Are You At Risk For Pregnancy or PPD Quiz

Up to 20% of pregnant and new moms experience depression or anxiety.

Yes, it’s that common!

No one can say for definite that having specific stresses or experiences in your life, or perhaps having certain personality traits, causes postpartum anxiety or depression but we do know that there are quite a few factors that can increase your risk.

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I am currently offering remote appointments. Read more about how remote counseling works Dr. Allen Telephone & Video Sessions

Other articles by Dr. Allen you may be interested in:

The Facts About Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety

The Truth About Depression During Pregnancy

Is It Postpartum Depression or Something Else?

When Your Childbirth Experience Wasn’t What You Hoped For

Click to read more articles on Dr. Allen’s Pregnancy & Postpartu m Blog

Download my 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.

THE GUIDE TO PREGNANCY & POSTPARTUM STRESS, ANXIETY & DEPRESSION ebook PREGNANCY / POSTPARTUM MOOD SCREENING TEST ebook

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.

If you are experiencing symptoms of either anxiety, depression or obsessional thoughts it isn’t something you have done wrong, or something that’s wrong with you and you certainly needn’t blame yourself for feeling this way. It’s just, for a variety of reasons, the childbearing years are the most likely time in a women’s life to experience a mental health issue.

The information in this article is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical or psychological condition. Please call me or consult your own health care provider for individual advice regarding your specific situation and needs.

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Testimonials

When I had my first baby I had what I now know was postpartum depression but I didn’t get any help. It did go away after about 18mths but it was a miserable way to begin motherhood. When I was pregnant with my second child I started to become depressed again and this time told my OB/GYN how I was feeling and she referred me to Sarah. By starting to deal with how I felt and change the way I was handling the stresses in my life, I was in a much better place when my baby was born. The second time round my PPD was much less severe and didn’t last as long. Sarah was also really helpful in teaching me ways to make the transition of becoming a big sister easier for my oldest one too. My husband came with me for some sessions and that really helped our relationship and we started working on parenting issues together. Sarah’s counsel and support really helped our family transition to the good place we are all in today.

Sara D.

I began seeing Dr. Allen when my first child was around a year old. I had experienced a very traumatic birth, after a difficult pregnancy where I was on bed rest for a good portion of the time. The first year of my son’s life was spent worrying constantly. I also experienced flashbacks to the birth, which was an emergency C-section under general anesthesia. My son was in the NICU for several days following his birth, and I was not given very much information as to why. I remember thinking that he would die, or that something awful was going to happen. I experienced a great deal of anxiety that first year, and I thought that it was due to being a new mom. I wasn’t sleeping, I wasn’t eating as normal, and I remember being worried about leaving the house or taking my baby with me anywhere. I worried constantly about illness, germs, etc. The first day that I saw Dr. Allen, she gave me some questionnaires to fill out before we started talking. Then we sat down and talked about my experiences with my son’s birth and the early days of his life, and the year or so since then. I remember to this day the relief that I felt when she looked at me and said that I had PPD and PTSD, which was a result of the trauma I experienced during and immediately after the birth of my son. She explained how my brain had reacted to the stress of these events, and related it to why I was feeling the way that I felt. It made so much sense. Then, she described ways that I could get over the trauma, work through the feelings, and recover from PTSD and PPD. I felt so empowered, and so happy that the way I felt had a name, and that it was treatable. It also made me feel so validated in the ways that I had felt and reacted following my son’s birth. I wasn’t going crazy. My reaction was normal and natural. And with the help of Dr. Allen, and the type of therapy that she uses, I knew I could recover. It is over five years since that first visit with Dr. Allen, and I still use the tools that she taught me today to deal with stress. I credit her with helping me to become a more empowered, happier person.

Elizabeth

Are You At Risk For Postpartum Anxiety Or Depression? Take The Quiz

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