Brookfield Therapist Schools New Moms On Their New Anxieties
Community Corner
Brookfield Therapist Schools New Moms On Their New Anxieties A Brookfield mental health therapist guides new moms through their darkest moments, a path she traveled when she first gave birth.BROOKFIELD, CT — It's supposed to be the happiest, Hallmark-iest time of your life: bringing a child into the world.
But for many new moms, it can lead to their darkest moments, ones they are terrified to talk about with anyone.
Brookfield resident and mental health therapist Carol Ann Murphy experienced it first-hand following the birth of her child. Murphy suffered from postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder, an anxiety illness afflicting new moms that can cause unwanted and distressing thoughts about harming their baby.
Murphy's illness led her to the Connecticut chapter of Postpartum Support International , a not-for-profit organization with the mission to promote awareness, prevention, and treatment of perinatal mental health challenges. The experience was so positive that Murphy began volunteering with the organization in 2019. She is now the only part-time paid employee in an organization of nearly all volunteers.
The key to treating most perinatal mental health challenges is just opening up about them, Murphy said.
"The more people share their stories about it, the more you hear, 'Oh, I went through that too'," Murphy told Patch. "It reduces the shame that I think a lot of new parents feel of not having these rainbows and butterfly moments with a brand-new baby."
Unfortunately, the stigmatization that comes with rainbow-blindness runs deep in society, and may prevent an anxious new mom from seeking the help she needs.
"Women who have postpartum psychosis often end up taking their lives or their children's lives," Murphy said. "If I open up and say, 'I'm having these scary thoughts,' I'm going to get locked up. It's one extreme or the other."
A crucial component of PSI-CT's work involves reaching out to obstetric doctors and pediatrician offices and educating them about the differences between the run-of-the-mill " baby blues " which 80 percent of new moms experience, and a more severe depression. PSI-CT's "Beyond the Blues" program teaches the perinatal health professionals what to look for, and what steps to take if they feel like a referral is needed.
PSI-CT has a roster of about 200 members, mostly mental health professionals like Murphy. The organization also maintains a robust directory of free pregnancy and postpartum support groups throughout Connecticut, and online. They can be a lifeline for a new mom in a dark place.
"I think just highlighting that there is hope, and that no matter how heavy your feelings may be, all postpartum diagnoses are treatable. And the sooner the intervention, the sooner you'll get better," Murphy said.
The success of PSI depends upon the group getting the word out, with limited funding. Most of its marketing efforts consist of social media and participating in charity events.
On Saturday, Oct. 19, the organization will be fielding more than 20 runners in the Eversource Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon . Last year, the event raised $3,200 for the group, and this year they have upped their goal to $5,000. The funds help support the community through events, support providers with training scholarships and educational presentations, and raise awareness through advocacy and policy work, social media campaigns, and community education.
