Therapy for Postpartum OCD and Intrusive Thoughts
You may be having thoughts that terrify you.
Thoughts that seem to come out of nowhere.
Thoughts you don’t want.
Thoughts you would never act on.
Thoughts that make you question who you are.
You may find yourself thinking:
“Why would my brain think this?”
“What kind of mother has these thoughts?”
“What if this means something is wrong with me?”
You might be afraid to say them out loud.
You may be scared that if anyone knew what goes through your mind, they would think you’re dangerous. You may worry that these thoughts mean you’re a bad mom. Or worse.
They don’t.
The fact that these thoughts horrify you is actually important information.
Many new moms experience intrusive thoughts after having a baby. These thoughts are unwanted, disturbing, and completely opposite of who you are.
You might have sudden images of something bad happening to your baby. You might have thoughts about accidentally or intentionally harming them. You might find yourself replaying the same scary idea over and over, trying to make it stop.
And the more you try not to think about it, the louder it gets.
These thoughts feel horrifying because they go against everything you believe and everything you want. They scare you because you love your baby so much.
That distinction matters more than you might realize.
Postpartum OCD is not about wanting to hurt your baby. It's about being terrified that you could.
You may find yourself:
avoiding certain situations
checking on your baby constantly
asking for reassurance over and over
replaying thoughts you wish would go away
feeling ashamed for even having them
You might feel trapped inside your own mind.
Postpartum OCD is more common than most people realize. And it is extremely treatable with the right support.
You are not broken.
You are not dangerous.
And you are not alone.
I can help you find relief from the thoughts that won't leave you alone.
In therapy, we work on understanding what's happening in your mind and reducing the power these thoughts have over you. Not by pushing them away harder — but by changing your relationship to them so they stop running your life.
You don't have to keep living in fear of your own mind.
One important note:
If you ever feel disconnected from reality, confused about what is real, or feel like harming yourself or your baby feels right or necessary, that is a medical emergency. Please contact emergency services or go to the nearest emergency room.
If your thoughts feel unwanted, frightening, and completely against who you are - that's a different experience entirely. And therapy can help.
