Therapy for Maternal Wellness

Becoming a Mom Isn’t Always Easy

Starting a family is a journey. For many, it happens quickly, often before they can wrap their brains around it. But for others, the road can be much longer.

Some spend seemingly countless nights peeing on sticks and squinting at potential lines under various lights, wondering how much of what supplement to take, charting BBT, and contemplating acupuncture, Mayan massage, IUI, IVF, adoption, or other means to have children. And sadly, there are those who deal with chemical pregnancies and miscarriages.

It’s often hard to talk about what’s going on with well-intentioned loved ones who dole out advice and comments such as, “You just need to relax” and “If it’s meant to be, it will be.”

Though not every family is made in the same way, the path to grow one can be stressful.

Motherhood is Intense

Becoming a mom is an adjustment and you hit the ground running from Day 1.

There are so many decisions to be made and things to do that it can be overwhelming.

Although you love your child fiercely, you miss how things were before all the chaos and responsibility of keeping your tiny little dictator alive and well.

Some days, showering seems to be your only “self-care” and the bathroom doubles as the place where you privately cry
because the weight of everything can feel crushing.

While you wouldn’t change being a mom for the world, it’s exhausting and you wish you had a break.

Busy is the New Normal…

Let’s get real. Motherhood is sometimes about survival.

You can plan a ton that you want to get done, but things don’t always pan out that way.

There are diapers, laundry, shopping, remembering who has to turn in what and when, playdates, crying while you’re on the phone, nursing at your computer–the list goes on and on.

Your days sometimes feel over before they even begin, especially if you’re working, in school, or just trying to do something to better yourself.

There seems to be no such thing as work-life balance anymore.

When Good Moms Feel Bad

Most moms will admit that their mood takes a hit after having a baby. But sometimes the sadness and worry get worse and it’s hard to cope.

Fueled by hormones and body changes, sleep-deprivation, relationship stress, job and finance concerns, having a traumatic birth, let alone all that having a baby during a pandemic entails, and it can just feel like too much.

Post-partum depression and anxiety can happen to anyone, even if you’ve never had any mental health struggles. Your mind may race with worry over everything related to your baby and being a parent, you may have mood swings, or even feel detached and withdrawn from your child.

You’ve got nothing to feel guilty about and you don’t have to struggle alone with such experiences.

Motherhood is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

I help moms across the spectrum of their lives, from struggles with TTC and fertility treatment to miscarriages and pre-and post-partum care, parenting frustrations, kids leaving the nest, relationship conflicts with partners and spouses, break-ups and divorce, aging, and whatever else comes up along the way.

Your identity will change throughout your life, but you will always be a mother. Maternal wellness is a work-in-progress.

If you’re feeling anxious or depressed, struggling with being a new mom or parenting stress, dealing with negative body image or disordered eating, or facing some other mental health concern, reach out today for help.

Feel Better, Feel Empowered, Feel Connected

Call me at (720) 845-6600 or email drjodiebenabe@somethingwildwellness.com to schedule a free 20-minute consultation.