Let’s Talk About Perinatal OCD
What are signs of Perinatal Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
➡️ Obsessions, also called intrusive thoughts, which are persistent, repetitive thoughts or mental images related to the baby.
These thoughts are very upsetting and not something the parent has ever experienced before.
➡️ Compulsions, where the parent may do certain things over and over again to reduce their fears and obsessions.
This may include things like needing to clean constantly, check things many times, count or reorder things.
Other symptoms that can be present in Perinatal OCD include:
➡️ A sense of horror about the obsessions (because these thoughts are ego-DYSTONIC - meaning something the parent would *never* act upon)
➡️ Fear of being left alone with the infant
➡️ Hypervigilance in protecting the infant
Parents with postpartum OCD know that their thoughts are bizarre and are very unlikely to ever act on them.
🙋🏻♀️ I had Postpartum OCD.
I began having very scary intrusive thoughts about ways harm could come to my baby, and I was terrified of being alone with her.
I was scared something ‘bad’ would happen to her/us, and I needed my husband to be with me at all times.
❤️🩹 It wasn’t until I got onto an SSRI, as well as started meeting with a perinatal mental health therapist, that I started to feel better.
Postpartum OCD is temporary and treatable with professional help.
If you experienced, or are currently experiencing, perinatal OCD, please know…
🔵 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.
🔵 In a crisis situation, call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
🔵 Visit postpartum.net for additional programs and resources, including FREE online support groups
