Women’s Issues

A lot of the women I work with are concerned about the lack of intimacy in their lives and tell me they just don’t feel sexy anymore. They look back at their pre-child sex lives and some lament how they wished they could go back to how they felt then. Others tell me they don’t even care anymore about not wanting sex. Having children can effect both your body confidence and also drain you of the energy to even be bothered.

Recently, author and journalist Jackie Pilossoph contacted me as she wanted to write a column for the Chicago Tribune for Mother’s Day giving tips about about how to be a hot mama. Articles on the Tribune website disappear after a short while so I have posted the article here as I think Jackie covers all my points really well so please enjoy the article below:

Love Essentially: Happy Mother’s Day to all the hot moms out there

Jackie Pilossoph Love, Essentially Column

Chicago Tribune, May 4, 2016

I grew up with one of those really attractive moms, the kind where you bring your boyfriend home and his jaw drops when he sees her for the first time, leaving you standing there feeling like an ugly duckling. I’m not lying, just ask my two sisters. They feel the same way.

So when I became a mom, I had an appreciation for the effort I think my mom made (and still does) to be a caring, nurturing and loving mother of four, while at the same time being her own person by taking care of herself and enjoying a life that included things besides her kids.

In honor of Mother’s Day, I’d like to bring up the importance of being a hot mama. What do I mean by that? What I don’t mean is that moms have to drink green smoothies every day, hire a personal trainer, work out for three hours and be a size 2.

A hot mama is a woman who adores caring for her children, but at the same time feels pretty and sexy, and like a girlfriend to her husband, at times. Additionally, a hot mama is passionate and successful, either in a career or a much-loved hobby.

But the reality is, feeling like a hot mama isn’t always easy. In fact, it’s not uncommon for a woman to spiral into full mom mode, losing interest in her sexuality, her spouse and a life outside of diapers, crayons and carpools.

Dr. Sarah Allen is a Northbrook-based psychologist who specializes in women’s issues, including anxiety, depression, eating issues, pregnancy and postpartum mood disorders, and relationship difficulties. Allen said she has seen many women in this situation.

“When a woman has young kids, they can be clamoring all over her all day and so women will say, ‘I just don’t want anyone else touching me,’” said Allen, who holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, and who has been in practice for 22 years. “Another reason is body image. The extra weight gained after children or a C-section scar can make a woman self-conscious. And if you don’t like your body, you aren’t going to feel sexy.”

Allen said lack of intimacy in couples can also be caused by having teenagers who stay up late at night, leading to a noisy house and a lack of privacy.

Here are Allen’s five tips to becoming a hot mama:

1. Get back in touch with the person you were before you had kids. See old friends. Go back to a hobby you used to enjoy before you had kids.
2. Exercise and choose to eat right. You deserve to eat something better than the leftover chicken nuggets on your kids’ plates. Do things for yourself everyday that make you feel good both physically and emotionally. Examples include a massage, manicure, therapy or volunteering.
3. Dress in clothing that makes you feel good about yourself. Feeling attractive will make you happier and more open to romance and sex. Also, you don’t have to be naked to have sex. If you feel self-conscious, try a silk piece of lingerie that makes you feel pretty.
4. If you don’t schedule dates, they won’t happen. Also, research shows that if you plan dates that are slightly risky, that get your adrenaline going, or that take you out of your comfort zone, it fuels your sex drive.
5. Do things with your husband that you used to do before you had kids. Were the two of you in a bowling league? Did you enjoy seeing certain bands? Doing the things you did while falling in love will help you stay connected.

I want to specifically address the body image issue, being someone who has struggled with weight issues all my life. I think if a man is in love – really in love, and your relationship is solid, he is blind to the 10 pounds of baby weight you haven’t lost. He cannot see your stretch marks, and he thinks your muffin top is sexy. When he sees and feels your naked body, he is in the same place he was in (or better) when the two of you were young and unmarried.

It’s sad when women are so self-critical that they don’t realize this – the depth of a committed man’s love. Not to mention, I’m sure your spouse’s body doesn’t look like Ryan Gosling’s.

This Mother’s Day, give yourself a gift that is far better than flowers, brunch or chocolate. Give yourself the gifts of self-love, self-acceptance and the commitment to making time for yourself and not feeling guilty about it.

Remember that you can be a loving, caring and selfless mom, and at the same time be smart, driven, sexy, courageous and bold. It’s one hot combination. Happy Mother’s Day!

Jackie Pilossoph is a freelance columnist for Chicago Tribune Media Group. She is also the creator of her divorce support website, Divorced Girl Smiling.

About Dr. Allen

Dr. Sarah Allen is an experienced psychologist recognized by clients, peers and other professionals for her ability to quickly help people get “unstuck” and move forward in their lives. 

Dr. Allen sees clients in her

Northbrook office

Or if you are not able to come in to her office she can provide

telephone or online counseling

to make therapy more convenient for you.

If you have any questions after reading this article or want to know more about treatment, please contact Sarah by phone or on the form below.

847 791-7722

Most people are familiar with, or at least have heard of, Postpartum Depression (PPD) now. This wasn’t the case when I first moved to the USA 17 years ago but there have been great strides in awareness and provision of resources for new moms in the past few years.

There is a growing body of research  focusing on emotions during pregnancy now and this is good news for all the pregnant women who feel so alone for not enjoying their pregnancy the way they thought they would.

Studies are showing that approximately 15% of pregnant women experience depression. Research is also finding something that I have frequently seen in my clinical practice, pregnancy anxiety is just as common.

When anxiety and depression starts to interfere with your quality of life and day-to-day functioning it is called a mood disorder and we now know that pregnancy mood disorders (also known as antepartum or antenatal mood disorders depending on if you are in the US or UK) are nearly as widespread as postpartum ones (which effect about 20% of women in the first year after the baby’s birth).

I am frequently contacted by pregnant women who are feeling sad and/or anxious but they haven’t heard of antepartum mood disorders so they feel that they are the only one to go through this. I want to help increase awareness so women can feel less alone and also get help before the baby comes, as experiencing pregnancy anxiety & depression increases the risk of having postpartum anxiety and depression.

I was interviewed by pregnancyandchild.com and they have written a good article called The Truth About Depression During Pregnancy.

Please click the link to read it www.pregnancyandbaby.com/the-truth-about-depression-during-pregnancy

So What Are The Symptoms Of Pregnancy Depression?

Women with depression usually experience some of the following symptoms for 2 weeks or more:

• Persistent sadness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Sleeping too little or too much
• Loss of interest in activities that you usually enjoy
• Recurring thoughts of death, suicide, or hopelessness
• Anxiety
• Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
• Change in eating habits

Common Triggers

• Relationship problems
• Family or personal history of depression
• Infertility treatments
• Previous pregnancy loss
• Stressful life events
• Complications in pregnancy
• History of abuse or trauma

It is so important to reach out and ask for the support you need. Pregnancy and postpartum anxiety and depression are very treatable and the earlier you get the help you need the sooner you will start feeling yourself again.

As I was quoted in the article, “Pregnancy mood disorders are very treatable and it’s OK to accept support. With treatment, you’re going to feel a lot better soon and enjoy motherhood, rather than just hanging in there hoping you will survive.”

 

If you want to read more about maternal mental health download the FREE Guide To Pregnancy & Postpartum Stress, Anxiety & Depression. It is full of information about symptoms, different types of maternal mood disorders and advice about what to do to start feeling like yourself again.

Dr. Sarah Allen has 20+ years experience as a psychologist helping women transition to being the mom they want to be. She is also the Director of the Postpartum Depression Alliance of IL, a non-profit offering info and support to pregnant and postpartum moms and their families.

In her Northbrook office, in the North Suburbs of Chicago, or via telephone or online counseling she offers the most convenient way for you to access support and help.

If you have questions after reading this article or the Guide To Pregnancy & Postpartum Stress, Anxiety & Depression or have any questions about how counseling can be useful to your particular circumstances please contact me at 847 791-7722 or on the form below.