From Dr. Shosh’s blog, Mommy Mental Health on Psychology Today

One in ten new moms will develop a thyroid disorder. Every new mom should be tested with a full panel thyroid test (including antibodies) about two to three months following delivery. Immediately after delivery the thyroid’s activity isn’t stable yet. It takes about two months for the thyroid to calm down and settle.

An underactive thyroid (hypothyroid) can mimic postpartum depression. An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroid) often looks like anxiety or panic. Therefore many new moms are misdiagnosed with a postpartum mood or anxiety disorder and given inappropriate treatment.

Read the full post on Psychology Today »

You weren’t really trying…but you’re pregnant. And while you’re mostly psyched about the news, you’re a little freaked out too. Okay, a lot.

• Issue 1: It’s not just that you weren’t trying. You made every effort not to get pregnant.
• Issue 2: You’ve got other plans that don’t involve a baby.
• Issue 3: Your partner says he’s not ready to be a dad.
• Issue 4: You just had a baby — and the thought of another one sends you into a panic.
• Issue 5: You haven’t had enough time as a family of two.

These are all very real issues that can come up with a surprise pregnancy — check out my advice on how to deal with these issues on The Bump.

Read the full post on The Bump »

Casey Anthony

This is an article from Everyday Health that I was quoted in regarding the Casey Anthony not-guilty murder verdict.

— — —

“It didn’t take long to gauge the public’s stunned and distressed reactions to the not-guilty verdict in the Casey Anthony murder trial — within seconds, Twitter and Facebook erupted with emotionally charged responses that mirrored the shock and dismay of the crowd outside the courtroom. One Everyday Health Twitter follower, @marissa4pw, Tweeted that she was “extremely disappointed.” @jdotreach said, “This is a sick and disappointing ending to the Casey Anthony trial.”

Everyone from Kim Kardashian (whose father defended O.J. Simpson during his 1995 murder trial), Sharon Osbourne, and Joy Behar weighed in, as did many other Everyday Health Twitter followers, who shared their own complicated feelings about Anthony’s acquittal on murder, aggravated manslaughter, and aggravated child abuse charges. (She was found guilty on four misdemeanor counts of supplying false information to law enforcement.)…”

Instead, Bennett suggests concentrating on yourself and your own actions. “We get upset when we feel powerless and like we can’t do anything about a situation. But you can do something about yourself and that’s taking care of yourself and those around you,” she says.

Read the full post on Everyday Health »

From Dr. Shosh’s blog, Mommy Mental Health on Psychology Today

Why are the parents in mom’s group so competitive?
One of my clients lamented recently, “Dr. Shosh, the moms in my new moms’ group are so competitive! Everyone tries to out do everyone else!” I told her that as far back as I can remember, this dynamic has been occurring. The truth is, usually it’s the least confident of parents who try the hardest to convince others they know the “right” way or they have the “best” item. Keep that in mind if you’re around competitive new parents…

Read the full post on Psychology Today »

It was such a pleasure to address the CAPPA Conference attendees! They expressed great enthusiasm and appreciation for gaining more insight about recognizing and helping women with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. I met many wonderful professionals from various fields, and I was deeply impressed with their dedication to the women and families they serve. The atmosphere at this conference was warm, intelligent and open. Congratulations to the organizers of this event!

From Dr. Shosh’s blog, Mommy Mental Health on Psychology Today

Sharing the work of parenting.
Whenever my clients say things like, “my husband helps me at night with the baby,” or, “I asked my partner to help with the kids or the house,” I always stop them and discuss this point. Are they “helping” you or are they parenting their child/ren and taking care of their home? If we regard the work that’s done by another as “help,” this implies that it is only our job and the other person is just pitching in and assisting. The same women will also lament that their husbands and partners don’t act like parents, but rather babysitters. What moms need to remember is that we can’t have it both ways. If we treat our husbands and partners as only helpers and refer to their actions as such, we’re in fact demoting them from parents to babysitters. So, instead of saying, “my husband/partner helps at night,” try using “my husband/partner and I share the nighttime baby care.”

It’s important to check our own thoughts, perceptions and behavior (including our choice of words) before it can be expected that our partners will change theirs.

This short but information-packed article by Julie Ryan Evans on CafeMom helps mothers focus on their mental health and watch for signs of postpartum mood and anxiety disorders. The most important take home message is that there’s plenty of good help to be found, and it’s crucial for families that moms are happy.

“A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about postpartum depression and some of the serious consequences it can have in its most extreme form. A number of women were concerned there wasn’t a bigger differentiation made between the variations of the disease, which can range from baby blues to postpartum psychosis.

Some feel that including extreme examples of women killing their babies in an article about postpartum depression in general makes women fearful of seeking help for more mild forms of depression and puts a stigma of sorts on anyone who suffers.

In light of those concerns — many of which came from their own personal experiences — I contacted some experts in the field to take a deeper look at the often painful topic that affects women.

Myths:

According to Katherine Stone, founder of Postpartum Progress, there are countless myths and misunderstandings about the disease, including the notion that postpartum depression and baby blues are the same thing…”

Read the rest of the article »

From Dr. Shosh’s blog, Mommy Mental Health on Psychology Today

…she is bombarded with people telling her to choose this way or that…

When a new mom fully understands there’s no one “right” way to raise a child, it’s quite empowering. From the numerous ways of becoming a mother – whether she births the baby herself (and how she becomes pregnant), uses a surrogate or adopts, she is faced with strong opinions. From the beginning she is bombarded with people telling her to choose this way or that – how to feed the baby, hold him, help him sleep, dress him, discipline him and socialize him. Others will try to convince her to stay home, work part-time, work full-time or work from home.

It’s important to remember there are many variations that are all “right.” Each family might need a slightly different combination to work smoothly and lovingly. As mothers are increasingly supporting each other in their individual choices, we have happier, healthier families.

From Dr. Shosh’s blog, Mommy Mental Health on Psychology Today

when a child has depression, the parents should also be assessed for depression

A few days ago on a major talk radio station there was an hour-long program on depression in toddlers. The host was amazed and a bit in disbelief that it was even possible for little kids to be depressed. For a full hour I heard the expert give desperate parents vague information that wasn’t practical or useful, for the most part. But most importantly, there wasn’t any straight talk about what may cause the depression to begin with. Frustrated, I pulled off the freeway and called the station. I was the last caller taken, and I’m grateful to have had the time to make two quick points. One, when a child has depression, the parents should also be assessed for depression. Depressed moms and dads who go untreated can deeply affect the mental health of their children. Second, depression in children can and should only be treated within the context of the family unit. It makes no sense to treat children for mental health issues without understanding the physical and emotional environment of their families.

As you may or may not have heard, Leonard DiCaprio has filed a restraining order against Livia Bistriceanu, the woman who has been claiming to be married to him and carrying his baby, whom she believes is Jesus. I first read of this case on The Huffington Post and was deeply saddened to hear the hateful comments people have been posting about Livia Bistriceanu — an seemingly troubled woman who needs psychiatric help. My response is this:

“In this society we are quick (way too quick) to jump to punishment and ridicule of new mothers acting inappropriately. Although I have no inside information to the psychological state or diagnosis of this woman nor can I make a diagnosis just based on what I’ve heard, but her statements are exactly like others with whom I’ve worked with bipolar disorder.

Delusions about being related to, lovers with, friends of famous people are usual and to be expected for someone in a manic state of bipolar illness. It is also extremely common to have religious delusions. If she is indeed in a postpartum manic state, it makes total sense to me that this woman believes her baby is Jesus.

Mr. DiCaprio has a right and should do whatever he needs to do in order to protect himself, of course. At the same time, however, Instead of name-calling and labeling this woman as “crazy,” let’s hope that a qualified mental health professional gives her a proper evaluation so that she can receive appropriate treatment. Rather than pointing and laughing or locking her in jail as if we’re still in the Middle Ages, how about treating her with compassion, and getting her the help she requires.”