标题:WhyNewMomsThinkScaryThoughtsAfterHavingaBaby source:psychologytoday丨bySarahBest,LMSW 翻译请保留原文链接哦 欲翻译的小伙伴,可评论领稿,并把已完成的译文发在自己的心理圈or个人主页的日志内。请领稿的小伙伴,尽量在一个星期内完成翻译,谢谢!! Almosteverynewparent,atonetimeoranother,worriesabouttheirbabiesgettinghurtorsick。Infact,researchersreportthatmorethan90percentofnewparentsexperiencewhatpsychologistscallintrusivethoughts,frighteningthoughtsthattheydontwanttohaveandfindtroubling。SomefindthemselvesworryingaboutmedicalcriseslikeSIDSorwhoopingcough。Othershavethoughtsofaccidentssuchashousefiresorcarcrashes。Andalthoughitsprobablynotatopicofdiscussiononplaydates,somewomenfearthattheythemselvesmighthurttheirbaby。 Whydowehavesuchdisturbingthoughts?Sciencesuggeststhatparentsespeciallymothersduringthepostpartumperiodarewiredtobeonthelookoutforpossiblethreatstotheiroffspring。Thatsagoodthing。Butbeingonhighalertcanbringtomindscarypossibilities,andthesethoughtsandimagesareoftengraphicallydetailed。 Somemothersnoticethesethoughtsbutcaneasilydismissthem。Forexample,theydefinitelydontliketheideaoftheirbabyhavingaseizureorbeingscaldedinabathtub,buttheyrecognizethatthesedisturbingeventsareveryunlikelyandcanletthoughtsofthempasswithoutfeelingtoomuchdistress。Sure,theyworryaboutillnessesoraccidentsfromtimetotime,butforthemostpart,theyareabletoputthemasideandenjoybeingwiththeirbaby。 Othermomsfindthemselvespreoccupiedorevenimmobilizedbyscarythoughts。Andthoseworriesbegintointerferewiththeirlives。Theymaycheckontheirsleepingbabyeveryhourtomakesurehesbreathingorfindthemselvesunabletoleavehomeforfearofgerms。 Motherscanfeelespeciallytorturedandmaystartrestrictingactivitieswhentheyworrytheycouldbetheonetocauseharmtotheirbaby。Amomwhoisafraidofdroppingormishandlingherbabymightavoidholdinghim。Momswhofeartheymightsnapandintentionallyhurttheirbabiescanbecomehypervigilantabouttheirownmentalstates,constantlysearchingforevidencethattheyarelosingtouchwithreality。 Helpisavailableifyourthoughtsarecausingyoualotofdistressorimpactingyoureverydaychoices。Feelingoverwhelmedbythesethoughtsisacommonsymptomofbothpostpartumdepression(linkisexternal)andanxiety(linkisexternal),whichaffectupto20percentofchildbearingwomen。Buttheseconditionsaretrea。Withprofessionalsupport,youcanlearntomanagethemandenjoybeingwithyourbaby。Andintime,youcanfeelconfidentandcomforinyournewrole。 Itsespeciallyimportanttotalktoyourobgyn(linkisexternal),midwife,oramentalhealthprofessionalifyouhavethoughtsofhurtingyourbaby。Thefactthatthesethoughtsupsetyouisgoodevidencethatyouarecommittedtokeepingyourbabysafe。Sowhileitsveryunlikelythatthesethoughtsposeanyrisktoyouoryourbaby,exploringyourconcernswithatrainedprofessionalcanreassureyouandhelpeaseyourmind。 Butifyoufeelrelievedratherthandistressedwhenyouthinkaboutactingonyourthoughts,ifyoufeelcompelledtoactonthem,orifyouareseriouslyafraidforyouroryourbabyssafety,call911orgotoyournearestemergencyroomrightaway。Thosetypesofsymptomssuggestamoreseriousconditionknownaspostpartumpsychosis(linkisexternal)andrequireimmediateattention。 ThePostpartumStressCenterhasaninformativepage(linkisexternal)dedicatedtocopingwithscarythoughtsduringparenting。Forhelpfindingamentalhealthproviderwithexpertisehelpingnewmomsmanageupsettingthoughts,checkoutPostpartumProgresssexcellentresourcepage(linkisexternal)orcallPostpartumSupportInternationalswarmline(linkisexternal)。 Youandmostnewparentscantakecomfortinknowingthatstrangethoughtsareanormal,ifunwelcome,partofparenthood。Withsupport,guidance,practice,andpatience,youcanlearntorecognizethesethoughtsforwhattheyare(justthoughts!)andfindmorejoyandconfidenceasamother。