{"id":422,"date":"2020-12-03T10:30:39","date_gmt":"2020-12-03T10:30:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/134.122.102.56\/SAND\/uk\/?post_type=waf&p=422"},"modified":"2021-11-23T11:28:08","modified_gmt":"2021-11-23T11:28:08","slug":"obsessive-compulsive-disorder","status":"publish","type":"waf","link":"http:\/\/path-perinatal.eu\/uk\/waf\/obsessive-compulsive-disorder\/","title":{"rendered":"Obsessive Compulsive Disorder"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n

Sometimes anxiety gets really confusing.  If left untreated you may find that you start to experience a range of symptoms which can become uncomfortable, time consuming and very distressing.

They may start to erode your relationship with your baby, your loved ones and even friends. You may find that you become a bit of a perfectionist!<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

\n

Signs of obsessive compulsive disorder<\/strong><\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

If you are naturally anxious and have a baby, you may find your symptoms develop into obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
Some of you may find yourself turn into a \u2018cleaning machine\u2019, worrying that the slightest \u2018bug\u2019 may get through and cause you or baby or a loved one to become really unwell.

Particularly with the arrival of COVID-19<\/span><\/a>, you may find that you are cleaning late into the night when you should be resting and enjoying your baby.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

\n

Repetitive behaviour<\/strong><\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

You may find that it sneaks up in other ways, but any type of repetitive behaviour which is outside of normal for you is something to speak to your maternity team about (GP, health visitor or midwife).<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Intrusive thoughts<\/strong><\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

You may find yourself having thoughts that go round and round in your head and keep you up at night worrying.  They may come out of \u2018nowhere\u2019 but are probably driven by something which may have happened in the past that has left a lasting imprint on your subconscious.

There are sometimes other things that happen with these pesky thoughts (intrusive thoughts).  Some mums have the most dreadfully distressing thoughts that they may hurt their baby. 

These thoughts often lead to fear and an inability to look after your baby because you may deliberately hand your baby to others to make sure your baby is safe \u2018from you\u2019. 

These types of thoughts happen more often than you might believe so don\u2019t suffer in silence. <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

\n

Getting help<\/strong><\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

If you are the \u2018cleaning machine\u2019 person or the \u2018thoughts\u2019 person, it\u2019s really important that you let your maternity team (health visitor, midwife or GP) know what\u2019s going on.

They can try and help manage those behaviours and you can get on with being with your baby and building your bond with them.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

\n