Perinatal Mood Disorders Postpartum Depression Treatment in Lansdowne, VA

Many women struggle with a lot of  difficult emotions in their child-bearing years, often impacted by hormones, phase of life changes, and new roles.  Sometimes these struggles get better quickly after a brief adjustment time, such as getting over the Baby Blues. Sometimes it takes much more time to work through these issues if they stick with a person longer. An assessment can help determine the scope of the problem and determine the appropriate next step of support and treatment. 

Although many people know the term Post-Partum Depression, the most appropriate way to describe mood disorders associated with the prenatal (pregnancy) and post-partum (after birth) time is with the term Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMAD).  This is because  PMADs are  a spectrum of issues ranging from postpartum depression to postpartum anxiety to postpartum obsessive and compulsive issues. In fact, the most common problem that presents is anxiety. Sometimes a person might have struggled at an earlier point in their lives and it comes back again during the prenatal or post-partum time when they are vulnerable to mental health concerns especially due to hormonal shifts. Whatever it is called and whenever the onset, it is important to know that women are not alone in these struggles and there is help available. We offer treatment for perinatal mood disorders, including postpartum depression treatment and postpartum anxiety treatment.  

Here is some more information:  

*Women in the childbearing years account for the largest group in the US with Depression.

*PMAD is the most common complication of childbirth.

*There are more new cases of mothers suffering from PMAD each year than women diagnosed with breast cancer

*Maternal Depression is the most under-diagnosed obstetric complication in the United States .About 15-20% of moms have a Perinatal Mood Disorder. 

*Dads also struggle with PMADs. In fact, 10% of all dads suffer from a prenatal or postpartum onset mood or anxiety disorder. When a dad has PMAD, his partner is 50% likely to also have a PMAD.

If you think you might be struggling with a PMAD, please give us a call to talk. Angie has specialized training and in providing treatment for those struggling with issues during prenatal (pregnancy) and post-partum (after birth) time frames. She is happy to coordinate with your medical care treatment team, such as your OBGYN, in order to provide treatment recommendations and integration of proved therapeutic techniques to help you get better.