Postpartum Anxiety: How To Recognize The Symptoms, and What To Do About It
Do you remember the last time you had these thoughts?
Is my baby eating enough?
Are they cold? Is it too hot in this room?
Does their tummy hurt?
Are they getting enough sleep? Am I?
...Is this my life now?
You probably had at least one of those thoughts today, huh mama? Well, here’s the good news: it’s normal to worry about your little one, especially if you’re a first-time parent! There are just so many unknowns in those early days!
But what happens when your anxiety about your baby —and almost every aspect of your life — become paralyzing?
As parents, it’s in our nature to be fearful and to recognize threats that could jeopardize our little one’s survival. It’s an adaptive thing to anticipate and plan for the worst. Unfortunately, these fears can become so intense that they dominate our thoughts and erode any sense of happiness or peace.
Pardon our French, but this is the shitty end of the parenting stick!
When the fears and anxieties take over, it’s like you just can’t be. Like we’ve said, we all experience worry throughout parenthood — how can we not? What’s important is to be able to identify when worry becomes something more — a silent disorder that is worthy of our attention.
Mama, let’s talk about Postpartum Anxiety.
Postpartum Anxiety Symptoms
Have you ever been awake at night, tossing and turning, while everyone else is sound asleep? (Yes, even the baby!) While aggravating, it’s also extremely isolating.
Your thoughts won’t stop racing. They’re intrusive, persistent, and even disturbing at times.
Your head is full of lists:
What you’re not getting done
The ways in which you’re “failing”
Good ‘ol 0-10 rating scale of your overall capabilities as a mother (we bet there are a lot more zeros and ones than nines and tens).
You’re so damn tired, and you just want your brain to quiet down. But no matter what you try, you can’t seem to get the rest you so desperately need.
It’s just....miserable.
Mama, this feeling of complete exhaustion is just one symptom of Postpartum Anxiety, and others include:
Racing thoughts
Disturbed sleep
Persistent feelings of dread that something bad will happen
Constant fear or unease that can’t be soothed
Almost anything can trigger your anxiety, and can even cause a deep sense of panic like:
Cries from your baby (or others)
Loud noises
Long-lasting crying (even after they’ve been fed, burped, and changed)
A fussy infant who can’t be soothed
Leaving the house - yes, it’s normal to fear that something bad will happen to you or your baby
Not being able to see or watch the baby
And as if that wasn’t enough, here’s a lengthy list of the potential physical effects of anxiety:
Chest pains
Shortness of breath or feeling like you can’t breath
Dizziness
Racing heart
Extreme fatigue
Muscle tension
Sweaty palms/increased sweating
Feeling jittery
Gastrointestinal issues
Headaches
Increased jaw-clenching
And sometimes the anxiety can be so intense that you might completely neglect your own health by not eating or sleeping.
Oh, mama. You’re not alone.
So many mothers experience this level of anxiety and debilitating fear. Anxiety disorders are very common in postpartum women, especially during the first 6 months of the baby’s life.
Does Postpartum Anxiety Ever Go Away?
If you’ve suffered from an anxiety disorder, you know that anxiety is a constant companion — your quiet, unwelcome passenger.
It loves to voice its opinion, even when it’s not needed. Don’t you wish it were easy to shut this part of your brain off? We do!
Mama, it’s important to note that your anxiety should remain a passenger and not the driver.
You are the driver. You are in control. And it’s okay to need that reminder once in a while. It’s also okay to get outside support (hello therapy!) to make your way behind the steering wheel.
Regardless of what anyone says, it’s not “all just in your head.” It’s real for you.
Plus, your body isn’t made to be in a constant state of alarm. This chronic stress on your system can have serious prolonged effects on your physical and mental health.
We don’t want you to reach that level, mama.
With the right combination of treatment, physical exercise, and mindfulness practices, you can restore your balance and sense of calm, and make positive changes to maintain that moving forward.
The hard truth is that anxiety never really goes away, but there are ways to manage it so that you don’t feel incapacitated. Anxiety does not need to rule your life. Just remember, mama, that this is a process. Recovery doesn’t happen right away. It takes time to figure out what works best for you
It will get better.
Postpartum Anxiety Treatment
With everything that we have going on, how can we start to make ourselves feel better?
While juggling the responsibilities of motherhood, relationships, and a career, how can we find some time to heal?
How can we foster more self-compassion and acceptance rather than being trapped in a state of constant fear?
Mama, the first step is to get a proper diagnosis. Many of these symptoms cross paths with Postpartum Depression or other postnatal mood disorders. Getting an accurate diagnosis for Postpartum Anxiety is crucial in getting you on the right treatment plan.
While we totally understand that being honest about your struggles postpartum can be difficult, it truly is the best thing you can do for yourself, your baby, and your loved ones. The earlier you get the help you need, the more pleasant your motherhood journey will be.
We recommend speaking openly with your OBGYN at your postpartum check-up (typically 6 weeks after giving birth) or even with your primary care physician. If you notice symptoms earlier than that and you don’t want to wait 6 weeks, a simple Google of “Postpartum Therapists” can get you started on the right track.
To get a little scientific here, the most efficacious treatment for any form of anxiety — Postpartum Anxiety included — is proven to be a combination of medication and talk therapy.
Other activities such as exercise, meditation, journaling, and relaxation techniques are also critical in anxiety management.
And if you’re already feeling overwhelmed with where to start and what questions to ask, remember that Bloome offers personalized services for Postpartum Anxiety (and more) that are insurance-based to help you work through your emotions during this delicate time.
We know it’s difficult to say “hey, I need some help,” but trust your instincts, mama. You deserve to feel better. You deserve to fight for your health.
Mental Health In Motherhood
Being honest about mental health has always been a taboo subject. While there has been a dramatic movement this past year—especially in the presence of COVID-19 — to normalize conversations surrounding our emotions and well-being, we still have a ways to go.
This remains particularly true in motherhood.
Many mamas feel the pressure to hide behind a facade, rather than express what’s really going on inside — even to the ones closest to them.
And as a result, too many mamas continue to suffer silently.
The thing about mental health is this: it can have a snowball effect. Your anxiety can get out of control very quickly. It can affect your bonding experience with your baby, your relationships, and your outlook on life itself.
Always remember to check in with yourself consistently, especially if you feel like something is off. Your body usually has a way of letting you know that there might be something wrong. We just need to learn to recognize this.
Motherhood is about the journey. It’s a path of self-discovery.
And mama, in the face of everything, you’re doing it.
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Check it out here.