Calming New Mom Anxiety with the Power of the Postpartum Brain with Dr. Nicole Pensak

In this episode of the Well-Adjusted Mama Podcast, Dr. Laura Brayton sits down with licensed clinical psychologist and perinatal mental health specialist Dr. Nicole Pensak to discuss her new book, "Rattled: How to Calm New Mom Anxiety with the Power of the Postpartum Brain." Motherhood is often portrayed as a joyful experience, but many women find themselves struggling with anxiety, intrusive thoughts, overwhelm, and uncertainty during the postpartum period. Dr. Pensak shares how understanding the unique changes that occur in the postpartum brain can help mothers navigate this transition with greater confidence, resilience, and self-compassion. Together, they explore common challenges new mothers face, the signs of postpartum anxiety, depression, and OCD, and practical tools to support mental and emotional well-being during the perinatal period. About Dr. Nicole Pensak: Nicole Amoyal Pensak, PhD, is a nationally recognized licensed clinical psychologist certified in Perinatal Mental Health. She specializes in the treatment of anxiety, depression, and OCD and completed her training at Yale School of Medicine, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Pensak owns a private practice in Monmouth County, New Jersey, and serves on the Expert Review Board for Parents magazine. Tune in for an empowering conversation that offers hope, education, and practical support for new and expecting mothers. More from Dr. Pensak: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DRNIKKIPENSAK/ Website: https://www.drnicoleamoyalpensak.com/ For more from Dr. Brayton: If you'd like to learn more about my virtual functional medicine practice, go to https://drlaurabrayton.com/virtual-functional-medicine/ and schedule a complimentary 15 minute discovery call with me. Help more people find our show - leave a rating and review by simply clicking on http://ratethispodcast.com/welladjustedmama. © 2014 - 2026 Dr. Laura Brayton