Kevin Gyoerkoe, PsyD and Pamela Wiegartz, PhD

foreword by Laura Miller, MD

A lifeline for new mothers experiencing postpartum anxiety and OCD.
"How I wish I'd had this book when I suffered from postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder! Pregnant and postpartum moms need to know that perinatal anxiety disorders are common and treatable, and that there's no need to continue suffering."
- Katherine Stone, editor of Postpartum Progress
What if my baby isn't healthy?
What if I can't handle the pain of labor?
What if I'm not a good mother?
If you've had these thoughts during pregnancy or after having a baby, you're not alone. Pregnancy and postpartum anxiety - including postpartum OCD, panic, and excessive worry - is much more common than many people realize. And while some anxiety is a natural part of becoming a parent, persistent or overwhelming anxiety can interfere with your daily life, relationships, sleep, and ability to enjoy your new baby.
The Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook offers evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) strategies to help you understand and manage anxiety during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Through practical exercises and worksheets, you'll learn how to recognize anxious thought patterns, reduce excessive worry, manage panic and physical symptoms of anxiety, and develop healthier ways to respond when fear takes over.
In this compassionate, easy-to-use workbook, you'll learn how to:

• Manage pregnancy and postpartum anxiety with proven CBT techniques
• Reduce excessive worry, panic, and anxious thoughts that interfere with daily life
• Recognize and challenge unhelpful thinking patterns that fuel anxiety
• Calm your body and mind when you feel overwhelmed or stressed
• Build practical coping skills for the fears and uncertainties of pregnancy and early parenthood
• Understand postpartum OCD and other perinatal anxiety symptoms and learn strategies for managing them
• Support your emotional well-being while adjusting to the demands of becoming a parent

The book also includes a chapter specifically for fathers and partners, offering practical guidance for understanding pregnancy and postpartum anxiety and supporting a partner who is struggling.
Becoming a parent can bring joy, excitement, and love - but it can also bring uncertainty, fear, and anxiety. If worry is taking over your pregnancy or keeping you from enjoying life with your baby, you don't have to face it alone. The Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook gives you practical, research-based tools to understand your anxiety, regain a sense of control, and move toward a healthier, more confident experience of parenthood.