After having a baby, it is common to experience the entire gamut of emotions. This is a huge life transition, paired with significant hormonal fluctuations. However, when symptoms of sadness, irritability, low frustration tolerance, feelings of guilt or hopelessness, lack of interest in things, persist for more than two weeks, it is important to seek a professional assessment. Motherhood is hard, and you deserve to be supported and nurtured, so that you can do the same for your baby.

When you have a child, the world suddenly becomes a much scarier place. Your maternal instincts are on high alert for danger, and you may be feeling more anxious. This makes sense, you are protecting and raising a new person. However, if you cannot quiet your fears, if your usual self-care techniques cannot shake the anxiety, if your thoughts are preoccupied with worst case scenarios and you can never relax, it is time to seek professional support. Don't let the anxiety steal from your ability to enjoy motherhood.

If left untreated, depression and anxiety can become dangerous. Psychosis occurs when feelings of sadness or anxiety become de-coupled from reality. This is extreme and rare, not all depression and not all anxiety becomes psychotic. However, postpartum psychosis is an emergency and requires immediate intervention.

Anyone can develop postpartum symptoms. Women with a family history of mental health concerns, a personal prior psychiatric history, or a traumatic birth experience, are at higher risk of developing symptoms. While you cannot control whether you develop postpartum concerns, you can seek out support and treatment to feel better again.

Every mother wants what is best for her baby, often forgetting herself in the process. Your baby is an extension of yourself, and what you feel your baby will feel. Postpartum depression, anxiety and psychosis can lead to feeding, sleeping and attachment challenges. Taking care of yourself is taking care of your baby, and both you and your baby deserve whatever additional support, nurturance and treatment is necessary, to get you back to feeling like yourself again.

Mental well-being is a complex interplay across many areas of your life. Everyone's experiences and challenges are unique, and the more tools in your toolbox, the more resilient you will be. While the primary focus with Dr. Gabriela Hayes is psychopharmacology and how to use your neurochemistry optimally, she will also explore behavioral and holistic modalities to further maximize your strength.