Are You Struggling With Reproductive Mental Health Issues?
Has pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, or another reproductive health challenge thrown your world off balance? Have you noticed:
Maybe you’re experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety during pregnancy or the premenstrual phase. Or perhaps you’re struggling with postpartum depression in the wake of your new birth—you expected to enjoy this new life with your baby, but all you feel is sadness, guilt, or confusion. You might be having breastfeeding complications or pain that’s making it difficult to care for your baby. As a result, maybe you’re thinking it’s time to reach out and get extra support.
When you’re dealing with mental health challenges related to perinatal/reproductive issues, it’s normal to feel like your emotions are all over the place. One minute you’re excited about this new chapter of your life, and the next you feel angry, irritable, and dysregulated. While part of you may be tempted to dismiss your feelings as simply the “baby blues,” another part knows there’s something more going on.
If this is how you feel, then you’ve come to the right place. Here at Skypiatrist in Brooklyn, New York, our team of reproductive psychiatrists specializes in helping women like you navigate various mood disorders linked to pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding, perimenopause, and premenstrual issues. We’re confident that we can support you as you navigate the ups and downs of this trying time.
Being a woman in today’s world is hard enough, but all the hardships are amplified during the perinatal period. Pregnant women are supposed to be happy and thrilled about the prospect of a newborn. Postpartum women are pressured to achieve a perfect bond with their baby and raise them perfectly. And for those dealing with premenstrual dysphoric disorder, they are still expected to work at full capacity and not take sick days.
Needless to say, our culture places an unhealthy burden on women dealing with reproductive health challenges. What’s more, many women are reluctant to come forward about their struggles because of deep feelings of shame. Oftentimes, they feel alone in their struggles. Yet the truth is that roughly one in every eight women suffers from postpartum depression—and with how many cases are undiagnosed, the actual number is probably even higher.
Many women tell themselves their troubles are all “just hormones,” something that they should be able to push through themselves. Their symptoms may rise and fall depending on the stage of life they’re in, making it hard to recognize a deeper pattern. They often focus on addressing the surface issues—such as sleep problems and everyday stressors—instead of underlying hormonal sensitivity and mood disorders.
Additionally, a stigma exists around medication during pregnancy and postpartum, preventing many women from getting the care they need. Thankfully, however, this stigma is beginning to wane—more and more, people are waking up to the fact that psychiatric support is essential to navigating reproductive issues.
Whether your mental health challenges are related to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, premenstrual syndrome, or another reproductive issue, we’re confident that our comprehensive and evidence-based approach to psychiatry can help. Our team of psychiatrists has a wealth of training when it comes to women’s health, and many members of our team are women who’ve had to navigate reproductive issues themselves.
Between your dedication and our support, we believe that you can:
We stand at the cutting edge of reproductive care, drawing from a wide range of medication options for women who are looking to boost their confidence, self-esteem, and sense of purpose and fulfillment
Here at Skypiatrist, we like to keep things simple and straightforward. We don’t swamp our clients with lots of paperwork to sift through and we usually have availability within the first week of contacting us. Our psychiatrists accept most forms of insurance and try to keep treatment as accessible as possible for all our clients.
In the beginning, you’ll meet with your psychiatrist to talk about your needs and goals for treatment as well as your mental health history and reproductive needs. If a mental health diagnosis is recommended, your psychiatrist can provide one, as diagnoses can make it easier to access certain medications for reproductive care.
The two of you will come up with a plan for medication management and schedule regular follow-up sessions to discuss your progress and address any concerns. Your psychiatrist will manage, adjust, and titrate your medication as needed, carefully monitoring your safety and comfort level while keeping an eye out for any side effects.
In the end, the goal of treatment is to help you find mental, emotional, and physical relief from your symptoms, allowing you to weather perinatal/premenopausal challenges with confidence and assurance.
Our psychiatrists will provide expertise and discuss safety so that we can mitigate risk during your pregnancy. While we understand the anxiety around medication, it’s worth considering that untreated depression and anxiety carry great risks for you and your baby. Taking care of your mental health not only positively impacts you, but also positively impacts your newborn.
Some medications are more likely than others to pass into breastmilk. The good news is that our psychiatrists will provide guidance on which medications are appropriate to use when breastfeeding, ensuring the health of you and your baby.
Mood shifts and tearfulness are very common during the first couple weeks of pregnancy or postpartum and usually improve on their own. However, if your symptoms:
then it may be a sign of postpartum depression or anxiety, in which case treatment is vital. Regardless of how severe or mild your symptoms may seem, we recommend connecting with one of our expert psychiatrists. We can help you discern what’s normal and treatable and guide you through many safe and effective options.
At Skypiatrist, we specialize in treating women’s health issues and provide comprehensive psychiatry for a wide range of reproductive challenges. To learn more about how we support and empower women and new mothers, you can schedule an evaluation through our contact page. We look forward to working with you!
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109 N 12th St Suite 704,
Brooklyn, NY 11249
