Experts speak out about postpartum OCD, dispelling the unfair stigma that prevents many women from seeking help.
Plus, how the pandemic is making it worse.
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Chelsea Allison, 32, couldnt stop thinking about her baby getting hurt.
Suddenly, danger to her child seemed to be everywhere.
Allison couldnt even look at the stairs without scenes of dropping him playing over and over in her head.
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The car was another trigger.
What if her sleep-deprived haze caused her to crash with her son in the backseat?
Kristy Christopher-Holloway, EdD is an assistant professor and the founder and director of New Vision Counseling Center.
She is also certified in perinatal mental health.
She is based in Chicago, Illinois.
Then there was the threat of germs, which suddenly seemed to be everywhere.
In fact, Allison stopped driving completely.
She started Googling what she was feeling, but was left with unanswered questions.
Perinatal and postpartum OCD affect11 percent of new moms, although its very likely that the numbers are underreported.
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But the pandemic might push those numbers upwards.
This is just one postpartum stigma she is hoping breaks down, through more open conversation about it.
What causes postpartum OCD?
One is a history of anxiety or OCD.
But even someone who has never experienced OCD could experience postpartum OCD.
Then, of course, there are the drastic hormonal changes that occur during and after childbirth.
Studies have shown that low estrogen levels areassociated with OCD symptoms, and estrogen levels plummet after giving birth.
There is also more isolation in general, which is making it more difficult to reach out for help.
Ill also ask if theyre having any intrusive thoughts or about any ritualizing.
There is also more isolation in general, which is making it more difficult to reach out for help.
And this guilt and shame is one of the biggest barriers for people with postpartum OCD to getting help.
So theyre experiencing all of this in secret.
Women of color, especially Black women,have a higher maternal mortality ratethan white women.
So its absolutely more likely for them to feel more anxious going into delivery, she says.
As Dr. Gorbis previously stated, experiencing anxiety during pregnancy or birth increases the risk for postpartum OCD.
I think that OCD in general is something that is not understood well, she says.
However, intrusive thoughts are never really discussed on a larger scale of being a part of OCD.
Its important to find someone who is truly trained to help, she says.
At least this time, she feels less alone.
Levine-Miles often encourages clients to gradually take steps to overcome their fears.
You have to be able to habituate the things youre scared of doing, Levine-Miles says.
Dr. Christohper-Holloway uses exposure therapy, too.
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