“…I would be nursing my baby like usual and would suddenly get very hot and sweaty. A thought would arise about throwing her off of me, yelling, “Get off me!” and squeezing her neck until her head popped off” (Livingston, 2021, p.1). Affecting women during the perinatal and postpartum periods, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can make the difficult job of motherhood a terrifying experience.
It makes sense then, that giving birth can exacerbate existing OCD symptoms: “Get away! Get the baby away, I can’t touch her, I can’t be near her, I’m going to hurt her!” (Livingston, 2021, p.1). Changes in hormone levels, brain activity, and serotonin during childbirth can create the perfect storm for mothers to develop OCD symptoms during childbirth: “I managed to fulfil my intended natural, drug-free birth plan even though I wanted to give up several times. I brought new life into the world and abruptly felt I was its sole support and provider, overwhelmed and unprepared for this responsibility” (Livingston, 2021, p.1)
Even if you have thoughts of shaking baby, dropping baby, or popping baby’s head off, fear that you, as a mother, will cause harm to your baby does not mean you will cause harm to your baby. Experiencing intrusive thoughts and feeling the fear they cause is ok: you’re afraid because you do not want to act on the thought, but you fear you could, and that sounds like OCD.
In celebration of all the moms in our community who may be suffering, we’ve collected a series of resources. Let us know your favorites in the comments below.
Postpartum Progress:
https://postpartumprogress.com/great_article_o
Postpartum Anxiety is an Epidemic Among American Mothers:
1-800-944-4773
Text: 800-944-4773
Post Tags :
Share :
To instill hope and promote recovery from OCD.
Copyright © 2024 OCD North