Emotional isolation emerges as the leading postpartum challenge, surpassing physical recovery in the new ‘State of Mind’ Report

A new national survey from Octave, a leading modern therapy practice, released today reveals that the most misunderstood aspect of early motherhood is not physical recovery, but its profound mental health impact. When asked what new mothers most misunderstand about early motherhood, 40% of mothers cited the mental health impact, compared to just 21% who pointed to physical recovery. Further, 96% of mothers who reported struggling with their mental health cite emotional isolation as the key factor in postpartum mental health concerns.

“There’s a lot of discussion about becoming a new mom, but not a deep understanding about how becoming a mother impacts your mental health,” said Golee Abrishami, PhD, VP of Clinical Care at Octave. “It’s often framed as a physical recovery period, but mothers are telling us the more urgent gap is emotional healing. Mothers want to feel seen and understood as they navigate this major life shift. New moms are stepping into a new identity, but lack the time, rest, or support to process that transformation fully.”

Key Survey Findings

According to the new ‘State of Mind’ report, mothers who report struggling with their mental health in the first year of motherhood report feelings of:

• Emotional Isolation: 96%
• Overwhelm: 82%
• Fear: 59%
• Sadness: 56%
• Guilt: 44%

The Hidden Isolation of Early Motherhood

While early motherhood is often depicted as a deeply connected experience, surrounded by family and community support, many mothers report the opposite. For some mothers, the reality is far more emotionally isolating than expected.

The survey found that living with a romantic partner and co-parent doesn’t prevent feelings of isolation with nearly 4 in 10 partnered mothers still feeling frequently isolated. In this context, isolation is not about being physically alone, but about feeling unsupported not just by their partner, but also by their friends, family, and community during this major life transition.

The Paradox of Early Motherhood

The emotional reality of early motherhood is not a straightforward spectrum from struggling to thriving, it is a paradox. Joy and overwhelm often coexist, creating a layered emotional experience that is rarely discussed openly. According to the survey, only 5% of mothers described their mental health as “thriving” during the first year postpartum. Most reported existing in a middle ground, with 31% “managing” and 44% experiencing some level of struggle.

The emotional texture of early motherhood is shaped by tradeoffs made every day. Key insights from the survey include:

• 80% of employed mothers experienced work-family tradeoffs on some level
• 69% of employed mothers minimized their parental identity at work at least sometimes
• 56% of co-parenting mothers reported moderate-to-high resentment about division of responsibilities
• 27% reported a loss of personal time, while 25% reported growth in their sense of self
• 55% said body image negatively affected their mental health

Among surveyed new mothers who wanted mental health support, the number one barrier isn’t cost or insurance coverage — it’s not knowing where to start. Additionally, “lack of time” was cited by 36% and “childcare challenges” by 30%, with 13% of mothers citing both.

“Motherhood is often portrayed as a time of connection, but so many mothers are looking for the village they were promised and coming up empty,” said Leigh Hall, LMFT, Lead of the Perinatal Mental Health Center of Excellence and therapist at Octave. “We were never meant to do this alone, and yet modern life keeps asking mothers to. What they’re experiencing is deeply complex and always shifting, and it deserves support from someone trained to recognize the unique challenges of this season of life.”

Octave aims to normalize perinatal mental health care by providing individuals and families with support and therapy during family planning, fertility treatments, pregnancy, after childbirth, and in parenthood emphasizing early support-seeking behaviors. Through the Perinatal Mental Health Center of Excellence, Octave is dedicated to supporting prenatal or postpartum individuals in a clinical setting with a curated network of 150+ highly qualified providers specializing in perinatal mental health.

About the Survey

These are findings of an Octave Therapy survey, with data collection provided by a leading market research firm, conducted in April 2026. A sample of 1,007 female-identifying people between the ages of 20 and 45 who reside in the United States, who gave birth to their first child between 2021 and 2026, and refer to themselves as “Mother” or “Mom” were surveyed online. The sample was randomly drawn from online panel sources and does not rely on a population frame in the traditional sense.

About Octave

Octave is a mental health company transforming premium care into standard practice. Octave helps people reach their goals faster by connecting clients to a curated network of clinically excellent therapists focused on results-driven, personalized care. With virtual therapy available in 23 states and Octave-owned clinics in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, and New York, Octave makes high-quality, accessible therapy more convenient than ever. Covered by a growing list of major insurance providers, Octave empowers patients, providers, and payors alike with a model that's affordable, effective, and designed for real outcomes. Octave’s network offers care in 40+ languages across 40+ specialties to meet each patient's unique needs. To learn more, visit findoctave.com.

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"Mothers are telling us the more urgent gap is emotional healing." - Golee Abrishami, PhD, VP of Clinical Care at Octave