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ADHD and Perinatal Mental Health
Exploring ADHD in the perinatal period is crucial for understanding its impact on mental health.
We all can benefit from a deeper understanding of ADHD and how it impacts perinatal mental health. Join us to learn more!
And also, this is a very special episode! It’s our 300th episode, which is mind-boggling to think about.
About Jacqueline V. Cohen, NCC, LPC, ADHD-CCSP, NBCCH-D
Jacqueline Cohen is a Licensed Professional Counselor, ADHD-Certified Clinical Specialist Provider, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, coach, consultant, writer, and speaker. She has been in private practice for over 15 years, specializing in perinatal mental health and adult ADHD. Her practice, Therapy Mama, is in Marietta, Georgia, although she is also licensed in Colorado and Florida.
She experienced postpartum depression and anxiety after the birth of her son in 2001 and was diagnosed with ADHD ten years later as her son was also diagnosed.
Along her journey of discovering how her brain works, she realized that her postpartum depression and anxiety were largely a result of living with undiagnosed ADHD. This experience was the impetus for her work in helping others in similar situations in the journey to parenthood.
In this episode, we discuss what ADHD is, what it looks like, and how it might be experienced in the perinatal period. I’m excited to explore this topic with Jacqueline!
ADHD and Perinatal Mental Health Show Highlights:
- How Jacqueline became interested in how perinatal mental health and ADHD intersect
- How she discovered that her postpartum depression and anxiety were due to undiagnosed ADHD
- Why “being bored” can cause depression and anxiety in someone with ADHD–because of the way the brain works
- The basics of what ADHD is
- How ADHD impacts working memory, impulsivity, organization, time management, planning, and prioritizing
- Types and descriptions of ADHD variations
- How ADHD relates to being a highly sensitive person
- Why someone with ADHD is likely to procrastinate
- Why many people are diagnosed with ADHD later in life and don’t realize they have suffered
- How a new mom might realize she has undiagnosed ADHD
- What masking is, why lower estrogen levels exacerbate ADHD symptoms, and the connection to rejection sensitivity dysphoria
- Shortfalls in the ADHD assessment process
Resources:
Connect with Jacqueline Cohen:
Therapy Mama Website
Instagram @therapymamalpc
Facebook @TherapyMama
Resources:
ADDA https://add.org
CHADD https://chadd.org
ADDitude Magazine
Books:
Journeys Through ADDulthood, Sari Solden
Women with ADHD, Sari Solden
Gender Issues with ADHD, P. Quinn, K. Nadeau
ADHD 2.0, John Ratey and Ed Hallowell
A New Understanding of ADHD in Children and Adults, Tom Brown
Queen of Distraction, Terry Matlen
The ADHD Effect on Marriage, Melissa Orlov
A Couples Guide to Thriving with ADHD, Melissa Orlov
Radical Guide for Women with ADHD workbook, Sari Solden and Michelle Frank
Understanding Girls with ADHD, K. Nadeau, E. Littman, P. Quinn
Postpartum Support International: https://www.postpartum.net/
Tools, Skills and Hacks for New Moms
Manage thoughts & feelings of overwhelm
Learn how breathing & grounding help reach calmness
Exercises to find peace
