that’s often not how new mothers thought they were going to feel. Feelings of not coping don’t often go with an experience which wider society tells you should be pure love and joy, yet these kinds of feelings are often the reality. Unfortunately this can lead lots of new mothers to feel shameful about how they feel which in turn leads to closing down rather than opening up. Motherhood can be very isolating and not everyone has the support around them that they need or perhaps more accurately the kind of support that fits the needs of the new mother in question. Sometimes the kind of support that can be useful is the space to be able to talk freely about how you feel without the fear of being judged. Not having to censor yourself in this way and being supported with whatever it is that you’re feeling can be very powerful in helping you to move through postnatal depression.

Sometimes it’s useful to hear from other new mothers who are living through similar experiences. The video below was produced by The Huffington Post for World Mental Health day.  If you have any questions about counselling for postnatal depression or you’re interested in seeing me at my counselling practice in berkhamsted, please feel free to get in touch.