EP 38: Postpartum Depression with Lorissa Eichenberger, LMFT, PMH-C

Postpartum depression and anxiety are increasingly common, yet there is still so much shame and stigma around them. Today’s guest, Lorissa Eichenberger, is the Co-Associate Director of The Center for Postpartum Family Health, where she works with the motherhood population to create nurturing and safe places for clients to feel heard, validated, and empowered. As a mom herself, and someone who struggled with postpartum mental health, Lorissa is well-positioned to help clients work through their perinatal and postpartum depression and anxiety. In this episode, Lorissa unpacks what postpartum depression is and shares how the definition has expanded. We hear about some of the signs to look out for and the role that partners or family members can play in encouraging moms to get help. Many moms who struggle with perinatal and postpartum depression and anxiety falsely believe they are bad mothers for feeling this way. Lorissa demystifies this myth, along with the other common ones she encounters in her practice. Our conversation also touches on partner postnatal depression, how the pandemic is affecting and potentially exacerbating postpartum depression, and the importance of giving moms permission to feel what they are feeling. Finally, Lorissa shares her own story of hope and how she worked through her postpartum mental health challenges and birth trauma. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Get to know Lorissa and the work she does at The Center for Postpartum Family Health.
• Defining postpartum depression and how it differs from the baby blues.
• When left untreated, postpartum depression can manifest anytime within three years of birth.
• Indications that moms might need to see someone about depression.
• Hear about some of the interventions Lorissa uses to treat postpartum depression.
• The effects of maternal shame and how it is exacerbated by social media.
• Insights family members or the mom’s support system can give around postpartum issues.
• Debunking some of the most common myths around postpartum depression.
• There is nothing wrong with changing clinicians if you feel you are not being heard.
• The relationship between mental health issues before pregnancy and postpartum depression.
• When Lorissa would recommend a woman see a mental health professional prenatally.
• Postnatal depression in partners and how it differs from the mom’s postpartum depression.
• How the pandemic is exacerbating the challenges of new motherhood.
• Some of the ways to support moms and dads both prenatally and postpartum.
• What toxic positivity is and how we can avoid it when moms voice how they feel.
• Hear about what Lorissa’s postpartum care plan for her clients looks like.
• Support groups in the Houston area and other available resources.
• Lorissa’s story of hope, overcoming her postpartum mental health struggles.

Tweetables:

“Most perinatal mood disorders and anxiety disorders are temporary. Most of them are highly treatable.” — Lorissa Eichenberger [0:09:23]

“Maternal shame is probably also another hallmark of a perinatal mental health issue.” — Lorissa Eichenberger [0:13:33]

“Women are giving themselves permission to advocate for their wellness.” — Lorissa Eichenberger [0:24:11]

“A mom that’s been seen prenatally for a mental health assessment is more likely to seek out help because she knows it’s okay.” — Lorissa Eichenberger [0:27:42]

“When we can feel truly, truly hopeful and trusting that our partner has it, even though we don’t, that is where hope is.” — Lorissa Eichenberger [0:51:55]

“Even in the midst of things being scary or unexpected in the perinatal and postpartum timeframe, when you have good support in your life, everything is manageable, everything is treatable, and there’s hope for recovery and healing.” — Lorissa Eichenberger [0:52:07]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Lorissa Eichenberger

Lorissa Eichenberger on Instagram

The Center for Postpartum Family Health

The Center for Postpartum Family Health Contact Number — 713-561-3884

The Center for Postpartum Family Health Email — [email protected]

Sherry Duson

Postpartum Support International

Hope Pieced Together Episode 36: Men’s Mental Health with Kyle Sommers

And Baby Makes Three

International Cesarean Awareness Network