Postpartum depression and anxiety are not signs of being a bad parent. They are medical conditions - and they are treatable.
The period after having a baby is one of the most significant neurological, hormonal, and psychological shifts a person can undergo. "Baby blues" - tearfulness, emotional swings, and overwhelm in the first two weeks - are common and usually resolve on their own. Postpartum depression and anxiety are more persistent, more impairing, and require real support.
Postpartum depression can involve low mood, emotional numbness, difficulty bonding, intense worry about the baby, or feeling like you're failing at something that's supposed to feel natural. Postpartum anxiety is often characterized by intrusive thoughts, constant worry, hypervigilance about the baby's safety, and inability to rest even when the baby sleeps.
Postpartum experiences are also shaped by cultural expectations - the pressure to appear happy and grateful, the isolation that comes with being far from family, and the silence around maternal mental health in many communities.
Postpartum mental health care requires warmth, speed, and clinical expertise. I take postpartum symptoms seriously and will never minimize what you're experiencing. Our first appointment is a full hour to understand your full picture - birth experience, support system, sleep, feeding, relationship changes, and more.
Medication is safe and effective for postpartum depression and anxiety, including for those who are breastfeeding - and I will discuss all options with you clearly and honestly. Supportive therapy is also part of how I work. Telehealth makes care accessible when getting out of the house feels impossible. All sessions available in English and Tiếng Việt.
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If you are in crisis right now, please do not wait for an appointment.
Call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Free, confidential, available 24/7.
For emergencies, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
Alice Tran Psychiatric Care does not operate 24/7 and does not provide crisis services. Emails, voicemails, text or portal messages are typically responded to within 24 to 72 business hours.
You don't have to do it alone.
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