Becoming a parent is often an exciting and positively anticipated milestone in life – but it can also bring unexpected emotional challenges. For many, the postpartum period involves more than just sleepless nights and diaper changes. It can also trigger intense feelings of sadness, fear, or disconnection. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s essential to know that you’re not alone. These are signs that you might be going through a Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder (PMAD) — a common but treatable group of conditions that affect many during pregnancy and postpartum. Learn what PMADs are and how to spot signs of postpartum depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. Explore this curated list of therapist-recommended PMADs books to support healing in the perinatal period.
What Are Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs)?
PMADs refer to a grouping of emotional and mental health disorders that occur while pregnant or in the postpartum period. They are more severe than the short-term “baby blues” and often require clinical treatment.
Types of PMADs include:
– Postpartum Depression (PPD)
– Postpartum Anxiety (PPA)
– Perinatal Bipolar Disorder
– Postpartum Psychosis
– Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
– Birth-related PTSD
PMADs are often misunderstood or misdiagnosed, which can make it even more isolating for parents who are struggling. These conditions can begin any time during pregnancy and up to a year after childbirth. While many people associate postpartum issues with depression, PMADs encompass a much broader spectrum of mental health challenges. Symptoms can vary depending on the specific diagnosis, and they may look very different for each person. For example, one person might experience scary thoughts and insomnia, while another may feel detached and numb.
The root causes of PMADs can include hormonal fluctuations, sleep deprivation, past trauma, lack of support, or even complications during pregnancy or birth. And, although they are common, many parents feel ashamed or afraid to speak up, worried they will be judged or seen as unfit. That’s why raising awareness, normalizing the conversation, and providing access to evidence-based resources are essential for healing.
Common Signs of Postpartum Mental Health Struggles
– Feelings of sadness or hopelessness that stay for a long time
– Frequent crying spells
– Worry or panic that doesn’t go away
– Anger or irritability that feels hard to control
– Feeling as though you are not bonding with your baby
– An inability to sleep
– Changes in your appetite
– Intrusive or scary thoughts
– Feeling emotionally numb or detached for prolonged periods
– Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
These signs and symptoms are intense, occur frequently, and last a long time.
These symptoms can develop gradually, accumulating over time. As a result, they may be difficult to detect because they feel “normal.” However, these symptoms can also hit all at once. They might make new parents feel completely overwhelmed by simple tasks, and they may burst into tears without any apparent trigger. Or, the symptoms may make the new parent feel “different” or “off,” and it might be described as “I just don’t feel like myself.” Oftentimes, partners, family members, and friends may notice the changes before the new parent does.
Unlike the baby blues—which affect up to 80% of new moms and usually resolve within two weeks—PMADs are persistent and interfere with daily functioning. The key difference is in the duration, intensity, and impact of symptoms. If you find that your emotions are getting in the way of caring for yourself or your baby, it’s a strong indicator that it’s time to reach out for professional help.
If you’re noticing any of these signs, know this: it is very common, and you are not alone. These are symptoms of a real and treatable condition, and help is available. With the proper support, you can overcome this.
Book Recommendations for PMADs: A Therapist-Curated Reading List
This PMADs book list includes many titles that reference different types of PMADs and parenting experiences. Some are memoirs written by parents who have lived through the darkness and found their way back to themselves, such as “Down Came The Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression” by Brooke Shields. Others are clinical workbooks developed by psychologists and mental health experts, offering step-by-step exercises to help reduce anxiety, manage mood swings, and build resilience. For example, ‘The Pregnancy and Postpartum Mood Workbook: The Guide to Surviving Your Emotions When Having a Baby’ by Bethany Warren and Beth Creager Berger.
Whether you’re looking for PMADs books to validate your experience, tools to help you cope, or ways to strengthen your relationship with your partner during the postpartum transition, there is likely something on this list for you. Many of these books are also great for partners or support people who want to gain a better understanding of what their loved one is going through.
You can explore the complete PMADs book list with this link (opens as a PDF document).
How These Resources Can Help
Navigating this season of life can be challenging. Finding the time to figure out how you can help yourself is also difficult in this season. Having access to helpful resources at any time could be very beneficial. These resources may take the form of reading autobiographies from other parents. Knowing that others have gone through similar experiences is incredibly reassuring. Knowing that they got through this period is encouraging. Using guided workbooks can help you understand your symptoms and develop the coping skills and tools to manage them. Finding helpful tools and resources can be the first step toward improving your feelings and beginning the healing journey. Furthermore, if you’re a therapist, doula, or healthcare professional, sharing these books with clients can provide accessible support between sessions.
It’s not always easy to ask for help or even know what kind of help you need. Books and workbooks provide a private, judgment-free way to initiate the healing process. These resources allow you to go at your own pace. Whenever you have a moment between caring for your baby and yourself, it will enable you to revisit the material when needed and gain insight into what you’re experiencing.
Sometimes, simply reading a story from another parent who has walked this road before can be enough to spark hope. Guided journals and workbooks can provide structure when your days feel chaotic, and educational materials can empower you with knowledge so you feel more in control. If you’re a clinician, these resources are great to recommend as supplemental tools for your clients.
You Are Not Alone
Experiencing mood and anxiety symptoms during your pregnancy or the postpartum period doesn’t make you a bad parent. It makes you a human being who needs support.
If you’re experiencing signs of PMAD, remember that reaching out to a mental health provider is a proactive step toward your well-being.
Your well-being matters. It’s OK not to love every moment of new parenthood. It’s OK to feel conflicted, scared, or overwhelmed. These feelings do not define you, and they do not make you less capable or less loving.
The first step toward healing often begins with acknowledgment, recognizing that something feels off and being willing to take action. That action might be calling your OB-GYN or therapist, telling a friend how you’re really feeling, or just downloading one of the books from this list and starting there.
We are all in this together. Let’s continue to break the stigma, speak openly about maternal mental health, and ensure every parent has access to the support they deserve.
You deserve care, too.
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