Meghan’s Perinatal Mental Health Story

Thrive • October 25, 2021

Going into my postpartum period, I never thought I would suffer from postpartum anxiety (PPA) or postpartum depression (PPD). Overall, I had a wonderful pregnancy and a supportive partner, and I was prepared in every way I could think of. I saw my primary care physician for a preconception check-up and went to every prenatal appointment being fully transparent of my medical history (which included anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and hypothyroidism). I built a strong support system and even had a prenatal therapy session.

My son was born healthy right on his due date. Despite developing an infection and having trouble sleeping in the hospital, I was feeling happy and healthy too. My son was doing well and slept a lot. I continued to have trouble sleeping once we were home. I had heard people describe having a ‘birth buzz’ after delivery, so I assumed that was what was going on.

At my son’s two-week appointment, he had gained back his birth weight plus some. This fueled my perfectionist desires and I told myself that I was rocking this whole “mom thing.” I informed our pediatrician that I was having trouble sleeping. We assumed the cause was anxiety and I promised her I would see my previous therapist. Unfortunately, she was booked out for three months. I thought I’d be fine to wait as I was comfortable dealing with anxiety.

Over the next weeks, things continued much in the same way. Still no sleep, but it didn’t seem to be affecting me. Then came my son’s two-month check-up where he came in underweight. This news amped up my PPA because I worried I would have to give up exclusively breastfeeding and I wanted my son to have the benefits of breastmilk. Also, I had found breastfeeding to be empowering in the same way pregnancy had been for me. I scheduled a lactation consultation and was advised to triple feed at each session. We did this for two weeks. I started dreading feeding because I was nervous about whether he was taking in enough. At our follow-up appointment, I got the news that shattered me — the triple feeding didn’t work. I was devastated. I felt like my body had failed me.

We saw our pediatrician and made a plan to switch to bottle feeding so we could track his intake. I started pumping and supplementing with formula or donor milk. I hated pumping. It was a constant reminder of what I had lost. Moreover, my baby had a hard time transitioning to a bottle.

During this time, I met with my doctor to rule out any medical issues as the cause of my low supply. I explained how I was having trouble sleeping and was waking up drenched in sweat, and that I was feeling anxious, irritable, and sensitive to light and sound, plus having heart palpitations. She assured me most of these were normal postpartum symptoms and hesitantly ordered labs. My results showed my thyroid was hyperactive. This explained why I had been energetic and was not sleeping. She adjusted my medication, but said it would take six to eight weeks to normalize. I requested a referral to endocrinology so I could see if this had affected my breastfeeding.

I couldn’t get into the endocrinologist for four months. During that time my PPA got worse. My baby had started his four-month sleep regression. He woke 10 – 20 times a night. I became obsessed with improving his sleep. I bought courses and watched videos. Nothing helped. A voice inside my head began to tell me I was failing. I knew it was a lie, but I started believing it. I told myself there must be something I’m doing wrong and obsessively started using Google to answer all my parenting questions. I became rigid about our baby’s feeding schedule and nap routine, afraid that swaying from it would derail any progress we were making.

I finally got to see my therapist, but I continued to get worse. I followed up with my doctor about my anxiety, but she only offered a prescription. I wasn’t ready to take medication due to my own stigmas about it. During this time, my PPD came forward. I had never experienced depression before and it terrified me. I became withdrawn despite feeling lonely, had trouble finding joy, felt overwhelmed, and numbed myself by listening to podcasts all day. I started having suicidal ideation. I would search “I regret having a baby” and “I miss my old life” over and over, only to have the SAMHSA hotline pop up.

At last, I got to meet with the endocrinologist. She confirmed my thyroid had played a part in my breastfeeding issues. Additionally, she informed me that what happened could have been prevented. Patients with known hypothyroidism should take extra thyroid medication during pregnancy. I drove home in tears. I was so angry that some of what was taking place could have been prevented.

I came to a turning point when I reached out to my OBGYN. She helped me put a plan together. She prescribed sertraline, developed a sleep plan that included diphenhydramine before bed, and referred me to Thrive Reno. They did an assessment with me to determine what level of care would be most appropriate, while also taking into account my family and work obligations as well as my insurance and financial restraints. For me, they recommended their ‘It Takes a Village’ Day Program for perinatal mental health.

Thrive Reno’s ‘It Takes a Village’ Day Program saved me. I gained a thorough understanding of my PPA and PPD diagnosis in their psychoeducation class. This allowed me to explain to my family what was going on as this was all new to us. I was able to get closure on what took place during my delivery and take comfort from others’ stories during our birth processing group. I gained a ton of new coping skills and was reminded of the importance of physical movement as well as fueling my body in a gentle, non-judgmental way. The empowerment group allowed me to start reclaiming my days and in my private therapy sessions, I was able to start defining a new version of myself. After two and a half months, I graduated from the program.

Now, I feel like I’m in the best mental health shape and I like the person I am more than ever. I learned many lessons on this journey and while I am glad it’s over, I’m happy for where it has brought me. I’m even wanting to have a second child in the future. I found healing with Thrive, art, and reading PPA and PPD recovery stories.

If I could tell my past self a few things they would be:

Trust the process.
Never stop advocating for yourself.
Ask for help.
Prioritize sleep.
Manage your expectations.
Create a backup plan for breastfeeding (not just birth).
Don’t be scared to try medication. Sometimes our brains need a “recalibration” as one therapist put it.
You can do hard things.

I’m so thankful for what our community has to offer and hope every new parent can get the support they need. Parenting is tough and it does take a village.

A note from Thrive

Thrive Reno’s “It Takes a Village” Perinatal Day Program and additional perinatal outpatient services cater to new parents struggling with their mental health. Through integrated care from our perinatal specialists, new parents will be empowered to confidently and joyfully embrace their roles. Reach out to us anytime to learn more.

The post Meghan’s Perinatal Mental Health Story first appeared on Thrive Wellness.

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Your Guide to Higher Levels of Care: How to Decide Which Treatment Level is Right for Your Mental Health

By Erin McGinty Fort, MS, MHA, CPC, LPC-S, CEDS-C • December 18, 2025

Sometimes, people need more support, structure, and monitoring than the typical outpatient setting can provide. When this happens, the treatment team will usually recommend that someone be "stepped up" to a different level of care, or program, that can better meet their needs. I like to think of it as being similar to medication dosages; people need different strengths of medications, or dosages, to get better when they're sick. Stepping someone up to a higher level of care is like increasing the dosage of a medication to match the severity of their symptoms. How Are Higher Levels of Care Different from Standard Outpatient Care? At the core of differentiating higher levels of care from standard outpatient care is the intensity and structure of the treatment. Higher level of care programs tend to offer more days of treatment each week and more hours of treatment per day than in the outpatient setting. Those in higher level of care programs may also meet with their treatment team members more frequently each week. There are more staff present to support someone at or after meals and snacks, or to help those who are having urges to engage in compulsions or other harmful behaviors. Clients in our HLOC programs get access to an assortment of treatment modalities tailored to their individual needs, including personalized therapy sessions, group support, medication management, medical nutrition therapy with a dietitian, and check-ins with our primary care providers. We support clients with personalized treatment plans and regular assessments to monitor and tweak interventions as needed. Higher levels of care also offer increased peer interaction and support. Intensive programs incorporate additional group therapy sessions, which can help those in treatment feel less alone as well as create a greater sense of community. For some people, it can be difficult to devote the time and energy needed to recover while also balancing other responsibilities like school or work. Stepping up to more intensive levels of care allows people to fully dedicate themselves to recovery. As they get better and make progress, a person may be stepped back down to a less intensive level of care to start practicing their recovery in their usual home, school, or work settings while also receiving professional support from their treatment team. What Levels of Care are Available? At Thrive Wellness, we offer four different levels of care to help clients step up (or down) in their treatment when needed: - Outpatient Treatment - weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly meetings with a therapist, psychiatrist, primary care provider, and/or dietitian. - Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) - A minimum of three hours per day, three days per week. - Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) - A minimum of six hours per day, five days per week. - Residential Treatment - Coming soon in 2026, The Greenhouse at Thrive will offer residential treatment for eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. This level of care offers 24-hour support for those aged 12-24 living in our residential treatment center. How To Decide Which Level of Care is Right for You If you're unsure which option is right for you or your loved one, we offer a free assessment that can be completed with our admissions team. In this initial assessment, we'll gather information from you about what you're struggling with, speak with our team of providers, and then make a recommendation for what level of care we feel is the best fit for you and your needs. If you’re experiencing symptoms of an eating disorder, anxiety disorder, or other behavioral or mental health challenges, don’t hesitate to reach out. To get started with our intake process, give us a call at 775-525-8103 or fill out this form . We can’t wait to help you Thrive.

Family Inclusive Recovery: Healing Together in Eating Disorder and OCD Treatment

December 2, 2025

Like the fir tree, a symbol of endurance rooted in hope, our Family Inclusive Recovery (FIR) approach reflects the strength that grows when families face challenges together. At our new residential center “The Greenhouse”, FIR is more than a treatment model, it’s a philosophy of healing that places families at the heart of recovery for adolescents and young adults navigating eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We believe lasting healing doesn’t happen in isolation; it’s built with the support of families through perseverance, hope, and compassionate care. What Is Family Inclusive Recovery (FIR)? Family Intensive Recovery (FIR) is a specialized and immersive approach that actively engages caregivers as central agents in their child’s healing process. Rather than seeing families as contributors to a problem, we view them as essential partners in recovery. Drawing from two evidence-based frameworks, Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) and Family-Based Treatment (FBT), FIR helps families cultivate resilience, confidence, and connection throughout the journey to recovery. Grounded in SPACE and FBT Through the SPACE model, parents learn how to recognize and reduce well-intentioned but unhelpful behaviors known as accommodations that can reinforce anxiety and OCD symptoms. By shifting from rescuing to supporting and challenging, parents develop the confidence to guide their child through discomfort, helping them build distress tolerance and self-trust. Simultaneously, Family-Based Treatment (FBT) empowers families to take an active, compassionate role in their child’s nutritional and emotional recovery. Parents learn how to support weight and nutritional restoration, disrupt the eating disorder’s patterns, and reestablish boundaries that promote health and growing autonomy. Together, these approaches strengthen both the individual and family system, allowing recovery to take root within an environment of empathy and optimism. From Blame to Collaboration A cornerstone of the FIR model is removing blame. At Thrive, parents are not viewed as the cause of their child’s struggles, but rather as key partners in recovery. Treatment focuses on joining forces to create a safe, supportive environment where: Families learn to sit with their child's discomfort alongside them without rushing to fix or control it. Parents practice compassionate firmness, setting boundaries grounded in care and safety. Teens and caregivers rebuild trust through open, honest communication. This collaborative framework helps families reestablish a sense of connection and confidence, fostering long-term resilience and open communication that extends beyond the treatment setting. Why Family Matters in Recovery Recovery from eating disorders, OCD, or anxiety isn’t a one-person job, it requires integrated care including the family. When families learn to navigate challenges together, they can model emotional regulation, reinforce healthy boundaries, and create conditions for sustained recovery. Through FIR, we aim to strengthen attachment bonds, reshape family interactions, and empower every member of the family to grow. The result is not only symptom reduction but also a deeper sense of unity, hope, and shared endurance, just like the steadfast fir tree that stands resilient through every season. Moving Toward Hope Family Inclusive Recovery invites caregivers and loved ones to become active participants in change. It’s a journey of learning, letting go, and leaning into love and acceptance. Together, families and clinicians can cultivate the courage in clients to face uncertainty, and in doing so, help them discover that recovery is not just possible, but enduring. If you’d like to learn more about Family Intensive Recovery at The Greenhouse or how we support families in eating disorder and OCD treatment, reach out to our team today.

Introducing Thrive's Greenhouse - Opening 2026

November 14, 2025

The Greenhouse at Thrive Wellness A New Chapter of Hope and Healing in Nevada On Friday, November 14 , we gathered with our partners at Molina Healthcare to share an important moment for our community. Together, we celebrated Molina’s generous $50,000 grant , an investment that is helping bring The Greenhouse to life. Their support is not only a financial contribution—it’s a statement of belief in the young people and families of Nevada who deserve access to compassionate, evidence-based mental healthcare close to home. This gathering marked the beginning of something we’ve dreamed about for years: a place designed specifically for adolescents and emerging adults to receive the care, connection, and support they need during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Something New Is Growing In early 2026 , Thrive Wellness will open The Greenhouse , Nevada’s first residential treatment center devoted to adolescents and emerging adults navigating eating disorders, anxiety, and OCD . For too long, families have faced a heartbreaking dilemma—send their child far from home for treatment or go without the specialized care they need. The Greenhouse is our answer to that gap. It will be a place where young people can settle into an environment built for healing, where they are understood, supported, and surrounded by a team that believes in their capacity to recover. The Greenhouse represents a natural extension of our mission. It’s a living expression of our belief that recovery is possible—and that with the right support, families can find their footing again.