Obsessive Behavior in Mothers

Many mothers feel as though they spend most of their time worrying about their children. During the early years, they worry whether their little ones are safe in their cribs, car seats and day care. As the children mature, mothers worry about peer pressure, school safety and their children's long-term prospects. While worrying about your children is common, obsessive behavior is not. Learning about obsessive behavior in mothers is the first step in managing it.

  1. Postpartum OCD

    • Postpartum obsessive compulsive disorder is a debilitating condition that can occur after a child is born. The International OCD Foundation reports that mothers might experience significant anxiety after birth. Most symptoms are characterized by a mother's obsessive concern about possible harm to her baby. Obsessive mothers might worry constantly about their babies dying in their sleep, drowning in the bathtub or choking during a meal. They might fret about germs and illness, too, according to PsychCentral.

    Reactions

    • Obsessive mothers will try to calm their concerns by obsessively checking on their children to ensure their fears are not realized. For instance, a mother of an infant might check on her baby throughout the night to ensure she is safe and breathing. Other mothers might turn to the Internet to find out if their concerns are legitimate, even seeking advice from Internet strangers on message boards.

    Increased Risk

    • Mothers are at an increased risk of obsessive behavior than the general population. According to an April 2013 study in the "Journal of Reproductive Medicine," 11 percent of new mothers showed signs of postpartum OCD two weeks after giving birth. Six months later, an additional 5.4 percent of mothers developed obsessive symptoms. Just 2 percent to 3 percent of the population shows signs of obsessive behavior, making motherhood a potential risk factor for obsessive behavior, especially immediately after a child's birth.

    Treatment

    • Obsessive behavior during early motherhood typically subsides on its own. The April 2013 study in the "Journal of Reproductive Medicine," which was conducted by researchers at Northwestern University, confirmed that many obsessive symptoms are temporary. In fact, half of the women studied reported improved symptoms after six months. When these obsessive thoughts manifest after the child's first year of life, a mother might opt for a professional screening to be evaluated for OCD or another psychological disorder.

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