Is Perinatal OCD Common?

Imagine you're a new parent and swimming with your baby in a small baby pool. Suddenly, out of nowhere, unwanted anxious thoughts start to creep into your mind: "What if my baby falls into a deep pool? What if I accidentally drown my baby in the pool?" This thought recurs, and you fear that something will happen to your baby if you don't take proper care of your baby. This is a kind of parental OCD.

Parental OCD is a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder that focuses on a parent's connection with their child. It involves disturbing thoughts about the child's safety, health, or well-being, often associated with behaviours or thoughts aimed at preventing harm.

Parents with OCD are often drawn between love and fear. They are caring parents, yet they are also troubled by their own hyperactive mental processes, such as constantly asking themselves questions like, "What if?" Additionally, they may feel guilty, anxious, and even feel like “I am not a good parent”. However, this isn't true. You're a good parent. These unwanted thoughts are caused by your OCD, which also traps you in a cycle of negative overthinking. The good news is that intrusive thoughts, obsessions, and compulsions are treatable. The best treatments for OCD include thorough evaluation and formulating an individualized plan for the patient.

How common is parental OCD?

Studies show that parental OCD is a very common disorder. Statistics vary, but it's estimated that 1 in 5 new mothers may experience some form of OCD. Some key points about its prevalence:

• Almost 2-3% of new parents have OCD symptoms.
• It is both a male and a female parent's illness, even though mothers usually report it more.
• The problem may arise with the birth of the first child or can even be taken along next to an already existing child.
• This illness can even start during a woman's pregnancy or after the postpartum period.
• Most of the parental OCD cases remain unidentified because of the stigma attached to the issue or the misunderstanding of its symptoms.

What does perinatal OCD look like?

OCD during pregnancy or after childbirth often involves the baby. For example, as a mother, you often fear:

• Your obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors mostly focus on your child's safety, health, or well-being (e.g., fear of germs)
• You constantly worry about accidentally hurting your child or someone else hurting your child unknowingly, even in strange situations (e.g., if my baby gets hurt while playing)
• You apply too many preventive measures to secure your child, to the extent that other parents may not even consider them to be necessary (e.g., repeated cleaning of the baby's milk bottle and other utensils)
• Even when your kid is playing safely or sleeping soundly, you continue to verify their safety (e.g., excessive checking of the child's breath when he sleeps)
• Fearful that an object or a situation will cause harm to your child, you begin to observe them.
• Your obsessive and compulsive symptoms hinder your ability to take care of your child or to love and enjoy being a parent properly.
• You are sometimes reluctant to leave the child with anyone, even with trusted family members

The Emotional Toll

Your struggle with ‘mental compulsions’ is captured between love and fear for your children. Although your love for your child is immense but a constant sense of fear overwhelms you. This internal conflict always leads you to feelings of guilt, anxiety, and inadequacy as a parent.

Impact on Family Dynamics

Parenting OCD is not only a personal problem, but it also affects everyone around the person with Parental OCD. The partner of the affected person may feel worthless, incapable, or irritable.

On the other hand, the affected parent may become overprotective, limiting the child's experiences, which can lead to slow development in the child. In some cases, children may also pick up on their parents' anxiety and begin to share some of their fears or worries. If left unaddressed, this process might lead to slow cognitive development and other skills in children.

Seeking Help and Treatment

If you think you may have parental OCD, it's best to seek help first. Parental OCD is a treatable condition. The treatment plan for parental OCD is:

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This talk therapy helps an individual with parental OCD to develop their intrusive thoughts into healthy thought patterns.
• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): A subset of CBT, ERP is about the gradual exposure to terrifying situations and trying not to act out the compulsion.
• Medication: A psychiatrist may prescribe medication, such as antidepressant or antianxiety medication, in severe symptoms (such as ruminative thinking) to ease symptoms, in conjunction with talk therapy and lifestyle change strategies.
• Support Groups: Connecting with other parents who have experienced the same challenges can make individuals feel understood and help them with their coping strategies.

Self-Care Strategies

In addition to medical treatments, self-care is very important in managing Parental OCD:

• Performing mindfulness and relaxation techniques.
• Living a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise and a balanced diet.
• Building a strong social network of friends and family
• Set realistic expectations for yourself as a parent
• Allowing yourself a break when you don't feel yourself

The Role of Partner and Family

Support from spouse, family, and children is essential for those struggling with OCD in parenting. They do this by:

• Educating themselves about what parental OCD is and how it manifests so they can better understand their loved one's problems and help their loved ones with parental OCD.
• Help care for the children so the sick parent can have some time for personal healing and self-improvement.
• If the partner feels the need, support them in finding a qualified specialist.

Recovery and Hope

It's simply not true, but a misconception, that parental OCD can't be treated or cured. In this situation, with the help of a therapist and the right treatment, parents can not only overcome the condition but also build a healthy and fulfilling relationship with their children. They can also build the relaxed relationship they dreamed of. Life. The path to recovery is different for everyone, and it can be a slow process, but getting better is possible.

Preventing a Relapse

Once someone feels better, it's important to continue mental health practices to prevent a relapse. Here's an example of what they can do:

• When you know that therapy or methods are helpful, it's best to stick to them. To avoid falling back into old habits, be sure to remember to avoid any of these rules:
• Pay attention to small signs that may indicate a recurrence of symptoms (don’t anxiously pay attention).
• Seek help from a mental health professional to discuss anything that worries you, as regular check-ins are important.

Also, remember to do activities that make you feel better and relax. Set aside time each day to do those activities and try to stick to them. For example, take a hot shower. Taking a bath, reading, or drinking tea can really boost your mood.

The Takeaway

Keep in mind that parental OCD is a mental health issue, not a result of your ability as a parent. Many parents are now symptom-free and able to build better relationships with their children through the right support, tools, and self-compassion.

If you're experiencing any kind of mental distress, don't be afraid to seek professional help. Break your OCD cycle early.