INTERVIEW OVERVIEW
In this episode, Reva Cook, a clinical social worker, discusses postpartum depression and anxiety and provides tips on how to cope with these mental health issues. She explains that postpartum mental health illnesses are common, affecting about 25% of women who experience pregnancy. Reva emphasizes the importance of being aware of the risk factors and protective factors for postpartum mental health issues. She suggests building a strong support system, addressing past trauma, and practicing good mental health coping strategies. Reva also discusses the different ways postpartum mental health issues can manifest, such as postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and postpartum psychosis. She provides practical tools for managing anxiety and stress in the moment, including deep breathing, sensory activities, and humor. Reva also discusses the role of sleep, supplements, and medication in supporting postpartum mental health. She recommends resources such as the book 'Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts' by Karen Kleinman and emphasizes the importance of individualized parenting and finding what works best for each family.
TAKEAWAYS
Postpartum mental health illnesses are common, affecting about 25% of women who experience pregnancy.
Being aware of the risk factors and protective factors for postpartum mental health issues is important.
Building a strong support system, addressing past trauma, and practicing good mental health coping strategies can help prevent and manage postpartum mental health issues.
Postpartum mental health issues can manifest in different ways, such as postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and postpartum psychosis.
Practical tools for managing anxiety and stress in the moment include deep breathing, sensory activities, and humor.
Sleep, supplements, and medication can play a role in supporting postpartum mental health.
Individualized parenting and finding what works best for each family is crucial.
WORDS OF WISOM
"Postpartum mental health illnesses affect about 25% of women who experience pregnancy."
"Postpartum psychosis is a break from reality and a mental health emergency."
"Anxiety can manifest as mom rage, irritability, and difficulty regulating emotions."
YOU HAVE TO BECOME THE SLEEP WHISPERER!
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction and Background of Reva Cook
03:09 Preparing for Postpartum Mental Health Issues
05:45 Different Manifestations of Postpartum Mental Health Issues
08:46 Postpartum Psychosis and Emergency Response
10:58 Impact of Anxiety on Daily Life and Lactation
13:49 Managing Mom Rage and Irritability
22:27 Lowering Cortisol Levels and Increasing Serotonin
25:22 Recommended Resources and Books
33:59 Finding Outside Help for Postpartum Mental Health
37:10 Importance of Sleep and Individualized Parenting
40:32 Closing Remarks and Encouragement
TALKING POINTS
postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, mental health, coping strategies, risk factors, protective factors, support system, trauma, sleep, supplements, medication, parenting
RESOURCES
BOOKS
Baby Wise - Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam
“Teaching your baby to sleep independently is one of the most loving and beneficial gifts you can give. When your baby sleeps well, the entire family benefits. A well-rested baby contributes to a more peaceful and balanced home life.”
Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts - Karen Kleiman
90 Seconds to the Life You'll Love - Joan Rosenberg
“By staying present with your emotional discomfort, you build resilience and the confidence to face future challenges.”
Reva Cook
Reva Cook is a licensed clinical social worker and EMDR certified therapist and consultant. She came to her therapy career through being an ER crisis worker. Her favorite thing is seeing how women’s lives and relationships change for the better. As a perinatal mental health and EMDR specialist, she loves, and is good at healing trauma, and mental health issues that sometimes unfortunately accompany pregnancy, childbirth and raising children. Healing and handling these wounds creates big generational positive shifts. She likes to say that we are treating client’s grandkids by healing their grandmothers. She's also good at helping work through family of origin, religious, and sexual abuse trauma.
She is the mom of 4 young adults, 2 grand kitties and 1 grandpuppy. She likes to read, go to concerts, be outside, and chase down cool sunsets and pet kitty cats. She's shamelessly addicted to Diet Coke and Tiktok.
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