More than “Baby Blues”: Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) with Elyse Springer

The arrival of a new life is a momentous occasion that often brings joy, excitement, and a myriad of emotions. However, the perinatal and postpartum periods can also bring a host of mental health complexities that demand attention and understanding.

To help us understand the nuances of perinatal mental health, debunk some of the most common misconceptions around maternal mental health, and shed light on the intricacies that can impact the well-being of new parents, I invited licensed mental health therapist Elyse Springer to share her wealth of knowledge on this topic.

As the holidays fast approach, and people often start feeling the pressure to show up in ways that do not necessarily reflect how they're feeling inside, we hope this episode will normalize some of the challenges faced by many parents in this new chapter of life.

References

Postpartum Support International (PSI)

Return to Zero: H.O.P.E

Maternal Mental Health Now 

Love, Dad 

Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health

Connect with Elyse:

Visit Elyse’s website

Follow Elyse on Instagram

You can follow Brandi and her work @deardouapodcast on IG, @brandi_jordan_official IG, and send questions, comments and platitudes to [email protected]. Have a question you want Brandi to answer? Shoot her an email or a DM and she might include it on her next podcast episode!

If you are looking for support with your children, you can reach out to us at The Cradle Company for more information on hiring a parenting or baby specialist.

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Audio Stamps

01:18 - Brandi introduces today’s guest, licensed mental health therapist Elyse Springer.

02:34 - Elyse does some myth busting around perinatal and postpartum mood disorders

05:03 - Elyse defines postpartum psychosis

07:02 - We find out more about postpartum OCD

10:00 - Brandi asks Elyse how we can tell the difference between someone who is dealing with

a mental health disorder like OCD or anxiety, and someone who has embodied the idea that extra worry signifies how much you love your child.

11:25 - Elyse explains what your ACE score is and why it’s important to know.

20:00 - We find out what the next steps are if you or someone you know is showing symptoms of a mental health disorder

25:57 - Elyse shares some of the resources that new parents should be aware of that provide support for issues related to mental health.