Examples of dark thoughts how to#

If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider.When thoughts lead to emotions, they trigger chemical reactions, including the release of hormones and neurotransmitters. Have questions about a Happiest Baby product? Our consultants would be happy to help! Submit your questions here.ĭisclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. All you have to do is take the first step. It’s scary and it’s lonely and it’s terrible but there is help out there. Many mothers experience intrusive thoughts during the postpartum period.

Examples of dark thoughts how to#

A professional may help you understand what is happening and how to help yourself return to a normal balance.Įither way, know this: you are not alone. If you prefer, you can discuss it with your partner and then visit a healthcare provider. Or, you can call your OBGYN and schedule an appointment to discuss it with an expert. You can even share books or articles you’ve read with them to give them a deeper understanding-and to solicit support. When you’re ready, tell someone you trust about your thoughts.

You can also consider reading books like Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts and Dropping the Baby and Other Scary Thoughts: Breaking the Cycle of Unwanted Thoughts in Motherhood. We particularly loved this article and this one. If you’re not ready for that, start by reading about other mothers who have experienced scary thoughts. What Can I Do About Scary Thoughts?Īlthough revealing your scary thoughts to your partner or friends can be 1000% daunting, it’s important to take that step. And the fact that you’re horrified by these thoughts is exactly what marks them as what they are: intrusive thoughts, not actual desires. However, what it does mean is that you’re having a common symptom of postpartum depression or anxiety. Let’s make one thing very clear: having scary thoughts does not make you a bad-or crazy-mom. Moms sometimes even feel like they’re “going crazy” and don’t reach out for help because they’re feeling terribly guilty and embarrassed…and even worry that their baby might be taken away from them. Scary thoughts can plow through the mind and pop up at the worst moments. Most women who experience these have never had them before. Especially if you’re the one hurting her. So, it is very disturbing to suddenly think aboutyour baby being hurt. You love her more than anything on the planet. You just spent an entire pregnancy dreaming of motherhood and meeting your baby. Moms are obviously horrified when they have scary thoughts. For example, some mothers report bathing their baby and suddenly thinking, What if I just walked away for a minute? Or even, What would happen if I put her head under the water?Īnd, the more they try to not think about it, the harder it is to push the thought away.

For new moms, scary thoughts often include accidentally-or intentionally-harming the baby. They feel foreign, out of character, and canbe very stressful. Scary thoughts are images and voices that seem to come out of nowhere. To make things simpler, we’ll just call them: scary thoughts. Surprisingly, over half of new mothers report having them. Intrusive thoughts are a common symptom of postpartum depression and anxiety. They’re called “intrusive thoughts,” ideas that feel like they are invadingyour brain.

These thoughts are not what most of us associate with early motherhood, but for many women, they’re a reality. What if I drop the baby? Would my baby be better off without me? What if I drive off the road with the baby?