Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMAD’s)
At nurtuHER, we recognize that the journey into motherhood isn’t always a smooth one. Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) can impact moms during pregnancy and postpartum, and their effects extend beyond the mother. Husbands, partners, caregivers, non-birthing parents, adoptive parents, surrogates, and those who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss may also grapple with symptoms of PMADs. Struggling with PMADs doesn’t lessen your deservingness of support and care. Most women do not receive the care they need because the symptoms of PMADs can be similar to everyday motherhood struggles. If you are not feeling like yourself, or you notice your quality of life is impacted, seek support.
Signs and symptoms that may indicate a PMAD:
- Feeling overwhelmed by everyday activities
- Not finding joy or pleasure in your usual activities
- Feeling like you’re not doing enough or that you’re “failing as a mother”
- Feeling irritable, angry, or resentful
- Feeling emotionally numb or disconnected
- Crying or weeping unexpectedly
- Having difficulty bonding with your baby or lacking interest in them
- Constantly worrying about your baby’s well-being
- Experiencing distressing, intrusive thoughts that interfere with your daily life
- Feeling afraid or having frightening thoughts about you or your baby getting hurt
- Overwhelmed by anxiety or panic attacks
- Feeling anxious or afraid to be alone or alone with your baby
- Experiencing changes in appetite or sleep patterns
- Feeling like you’re alone or have no support
- Having trouble concentrating or experiencing brain fog
- Changes in substance use patterns, such as increased alcohol consumption
The following risk factors may increase the likelihood of experiencing a PMAD:
- Family history of depression, anxiety, or another mental illness
- Personal history of depression, anxiety, or another mental illness
- Personal history of childhood abuse
- Traumatic birth experience
- Struggling with perfectionism or having high standards for yourself
- Challenges with breastfeeding
- Caring for a baby with health issues, requires additional care, or medical differences
- Lack of support from family and friends
- Being a single parent
- Recent immigration
- Significant life changes
- Financial stress
- Identifying as queer and/or trans
- Being Black, Indigenous, LatinX, or a person of color
- Living with a disability or chronic illness
