OCD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is a mental health condition characterized by unwanted, repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and behaviours (compulsions) aimed at reducing anxiety. Among its many subtypes, postpartum OCD specifically affects new mothers, often manifesting after childbirth. While OCD can affect anyone, postpartum OCD is a unique and particularly distressing form, yet it remains under-researched and rarely discussed in mainstream media or scholarly work. Here is some crucial information to help you grasp the meaning of postpartum OCD and how to overcome it.

What is Postpartum OCD?

Postpartum OCD is a kind of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder that manifests in new moms following childbirth. It often commences several weeks to months after, although it may arise during gestation. Because this type of OCD usually consists of intrusive thoughts about the baby coming to harm, it often results in high levels of anxiety and mental suffering.

Symptoms of Postpartum OCD

Postpartum OCD in mothers may include:

Intrusive thoughts: Unwanted, distressing thoughts you may have of accidentally or even intentionally harming the baby.

Compulsions: Repeated behaviours meant to reduce anxiety, such as constant checking on the baby, excessive cleaning or avoiding certain activities.

Fear and shame: Feel overwhelmingly anxious or guilty about these thoughts despite not wanting to hurt the baby.

Avoidance: Mothers might avoid things they think about, such as bathing their baby or keeping sharp objects in the house.

The focus of postpartum OCD is on the fear and anxiety related to these intrusive thoughts, not the desire itself.

Causes of Postpartum OCD

The aetiology of postpartum OCD is not established. However, several factors likely play a role.

Hormonal changes: Hormones go a little wild upon giving birth, and it can provoke or enhance OCD.

Newborn chaos: The stress associated with the extra work creates a vortex of epic proportions, and if you were already genetically predisposed to OCD, lacking in sleep can take your anxiety to another level. Women with a previous history of OCD or anxiety disorders are more likely to get postpartum OCD.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for OCD

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is geared towards modifying the thinking process that invokes OCD symptoms and behavioural responses. The underlying concept of CBT is simple: through the distortion of one's thinking processes and elimination or adjustment of maladaptive behaviours, people can diminish their levels of anxiety and compulsion.

How CBT for OCD Works

Cognitive and behavioural therapy are two types, which together form cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT).

Cognitive Therapy: Here, individuals are trained to identify disturbed thoughts (obsessions) that fuel their anxiety. So, a mom with postpartum OCD might practice confronting the idea that thinking about something awful will make it happen, reminding herself that thoughts are not equal to actions.

Behavioural Therapy: This part deals with behaviours and behaviour change. In the case of OCD, that means behavioural therapy designed to minimize the compulsions triggered by those obsessive thoughts. For instance, if a mom persistently checks on her baby to see if they are breathing, then, over time, with CBT, she would be helped to check less and less, utilizing non-checking behaviours.

Benefits of CBT for OCD

CBT for OCD has many advantages:

Proven: CBT is grounded in long-standing research that demonstrates its efficacy in reducing OCD symptoms.

A structured approach: It has a clear structure for identifying and working on individual OCD-related thoughts and behaviours.

Assistance with Skill Building: CBT gives people tools they can use once the therapy ends so they can better manage their OCD on their own.

That said, CBT can only work when individuals commit to it (including facing their fears and refraining from performing compulsions).

ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) for OCD

ERP is a form of CBT and is the gold standard for treating OCD. ERP addresses the critical symptoms of OCD — confronting fears (exposures) and resisting compulsion to do something in response to them.

How ERP for OCD Works

ERP therapy works in a step-by-step manner, and so here are the most commonly followed steps for the ERP process:

Systematic exposure: The person is exposed to anxiety in stages. An example would be asking a mother with postpartum OCD to hold scissors in proximity to her baby. This will be very painful at first, as exposure usually is, but it helps dull the anxiety over time.

Response Preventions: After an individual has been exposed to an item, they should refrain from engaging in other actions, such as immediately putting the sharp object away or going back to make sure that the baby is safely asleep. That way, the cycle of obsessions and compulsions is broken, imparting to our brain that nothing terrible will happen when these compulsions are not done.

Benefits of ERP for OCD

Among the main reasons why ERP is so powerful:

Long-term relief: Most people who report improvements in OCD severity in DBS continue to improve over the long term.

Personalized: ERP is individualized and flexible, aimed directly at the fears and compulsions of an OCD sufferer.

ERP is hard work and a painful and exhausting process, but it is also incredibly effective as a tool to help manage postpartum OCD.

How to Get Help for Postpartum OCD

If you think that you or somebody else may be experiencing postpartum OCD, it is essential to seek help from a professional. Early help can prevent symptoms from worsening and provide excellent coping mechanisms. To work on this, you can:

• Find a mental health professional who specializes in diagnosing and treating OCD using CBT and ERP.
• Talking to other people who have gone through similar situations can be helpful.
• Prioritize sleep, good food, and relaxation practices. 

Conclusion

Postpartum OCD is an overwhelming experience that affects many new mothers, bringing distress and anxiety at a time that should be filled with joy. However, with evidence-based therapies like CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention), new moms can regain control over their mental health and fully embrace motherhood without fear. Seeking timely professional help is crucial to manage these intrusive thoughts and compulsions effectively.

At Emotion of Life, we are committed to guiding individuals through their recovery journey from OCD. As a registered firm under MSME in Uttar Pradesh, based in Agra, we offer specialized OCD Recovery programs online and in physical spaces, providing tailored therapy sessions, including ERP.