Hypoarousal in Postpartum & Parenthood
When your nervous system is leaving your window of tolerance, and you are experiencing dysregulation on the way to hypoarousal:
-You begin to feel like you are shutting down
-You may feel a little spacey, lose track of time, or start to feel sluggish
-You don’t feel out of control, but you also don’t feel comfortable.
What this might look like in postpartum and parenthood:
-You shut down, emotionally and/or physically, when your baby cries or fusses.
-You feel like you have low-energy, no matter how much sleep you get. (This is a tricky one to identify in postpartum!)
-You start to feel ‘off’, and can’t pinpoint why.
When your nervous system is in hypoarousal:
-You feel extremely zoned out and numb, both emotionally and physically.
-Time can go missing, or you feel bored and spaced out.
-You can feel sluggish, and have an inability to think clearly.
-You might feel depressed, disconnected, unmotivated, and hopeless.
-It might feel like you’re completely frozen, motionless, weak, powerless
-It’s not something you choose - your body takes over.
What this might look like in postpartum and parenthood:
-You stare at your baby and feel no emotion.
-You lose track of large chunks of time.
-You misplace things, can’t hold conversations, or have difficulty focusing.
-You find yourself crying for, what feels like, no reason at all.
-You freeze and don’t respond when your baby cries or fusses.
-You feel unable to get out of bed or engage in daily hygiene, like showering.
If you resonate with any of this…
You are not alone. You are not to blame. With help, you will be well.
Check out Postpartum Support International’s website for more resources and support!
