Postpartum Anxiety: How to Tackle New Mom Stress

Congratulations! Your entire life has changed with the arrival of your new little one! While that arrival brings baby snuggles and coos over just how tiny their toes are, this period can also present challenges and struggles.

Postpartum Anxiety Overview

The postpartum period is one of massive hormonal shifts, physical pain, healing, and adjustment to a new schedule revolving around a little being. With this in mind, it’s completely natural to not feel like yourself for the first few weeks. 

This period of time is often referred to as the “baby blues,” and it’s characterized by weepiness, worrying, stress, impatience, irritability, fatigue, insomnia, mood changes, and difficulty concentrating. 

But postpartum anxiety is more than just the “baby blues” and is completely separate from the more talked about postpartum depression.

What is Postpartum Anxiety?

Postpartum anxiety looks like:

• Constant or near-constant worry
• Feelings of dread and fear
• Sleep disruption (not related to your newborn’s sleep)
• Racing thoughts
• Feeling on edge or tense with no relief
• Overwhelming stress and concern about being a parent

Postpartum anxiety shares many symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, but the difference is that the cause of postpartum anxiety is clear.

Learn more about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of anxiety disorders.

Signs & Symptoms of Postpartum Anxiety

Symptoms of postpartum anxiety typically develop a few weeks after the birth of your child, but may develop as early as during pregnancy or as late as a year after giving birth.

Mental Health Symptoms

The mental health symptoms most related to postpartum anxiety include:

• Inability to relax
• Racing thoughts and focusing on worst-case scenarios
• Easily frustrated
• Feeling like you’re always on edge

It’s normal to struggle with frustration and fatigue while caring for a newborn. You shouldn’t feel bad about talking about the mental symptoms you’re experiencing.

Physical Symptoms

Postpartum anxiety physical symptoms may include:

• Feeling jittery
• An elevated heart rate
• Rapid breathing
• Chest pain
• Panic attacks

These symptoms extend past the natural tendency to worry about your child and your parenting, and they begin to impact daily living and functioning. 

Causes of Postpartum Anxiety

Certain factors put some new moms at a higher risk of developing postpartum anxiety than others. Mothers who…

• Have a previous diagnosis of anxiety
• Have a family history of anxiety
• Have a history of disordered eating
• Deal with obsessive-compulsive disorder 

…are more likely to suffer from this type of anxiety.

Many women who experience postpartum anxiety also experience postpartum depression.

Living With Postpartum Anxiety

As for coping skills you can implement immediately, it all comes back to self-care. Part of the postpartum anxiety experience is worrying that you are unable to care for your child, and one of the foundational yet seemingly contradictory pieces of caring for your child involves caring for yourself. 

Work with your support system to create time for you to rest and tend to your own health and healing. Connect with others who are in a similar stage of life. Extend yourself some self-compassion and remember that just as your new baby is learning how to be in this world, you, too, are learning how to be a parent for them.

How Long Does Postpartum Anxiety Last?

Postpartum anxiety can last for any amount of time. Some will experience it for days or weeks while others will experience it for months or years. 

The length of time postpartum anxiety lasts is different from person to person. Some people will be able to recover quicker than others due to their mental resilience and close support system. Those with low resilience and no support system will take longer to recover.

Remember that the length and severity of postpartum depression are not at all indicators of your fitness as a parent.

Can Postpartum Anxiety be Cured?

While in the throws of postpartum anxiety, it’s hard to think it will ever end. However, postpartum depression is curable. It may require medical and professional intervention.

Postpartum Anxiety Prevention

Postpartum anxiety is often not preventable. Though, you can take some steps to decrease the likelihood of experiencing it.

If you have a history of anxiety, consider your triggers and talk with someone during your pregnancy. Talk with a mental health professional and people in your support system. 

While pregnant, practice coping skills that you can carry with you after birth. These can be breathing exercises, journaling, self-care, and general mindfulness practices.

Diagnosis & Treatment

While talking with a professional, be open and honest about what you’re experiencing and how you feel. The more honest you are about your symptoms, the better they’ll be at finding you help.

Postpartum Anxiety Diagnosis

There is no diagnostic tool for postpartum anxiety. Some professionals will use a questionnaire to get a better idea of whether you’re experiencing postpartum anxiety.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a very common therapy modality that connects thoughts to emotions and behaviors. While experiencing postpartum depression, you’ll work through the thoughts that cause your anxiety and learn healthy coping skills.

Learn about what happens during CBT at Inner Balance and how it helps.

Non-medical Treatment for Postpartum Anxiety

Medication is not always necessary for treating postpartum anxiety. Some alternative treatments to postpartum anxiety include:

• Support groups for parents
• Asking family members to delegate responsibilities to
• Eat healthily
• Try to take daily walks and other self-care options

Being a parent to a newborn can feel like being pulled in every direction. Prioritize time for yourself and ask for help. It’s a hard job being a parent.

Read about daily self-care that can help settle anxiety symptoms or lower their impact.

Medical Treatments for Postpartum Anxiety

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of medications that are used for depression and anxiety disorders. In some cases of postpartum depression, these medications can be used to decrease symptoms and help people recover.

Postpartum Counseling at Inner Balance

At Inner Balance Counseling, we believe everyone should have access to the treatment they need to help them live the life they want. Our mental health counseling can help you understand your postpartum anxiety, its triggers, and how you can best control your symptoms.

While adjusting to life with a newborn, everything is hectic. Getting to counseling can feel nearly impossible. That’s why we offer online counseling. 

Reach out and start feeling better.