ABSTRACT
This chapter takes a deeper dive into scary thoughts, considering their frequency, form, and intensity. The consequences of scary thoughts are also reviewed, such as how scary thoughts can lead to avoidance, negatively impact attachment with a child, and interfere with partner relationships. An important point highlighted in this chapter is that scary thoughts, while unsettling to experience, do not lead to harmful actions. Scary thoughts are ego-dystonic, meaning they conflict with how one sees oneself. Women and healthcare providers are encouraged to approach scary thoughts in a nonjudgmental way and recognize concern for the woman’s distress rather than the content of the thoughts themselves.
