Kevin Gyoerkoe - The Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook: Practical Skills to Help You Overcome Anxiety, Worry, Panic Attacks, Obsessions, and Compulsions

How I wish Id had this book when I suffered from postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder! Pregnant and postpartum moms need to know that perinatal anxiety disorders are common and treatable, and that theres no need to continue suffering. It is infinitely comforting to read such a calm and objective discussion of the symptoms of this illness and to be given practical self-help tools to move toward recovery.

Katherine Stone, editor of Postpartum Progress , the most widely-read blog on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, and board member of Postpartum Support International

Finally, a workbook for anxiety during pregnancy and the postpartum period! Wiegartz and Gyoerkoe have adapted the powerful and scientifically proven techniques of cognitive behavioral therapy into tools that new moms and mothers-to-be can use to overcome the most common anxiety-related problems and reclaim this special time of life. Readers will learn about anxiety from the clear explanations and develop skills using the innovative worksheets in this book. Every expecting parent (moms and dads) can benefit from this workbook.

Jonathan S. Abramowitz, Ph.D., ABPP, professor and director of the Anxiety and Stress Disorders Clinic at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

This superb book, written by two experienced clinical psychologists, offers practical, scientifically proven methods for helping expectant and new mothers overcome anxiety problems, such as excessive worry, obsessions, and panic attacks. I highly recommend this book to all expectant or new mothersand fatherswho are seeking relief from anxiety.

Steven Taylor, Ph.D., ABPP, psychiatry professor at the University of British Columbia and author of Treating Health Anxiety and The Clinicians Guide to PTSD

This book is destined to become the new bible for any expectant or new mom suffering from serious anxiety. It brings state-of-the-art breakthroughs in anxietyreatment to women in a clear, compassionate, practical, and user-friendly self-help format.

Valerie Davis Raskin, MD, author of This Isnt What I Expected

New mothers, fathers, and their families will appreciate this easy-to-read and instructive book on how to manage anxiety before and after the birth of a child. The Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook explains the likely sources and expressions of anxiety during this phase of life and provides specific strategies for reducing anxious thoughts and behaviors. The chapter on fathers in the final section will appeal to dads who are also struggling with strong emotions as a new baby enters the picture.

Gail Steketee, Ph.D., dean and professor at Boston Universitys School of Social Work and author of Overcoming Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

This book provides pregnant women with the support and hope they need during one of the most amazing experiences in lifepregnancy. The book includes a matter-of-fact discussion of specific techniques which help with anxiety during the pregnancy and postpartum period.

Jerald S. Goldstein, MD, reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist at Fertility Specialists of Dallas

For Jackson, my greatest joy and daily wonder

PSW

For Mom

KLG

Publishers Note

Care has been taken to confirm the accuracy of the information presented and to describe generally accepted practices. However, the authors, editors, and publisher are not responsible for errors or omissions or for any consequences from application of the information in this book and make no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the contents of the publication.

The authors, editors, and publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that any drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accordance with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any change in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new or infrequently employed drug.

Some drugs and medical devices presented in this publication may have Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for limited use in restricted research settings. It is the responsibility of the health care provider to ascertain the FDA status of each drug or device planned for use in their clinical practice.

Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books

Copyright 2009 by Pamela S. Wiegartz and Kevin L. Gyoerkoe New Harbinger Publications, Inc. 5674 Shattuck Avenue Oakland, CA 94609 www.newharbinger.com

Cover design by Amy Shoup; Text design by Amy Shoup and Michele Waters-Kermes;

Acquired by Tesilya Hanauer; Edited by Karen ODonnell Stein

All Rights Reserved. Printed in the United States of America.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Wed like to thank Jess Beebe, Tesilya Hanauer, and Karen ODonnell Stein, our editors at New Harbinger Publications. You are all a true pleasure to work with. We are grateful for your support, enthusiasm, and insightful contributions to this book.

Wed also like to thank Dr. Laura Miller for her expert comments on early drafts of this project. Thank you, Laurawe appreciate your time, your valuable feedback, and your tireless advocacy for womens mental health.

Of course, we also want to thank our patientsnew moms and moms-to-be suffering from anxietyfor allowing us into your world and giving us the opportunity to work with you. Your courage and persistence in conquering anxiety are an inspiration.

And finally, we thank our families for their encouragement and patience during the many late nights we spent writing. Without you, this book would not have been possible.

Foreword

Just about every mother-to-be has at least some worries about being pregnant, giving birth, and parenting. Most of us worry about whether our babies will be healthy, whether we can manage the pain of labor, or whether we will be the type of mother we want to be. These are normal anxieties, and most of the time, they dont paralyze us or cause us to panic. But in some cases, anxiety and anxious thoughts during pregnancy can become frequent, severe, and highly distressing. If left unchecked, severe anxiety can interfere with the joy of bringing a new life into the world and can make pregnancy and birth more difficult physically as well as emotionally.

Fortunately, there are effective strategies to reduce severe anxiety during and after pregnancy. As a reproductive psychiatrist, Ive worked with hundreds of pregnant and postpartum women at the University of Illinois at Chicago Womens Clinic, and I have seen the tremendous benefits reaped by women who learn these strategies and conquer their anxiety symptoms. Over the years, many women have asked if there was a book they could read to help them learn techniques that work for pregnancy and postpartum anxiety. Now I can finally say yes! Pamela Wiegartz and Kevin Gyoerkoe wrote The Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook for women who are planning a pregnancy, already pregnant, or postpartum and want to tame their anxieties or prevent severe anxiety from happening in the first place.

As you read The Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook , you will learn how to assess your own anxiety symptoms. You will practice relaxation techniques that are safe and manageable while youre pregnant or sore from having given birth. You will become skilled at identifying anxious thoughts and knowing how to defuse them. You will improve your ability to solve problems and prioritize your time. If you have symptoms such as panic attacks, obsessive thoughts, worries, and post-traumatic stress reactions, you will learn strategies specifically geared to these symptoms. For all of these skills, you will find clear explanations, specific instructions, and checklists to help you keep track. There are lots of suggestions for your partner, too, so your partner can understand your anxiety and help you in effective ways.