How Art Therapy Can Help With Postpartum Rage
Bringing a new life into the world is often portrayed as a time of joy, love, and fulfillment. Yet, for many new mothers, the postpartum period can also be fraught with unexpected emotions, including intense anger, rage, or outbursts—like a storm within her.
Postpartum rage is more common than you might think; we just aren’t talking about it much. Because many moms are unaware of it, postpartum rage can feel unexpected, overwhelming and scary. For many new mothers, this is the first time they have experienced anger to this degree, which can lead to feelings of guilt and confusion. The good news is: there is a lot of support available, including art therapy, which can provide a transformative outlet for healing and self-expression during the challenging time of new motherhood.
Rage is a Fight Response
Why do some new mothers experience postpartum rage? The short answer is, we don’t really know for sure. What we do know is that early motherhood is full of new changes, fluctuating hormones, a healing body, sleep deprivation, and the demands of caring for a new baby, to name a few. It is easy to see how these factors can lead to overwhelm.
When we feel overwhelmed, our nervous system is trained to prepare for a threat, which can trigger a fight, flight, freeze or fawn response. Postpartum rage is a fight response to overwhelm, a protective emotion, an advocate! It is the body’s way of signaling there are unmet needs, and change is necessary. Although many women have been taught to believe that anger is “bad,” it is simply an emotion that is providing information about what we need. We have the choice whether or not to listen to it.
Postpartum rage can also be associated with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), like anxiety, depression, Bipolar, OCD, PTSD or Psychosis. It is advised to seek out a perinatal mental health professional if symptoms continue or become worse.
The Support of Art Therapy
Art therapy offers a safe and supportive space for people to explore and express their emotions through their creative process. For moms struggling with postpartum rage, art therapy can be particularly supportive as it provides a non-verbal outlet for processing complex feelings and experiences. Through various artistic mediums, such as painting, drawing, sculpture, and collage, mothers can externalize their inner turmoil, gain insight into their emotions, and develop healthier ways to cope.
Building self-awareness and community
Engaging in art therapy can also help mothers develop greater self-awareness and insight into the root causes of their postpartum rage. By reflecting on their artistic creations and discussing them with a trained art therapist, moms can identify triggers, patterns, and unresolved issues contributing to their emotional struggles. This process of self-discovery empowers mothers to take control of their mental health and work towards healing and recovery.
In addition to individual art therapy sessions, group art therapy can foster a sense of camaraderie and support among mothers experiencing postpartum rage. Sharing artwork, listening to others' stories, and engaging in collaborative art projects can create a sense of belonging and validation. Knowing that they are not alone in their struggles can be incredibly comforting for new mothers grappling with intense emotions.
Therapeutic art prompts for exploring rage
Human beings have been using art for therapeutic means since the beginning of their existence, and it continues to be used to help us express our inner landscape, make meaning of our experiences, and get to know ourselves in deeper ways. The following therapeutic art prompts are to be used as support with managing overwhelm and anger. Please note that the term art therapy is reserved for use only by a trained art therapist and their clients.
Art prompt 1: The Storm Within
If your postpartum rage was a natural disaster, what would it be (a thunderstorm, wildfire, tornado, earthquake, tsunami, hurricane, etc.)?
Capture the raw power and magnitude of your chosen natural disaster using art materials, either through expressive brushstrokes, intentional scribbles, or using pressured lines on the page.
Take note of how it feels to get your emotions out of your body and into an expression using the art materials.
Art prompt 2: My anger is like a _____.
Name the emotion associated with your postpartum rage (ie. rage, anger, overwhelm).
Flip through magazines (or the internet) to find an image that represents postpartum rage for you.
Create an environment or background for the image using art materials.
Find another image to soothe the anger image and paste it onto your artwork.
How does your anger feel when it is soothed? Notice how your mind and body feels after completing this art prompt.
Please note: This blog post is not intended to be a replacement for therapy. If you are looking for additional information and support, please click here to see Leanne’s current therapy offerings and support groups.
