Submitted by tomrue on
For many pregnant women with bipolar disorder, dysthymia, seasonal affective disorder, or other mood disorders, psychotherapy offers a nondrug treatment that may help improve functioning, minimize sleep loss that can trigger mania, and help reduce the chance of a psychiatric relapse or temptation to self-medicate.
A cognitive-behavioral approach including a combination of guided relaxation and talking can help you work on relaxation techniques strategies that will let you get sleep and keep your moods in check. Healthy lifestyle habits, inncluding diet, regular exercise, stress reduction, and meaningful activities that bring fulfillment to your life can make a big difference.
Minimizing sleep deprivation is important. Physical issues during pregnancy, such as multiple nocturnal trips to the bathroom, can disrupt sleep.
Keeping a mood log, noting accompanying physical and environmental events, may help participants in therapy identify depressive triggers in relation to the events, thoughts, and feelings that precede "down" moments and start to look at things differently.
Psychotropic medications (antidepressants and/or mood stabilizers) are not always out of the question for pregnant women, but need to be considered in consultation between the patient, her psychiatrist, and hwe obstetrician. (Ideally, they talk to each other. However, only the patient knows or can describe her internal emotions. After all the talks, if advised to stay on medication while pregnant, don’t feel guilty about doing so. Your baby needs a mentally healthy mother.
After chilbirth, the experiences of mothers with young children may lead to false feelings of inadequacy if they do not immediately rebound with sexual enthusiasm and sensuality, devoted primary caregivers, while also holding a job. This fantasy breadwinner/homemaker model denies the challenges many mothers of young children face in struggling to reclaim their sexual selves, self-image, and sexual scripts.
Women can benefit from peer and professional support, with affirmation and encouragement as they explore identities as women and as new mothers.