Tears, Tension, and Feeling “Touched Out”: Postpartum Anxiety Support in Washington, DC
What Is a Baby Experiencing in the Earliest Weeks of Life?
In the earliest weeks of life, a baby does not yet experience themselves as separate from their caregiver. From the baby’s perspective, there is no clear boundary between “me” and “you.” Instead, the baby’s sense of existing in the world emerges gradually, shaped through repeated experiences of being cared for. This early awareness of self does not develop on its own — it grows within the context of a caregiver who provides steady physical and emotional presence.
Newborns are profoundly dependent. Everything that happens to them — sounds, sensations, emotional states — is taken in and registered at a deep level. Over time, these early experiences begin to form an internal sense of relationships and the world. When a baby’s dependence is met with consistency and care, the baby slowly develops an inner assurance that even when alone, someone exists who is concerned about them. This sense of safety becomes the groundwork for later development, allowing the baby to gradually respond to the demands of the world around them. These are dynamics we discuss in postpartum anxiety therapy in Washington, DC.
Learning Safety Through the Body
The roots of emotional well-being are laid not through explanation or language, but through bodily and relational experiences. Caring for a baby involves constant nonverbal communication — holding, feeding, rocking, soothing, washing, changing, and settling. For a baby, these physical interactions are not separate from emotional experience. Being held physically supports the baby in feeling held together emotionally. Through these repeated moments of care, the baby begins to form an internal sense that:
I am safe.
My needs are important.
The world feels more manageable when my caregiver is near.
Much of this communication happens quietly: through a caregiver’s breathing, smell, tone of voice, eye contact, warmth, rhythm, and responsiveness. Everyday moments — feeding, diapering, helping a baby fall asleep, responding to distress — all contribute to how the baby experiences connection and security.
Why Can Emotional Attunement Feel So Consuming for Mothers?
Many mothers find themselves deeply attuned to their infant’s inner world. This emotional attunement allows them to respond sensitively to their baby’s needs, but it can also feel consuming. The boundaries between mother and baby may feel blurred, as though the baby’s emotional states are flooding the mother’s own. For some women, this intensity can feel overwhelming, frightening, or simply too much. Feeling emotionally and physically saturated — often described as feeling “touched out” — is a very real and common experience in early parenthood. These are experiences often discussed in postpartum therapy services.
A baby’s complete dependence can stir up complicated feelings for many reasons. If a mother has struggled with her own needs for support in the past, it may feel especially difficult to be needed so fully by another. Asking for help can feel uncomfortable or even impossible. For others, memories of being overwhelmed by their own caregivers’ needs may resurface, making the baby’s distress feel unbearable. Some mothers are surprised by feelings of resentment or jealousy toward an infant who receives constant attention and care. These reactions can be confusing or shame-inducing, but they are more common than most women realize.
When Does Feeling “Touched Out” Point to Needing Postpartum Anxiety Therapy?
If you find yourself feeling chronically overwhelmed, emotionally drained, or “touched out,” this may be a sign that you need support — not that you are doing something wrong. Talking with a postpartum therapist who specializes in perinatal mental health can provide space to explore these feelings safely and without judgment.
A few important reminders:
This is the beginning for both you and your baby — neither of you is expected to know how to do this yet.
The phase of intense dependency does not last forever.
Babies absorb not only the care they receive, but also the emotional atmosphere surrounding that care. When a mother is carrying a great deal of inner conflict, exhaustion, or distress, this can be communicated unintentionally. Many women believe they must manage everything on their own, even when they feel depleted or conflicted. In reality, babies benefit most from caregivers who are supported enough to show up as their best possible selves. Postpartum therapy in Washington, DC, can help you find that balance. Sharing care with others — whether partners, family members, or trusted supports — can be an act of care for both mother and baby.
You’re Not Too Much: Support for Postpartum Anxiety in Washington, DC
If you’re constantly on edge, emotionally overwhelmed, tearful without knowing why, or feeling physically and emotionally “touched out,” postpartum anxiety can make daily life after birth feel exhausting and isolating. These experiences are more common than many new parents realize, and you don’t have to manage them alone. Postpartum therapy services in Washington, DC, offer a supportive, nonjudgmental space to slow things down and make sense of what your nervous system has been carrying.
Postpartum anxiety often shows up as racing thoughts, difficulty relaxing, irritability, constant worry about your baby’s safety, sleep disruption, or a sense that your body never truly powers down. Therapy provides a place to explore these symptoms with care, understand how anxiety is affecting your mind and body, and learn practical tools to restore a sense of steadiness during this intense season of early parenthood.
Getting started with postpartum anxiety therapy in Washington, DC, may look like:
Scheduling a consultation to talk openly about your symptoms, your stressors, and how anxiety has been showing up since birth.
Beginning postpartum anxiety therapy tailored to your specific experiences, whether that includes intrusive thoughts, emotional overwhelm, or feeling depleted and overstimulated.
Building coping strategies and nervous-system support that help you feel more grounded, regulated, and connected to yourself again.
You don’t have to wait until anxiety feels unbearable to reach out. Support is appropriate even if you’re “functioning” on the outside but struggling internally. With a compassionate postpartum anxiety therapist in Washington, DC, it’s possible to feel calmer, more present, and more like yourself again, one supported step at a time.
Other Counseling Services Offered in Washington, DC
In addition to postpartum anxiety therapy in Washington, DC, I provide a range of counseling services designed to meet people through different seasons of life. My work includes support for individuals navigating infertility, psychoanalysis, and counseling for teens as well as older adults. I also specialize in offering culturally attuned therapy for expats and international professionals who are adjusting to major transitions or adapting to life in a new country.
Across all services, my approach is grounded in empathy, clinical skill, and a deep respect for each client’s unique experience. My goal is to help you develop greater self-understanding, emotional steadiness, and resilience, no matter where you are in your life journey.