The Role of Sadness in Postpartum
According to the Dialectical Behavior Therapy approach, we have 10 emotions hardwired into our biology.
And sadness is one of them.
So, when and why do we feel sadness?
When you have lost something, or someone, permanently.
And when things are not the way you wanted, or how you expected and hoped them to be.
If these two things don’t sum up a large part of postpartum and parenthood, I don’t know what does!
What might this look like in postpartum and parenthood?
Feeling like you don’t know who you are as a mother/parent, and missing the identity you once had
Or maybe having a colicky baby, communication struggles with your partner, or feeling a lack of support from your community, once you became a mother/parent.
And, in case you haven’t seen the movie Inside Out, sadness also:
Helps us to appreciate the joyful moments more
Can be relieved when we bring people towards us, rather than pushing people away.
Sadness is totally common to feel as a human, especially in new motherhood/parenthood.
And you don’t have to be in that sadness alone.
If you are wanting more support in postpartum….
You are not alone. You are not to blame. With help you will be well.
Call or text Postpartum Support International HelpLine at 800-944-4773. You never need a diagnosis to ask for help.
Download the Connect by PSI App
Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-852-6262
Visit postpartum.net for additional programs and resources
