7 minute read
pregnancy and the 12 months postpartum is a particularly vulnerable time for symptoms of ocd and anxiety to occur, according to the international ocd foundation . while researchers aren’t exactly sure why this is, it is likely influenced by the dramatic changes in hormones experienced during pregnancy. biomarkers also seem to indicate there may be some overlap in the origins of postpartum depression, according to johns hopkins university . the lack of sleep, serious physical changes happening to the body and stress of caring for a newborn don’t help things either.
the pandemic has also added to the stress. research published by women’s college hospital indicates that in ontario, there was a significant increase in new moms reaching out for help with mental health concerns. even before this rise in need, however, only a fraction of the women who experienced mental health concerns during or after pregnancy received treatment.
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“although 20 per cent of new parents experience postpartum depression and anxiety, only one-fifth of those receive the treatment they need to get better,” according to a release from women’s college hospital.
ahead of the 10 th annual love you by shoppers drug mart™ run for women , raising funds for women’s college hospital’s department of psychiatry, dagny sat down with healthing to talk about her experiences with ocd and anxiety and why new parents shouldn’t feel ashamed about their mental health.
i went to the hospital in a uber because our [older] son was sleeping and my husband had to stay with our son. [at the hospital] they took my blood pressure and were like, you’re gonna have a baby tonight . i had to call my friend [and ask her] to stay with our son so my husband could come. i delivered at [about] 36 plus two, so my son was almost four weeks early. he was born december 2020.
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during my first pregnancy, i had the thought, every time i went into the kitchen or saw a knife, i thought of stabbing myself. but it wasn’t me thinking those thoughts. during the first pregnancy, i was in a different hospital and i spoke to somebody and we talked and it helped. but during the second pregnancy, i think with the pandemic, my anxiety was at a much higher level. since the delivery with our first child was so difficult, i was nervous about the second delivery. i was referred to the reproductive life stages program at women’s college hospital, where i was able to talk with a psychiatrist. [the psychiatrist told me these were symptoms] of anxiety and ocd: unwanted, intrusive, repetitive thoughts. it clarified my whole life.
i’ve had it my whole life and i never knew. i think they were subclinical, [but still] stressful. like, i have to check the locks at night — mild compulsions that [feel] normal. you want to make sure you check the door before you leave. whenever i go out, i ask myself, do i have my wallet, do i have my keys, do i have my phone, my wallet, my keys? but to be diagnosed with ocd, i was like, holy cow, this is what that is .
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but i definitely have anxiety. we are trying to sleep train our kids, so i’m very tired. when i’m tired, my ocd gets worse. every morning when i wake up, my first thought is my son is dead in his bed . [and i have to tell myself] you’re tired. that’s just your ocd talking.
talking to the psychiatrist at women’s college hospital was so helpful because she suggested a book called, the pregnancy and postpartum anxiety workbook. it gave me so many tools.
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the run for women raises funds for women’s college hospital’s department of psychiatry and happens on june 11th. partici pation can be virtual or in-person — readers interested in supporting or taking part can find out more on their website.
emma jones is a multimedia editor with healthing. you can reach her at emjones@postmedia.com or on instagram and twitter @jonesyjourn .
