The Northbrook Tower

May 7, 2015

The Postpartum Depression Alliance of Illinois (PPD Alliance IL), an organization working to promote awareness, prevention and treatment of maternal mental health issues throughout Illinois, is pleased to announce a new, free workshop on May 20th. The workshop, “Emotional Wellness for New Moms,” will discuss the challenges new moms face and offer ways women can look after themselves emotionally when they have a new baby. In addition to the workshop, the PPD Alliance IL is also offering a free, downloadable resource, Guide to Pregnancy & Postpartum Stress, Anxiety & Depression, which provides pregnant and new mothers tips and information about coping with their emotions during this often challenging time in their lives.

“We are offering this free workshop to assure local women that the feelings they are experiencing are real, to know that they are not alone, and to know that treatment is available,” said Dr. Sarah Allen, Psy.D, a psychologist and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who founded the Postpartum Depression Alliance of Illinois in 2001. “We also find that Mother’s Day can be particularly stressful for some new mothers, and want to make sure that the community is aware of this local resource and that it is available to help at any time.”

In addition to Mother’s Day, Dr. Allen has worked with the Governor’s office and May has been proclaimed Perinatal Mood Disorders Awareness Month in Illinois. Approximately 15% of pregnant women and 15% – 20% of new mothers experience major or minor depression in the first year after giving birth, affecting nearly 1 million women every year in the United States alone. Yet despite their prevalence, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are under-detected by health care professionals and many women go without treatment.

Symptoms for postpartum depression and anxiety differ for everyone but may include:
• Worries and panic attacks
• Feelings of sadness, fear, anger and guilt
• Possible thoughts of harming the baby or oneself
• Lack of interest in the baby
• Appetite and sleep disturbance
• Difficulty concentrating and making decisions

The “Emotional Wellness for New Moms” workshop will take place on May 20th from 1pm – 2:30 pm at New Mother, New Baby, 3115 Dundee Road, Northbrook. For more information about the workshop or to learn more about the PPD Alliance IL, please go to http:www.ppdil.org/how-we-can-help/ or call the 847 791-7722. To download the free guide, or to learn further about counseling and treatment options, please go to https://drsarahallen.com/pregnancy-postpartum/.

About Postpartum Depression Illinois Alliance
The PPD Alliance IL is run entirely by volunteers who are passionate about supporting women and raising awareness about maternal mental health across Illinois. PPD Alliance IL offers a helpline (847-205-4455) and website (www.PPDil.org) for women and their families so they can learn more about pregnancy and postpartum mood disorders and access local resources such as support groups and trained healthcare providers. More information about postpartum depression can also be found at www.ppdil.org/how-we-can-help/.

I was recently interviewed for a couple of SheKnows.com articles. I really like the author Bethany Ramos’s approach as she always writes from personal experience and has a great interest in talking to therapists to gain more understand about psychological issues. I tend to like a lot of the articles SheKnows post on their Facebook page so recommend you Like their Facebook page too (as well as mine too of course 🙂  https://www.facebook.com/drsfcallen)

I hope you find them interesting too!

The first article also highlights the virtues of telephone/online therapy and if you would like to try that type of therapy please read more about it on my page https://drsarahallen.com/telephone-online-sessions/.

7 Things You Never Knew About Going To Therapy

SheKnows.com April 29 2015
by Bethany Ramos

“I wasn’t too gung ho about therapy at first. I’d always wanted a professional opinion about the anxiety that was running my life — but still, I was scared to open up and spill the beans to a virtual stranger.

Speaking of virtual, that was exactly what I did. When my oldest son was two years old and my second son was just an infant, I realized: I’m not doing a very good job at life. I thought that having a role as a mother would help calm the anxiety that constantly built up in my chest. As I realized that the responsibilities of parenting made me even more anxious, I knew it was time to bite the bullet. I signed up for virtual therapy, and my life has never been the same.”

Read the full article including my quote at:

http://www.sheknows.com/health-and-wellness/articles/1081050/reason-to-go-to-therapy

 

Telling Someone To ‘Cheer Up’ Is Not A Coping Method That Helps

SheKnows.com July 13 2015
by Bethany Ramos

I spent a year grieving and learned you should rarely tell someone to ‘cheer up’.
I recently made it through what I would unequivocally call the worst year and the best year of my life. I saw my dad for the first time in seven years. I fell apart. Then, I slowly put myself back together.

Read the full article including my quote at:

http://www.sheknows.com/health-and-wellness/articles/1084676/support-grieving-friend

If you would like to read some more articles that I have been interviewed for click over to my Latest News & Articles page.

I put together this booklet with strategies I am always giving to my clients firstly, because they help and secondly, so clients can have something handy to refer to between sessions.

I am a big believer in giving handouts about the strategies we talk about during sessions because I think it is hard to remember everything. I also give new clients a folder so they will be able to keep all this information in one place. A sort of emotional health toolbox to get out and read when you need it.

Not everyone is able to come and to see me though so I decided to make these strategies available to everyone and I hope you find this booklet helpful too. I think it is a great way to get started but it is hard to do this on your own so please contact me with any questions you may have after reading it.

Add your first name and email in the box below and you will be sent the steps to download your FREE depression book and begin your journey to feeling better.

I also put together a booklet with some strategies I am always giving to my clients to help them begin to feel less anxiety and to worry less.

I hope that you will find it helpful too.

Add your first name and email address in the box below and you will be sent the steps to download your FREE book.

Please call 847 791-7722 or email me on the form below if you have any questions.

Also, I have several blog posts about depression and other free booklets and posts about other issues that can affect the way you feel on my website www.drsarahallen.com.