Feeling Guilty about Experiencing… | Counseling | Therapy

Feeling Guilty about Experiencing Postpartum Depression

Alex Robboy , CAS, MSW, ACSW, LCSW — Founder & executive director

Feeling Guilty about Experiencing Postpartum Depression; Postpartum Depression Therapy in Society Hill, Philly image

Postpartum Depression Therapy in Philadelphia: Feeling guilty about experiencing postpartum depression

Guilty feelings: throughout the months of pregnancy, women, along with their partners have fantasized about what life would be like after the birth of a child. Now that the child is here, so is reality. Many women experience profound guilt after the birth because their expectations about what motherhood was going to be like were not met. Unfortunately, many women who experience guilt blame themselves for these feelings, whereas they are really suffering from a treatable problem called postpartum depression. If you have questions about whether or not you are experiencing “just guilt” as compared to guilt that is symptomatic postpartum depression, you can take our postpartum depression quiz and/or schedule an appointment with one of our therapists, who specializes in treating women with postpartum depression.

Postpartum Depression Therapy: Common reasons why women feel guilty:

* Many women feel guilty that they aren’t ‘in love’ with their child. In fact, they feel rather disappointed, or even cheated by their bundle of joy. Their bundle of joy is more like a lump that eats, cries and poops, not exactly what one would call responsive.
* Having a child to many women feels anti-climatic. After months of anticipation, they are now sleep deprived and upset with their body that still looks at least 6 months pregnant.
* After the birth of a child, some women experience a profound shift in attention from them to their baby, resulting feelings of jealousy towards the infant. The experience of feeling jealousy can make a new mom who loves her child feel guilty. It’s hard going from being the center of attention to being number two.
* Relationship adjustments: The relationship is no longer about you and your partner, now there is a third person who is demanding attention 24 / 7. Parenthood is exhausting, and does not leave much time for partners to have sexual or emotionally intimate time together.
* Many women, even though they know they are supposed to be overjoyed at being a mother may not like their new roles of continually feeding, changing diapers and holding an infant, thus causing them to feel guilt.

Postpartum Depression Therapy: Tips on how to manage the guilt:

* Give yourself permission to cry.
* Ask your friends and family to take care of you the way you are caring for your infant.
* Encourage your partner to focus his energy on you.
* Give yourself permission to use a babysitter and treat yourself to having some personal time.
* Get out of the house, do something fun.

Still can't shake the guilt? Call a counselor today.

You can self schedule an in-person or virtual therapy session at the Center for Growth by calling (215) 922- LOVE (5683) x 100.

Our Guarantee: If after your first session you are not sold that you are working with the right therapist, do not hesitate to call our intake line at 215 922 5683 x 100 or Alex at (267) 324-9564 and ask to be rescheduled with another therapist. The choice of how you want to proceed is yours. Our only goal is to support you in becoming the best you possible.

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