What we treat
The transformative journey involving adapting to the challenges and joys of caring for a newborn or young child.
Being a new parent can come with signs and symptoms that show you’re adjusting to this big change in your life. Here are some common ones:
Emotional signs. You find that things are too much to handle. Because of this, you experience anxiety, mood swings, and irritability.
Physical signs. The daily demands of caring for your little one can lead to fatigue. Sleep issues such as sleep deprivation, trouble sleeping, or staying asleep are also common signs. Your appetite changes as well, either you eat more or less than before.
Behavioral signs. Deliberately isolating yourself from social occasions or activities you once enjoyed. You experience heightened stress, which affects your mood, interactions, and even your sense of focus.
Relationship signs. You notice less intimacy and more arguments with your partner.
Parenting-related signs. Feeling guilty of not being the best parent or not meeting the standards you set for yourself. You are uncertain about parenting decisions and a little clueless about what’s best for your baby.
Cognitive signs. Memory lapses and difficulty remembering things.
If you notice these signs, it’s important to get support and find ways to manage the challenges of being a new parent.
As you take on a new responsibility of being a parent, the adjustment that comes with it may be quite overwhelming. There's no perfect approach or accurate manual to parenting, and everyone faces different challenges along the way. Receiving conflicting advice on how to be the best parent to your child adds more stress and confusion.
The fact that you have to be present for your child all the time, and attend to their needs while improving their social, emotional, and academic development on the side, will push your emotional buttons hard. Parenthood indeed brings pure joy into your life, but it also is a taxing and exhausting task. It’s completely normal to feel stressed, but these feelings can sometimes come with guilt or shame, making it hard to open up about them to friends or family.
The perinatal and infant period, which spans from pregnancy to your baby's first year, is a time of big adjustment and stress. So many parents experience emotional challenges during this time, like feeling distressed, and anxious, dealing with mood swings, sleep issues, or changes in motivation, confidence, and appetite. At times, these problems can force you into isolating yourself from your loved ones, and in some cases, depression might begin to set in either before or after the baby is born.
As a parent, you’re the most important person your child will rely on. Being attentive and emotionally responsive helps your child grow and develop in a healthy way. When a child feels safe and connected to you, their overall well-being improves and paves the way for long-term happiness.
Parenthood, especially for new parents, can be tough, and several triggers and causes can make these adjustments even more challenging. Here’s a look at what might be contributing to the need for adjustment:
Lack of sleep. Sleep deprivation from night feedings and irregular sleep patterns can make everything feel harder.
Increased responsibilities. Balancing childcare with work and other responsibilities can feel overwhelming.
Changing relationships. Shifts in your relationship with your partner or family members can add stress.
Conflicting advice. Receiving different or contradictory advice about parenting can lead to confusion and frustration.
Financial stress. Managing the costs associated with a new baby can strain your finances and increase anxiety.
Health issues. Physical recovery from childbirth or dealing with health concerns for you or your baby can be challenging.
Emotional overload. Coping with the emotional highs and lows of new parenthood can be draining.
Lifestyle changes. Adjusting to a new routine and finding time for self-care can be tough.
Social isolation. Feeling isolated from friends and social activities can impact your mood and well-being.
Expectations vs. reality. Discrepancies between your expectations of parenthood and reality can cause stress and disappointment.
Understanding these triggers can help you identify what's affecting you and find ways to manage the changes more smoothly.
Getting mental health support from a psychologist can be super helpful when you're figuring out the ups and downs of being a new parent. At Someone.health, we’re here to help you handle stress, anxiety, and mood swings. We are here to teach you effective coping techniques and self-care rituals to make life a bit easier.
Apart from these, we also focus on strengthening your relationship with your partner and assisting with adjusting to new roles and lifestyle changes. Our sessions address postpartum issues and provides guidance on supporting your child’s emotional and developmental needs, making your transition to parenthood smoother and more manageable.
Psychologists available online
Tell us what matters to you, compare suitable appointments and keep your care details in your patient profile.
Find an appointmentIt will not always be obvious and it could be gradual. But when you start feeling better, then that means that the therapy is working.
You'll also be able to see things more clearly as you progress with your talk therapy. Healing, however, is not always so clear-cut. There will always be ups and downs. If that happens, you can talk to your psychologist about your progress and be open with what you're feeling.
Australia has regulatory bodies to ensure we maintain consistent and high standards across the psychology profession.
Yes. They are registered with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA), listed with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), and individually selected and monitored by Someone.health's expert clinical team.
Appointments are available immediately
Once you have signed up and we have verified your details, you can choose a psychologist who is available immediately. Our website displays in order of the first available appointment.
Only your GP or a psychiatrist can prescribe medication.
Medication can only be prescribed by medical doctors, which includes general practitioners (GPs) and psychiatrists.
If you need the services of a psychiatrist, please visit Call To Mind, a telehealth service specialising in psychiatry.