Postpartum OCD…

A common postpartum anxiety disorder that causes intrusive thoughts and behaviors about harming a newborn. But you can be diagnosed 1 year or 2 years postpartum. Because this is misdiagnosed very often. These thoughts are constant and repetitive, and can severely disrupt daily life.

The obsessions and compulsions usually focus on the newborn (or unborn) infant. For example, there may be obsessions about the baby getting hurt, contaminated, lost, and compulsive rituals involving checking, mental rituals, and seeking reassurance.

some examples are:

👶🏼excessively cleaning, your hands, baby, and germs

👶🏼checking on a sleeping baby endlessly

👶🏼asking others, and the internet about their health constantly

👶🏼praying excessively

👶🏼withdraw from caring from the child for fear of hurting them

👶🏼playing out scenarios in your head of what COULD happen

(I am no medical expert/doctor) but just a mom who has educated herself on pp OCD…since the misdiagnosis is always high. It was interesting to me..because not many speak about it. Which makes me wonder..how many of us were misdiagnosed??

•These thoughts can get bigger over time, but telling someone about them can deflate them.

•Postpartum OCD can be triggered by pregnancy and the postpartum period. It's five times more likely to affect new moms than other women.

•Treatment includes talk therapy, medications, or both. There is no known cure, but this condition can be managed by a medical professional to improve symptoms!

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