Postpartum Anxiety

Postpartum anxiety: what is it?

Anxiety experienced at any time during the first year after a baby's birth is referred to as postpartum or postnatal anxiety. Postpartum anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental health issues that new mothers face, with up to one in five of them experiencing postnatal depression. Postpartum anxiety, on the other hand, usually does not cause the deep melancholy and depressed mood associated with depression. It's also feasible for you to simultaneously feel postpartum sadness and anxiety. Furthermore, it's critical to recognize that worry may also be a sign of the "baby blues." The baby blues can leave new mothers feeling depressed, emotional, disturbed, agitated, and anxious. They typically appear during the first week following giving birth. However, the baby blues typically go away after two weeks, so if your anxiety is strong and lasts longer than that, you may be experiencing postpartum anxiety. When we experience anxiety, we are projecting a bad future onto the situation. But if you put this to the test, you probably won't be disappointed and will find that there was never any cause for concern.

Symptoms of postpartum anxiety

Constant and uncontrollable psychological and physical worry

having a persistent sense of being in "fight or flight" mode

apprehension and feelings of fear about what might happen to your child

Fearing that your child will be taken away from you because you're an inadequate parent

requesting assurance from family members and medical professionals on a regular basis

Having trouble falling asleep, even when your infant is asleep; racing thoughts

What is the duration of postpartum anxiety?

In the absence of expert assistance, postpartum anxiety may persist for several months or even years. It can keep you from enjoying the joy and happiness you deserve and have a crippling effect on both your life and the lives of people around you. It's critical that you seek assistance if your severe anxiety is interfering with your day-to-day functioning and has persisted longer than the usual two-week "baby blues" phase. It's not necessary for you to have postpartum anxiety. You have a good chance of recovering completely from this ailment because it is highly curable.

Can anxiety after giving birth be treated?

After giving birth, many parents find it difficult to talk about their unhappiness because they believe that everyone else who has recently given birth is doing much better than them and that they should be joyful. New parents may suppress their nervousness out of a fear of coming out as ungrateful or inept. It's crucial to realize, though, that postpartum anxiety is a mental illness that requires medical attention. You should probably discuss your feelings with your doctor, midwife, or health visitor as a first course of action. They will be able to evaluate your symptoms, offer you expert counsel, and, if necessary, recommend you to a specialist for treatment. As an alternative, you can speak with a private company directly like Priory. Our skilled psychiatrists can help you get started on the path to recovery because we have a plethora of experience diagnosing and treating anxiety problems.

Treatment options for postpartum anxiety vary in effectiveness based on the severity of your symptoms. Among them are:

A residential stay at a mental health treatment facility is known as inpatient treatment. You can totally concentrate on your recuperation there, free from the pressures and anxieties of the outside world. Attending a mental health center for a predetermined number of sessions to receive therapy and other treatments is known as day care and outpatient treatment. Online therapy allows you to receive assistance whenever and wherever it's convenient for you. You will probably be treated for your postpartum anxiety with a mix of medication and therapy during these sessions.

Counseling

Therapy is the cornerstone of many postpartum anxiety treatment programs. Either in a group setting or one-on-one, this might happen. Therapy sessions may also involve your partner or family members.

The goal of therapy, whichever form is best for you, is to identify the primary cause of  anxiety condition and develop strategies to address it.

Postpartum anxiety can be effectively treated with a variety of therapy. Among these is cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, which teaches you to identify, accept, and exert more control over your feelings, ideas, and actions. Research has consistently demonstrated that CBT is beneficial in treating a wide range of anxiety disorders (source).

You might be introduced to other therapy such as:

Person-centered treatment (PCT) and cognitive analytic therapy (CAT)

Therapy that is interpersonal (IPT)

Medication with Mindfulness

In addition, if your feelings of postpartum anxiety are moderate or severe, you may be prescribed medication to help. This should always be used in conjunction with therapy to assist manage your symptoms and free up your time for healing.Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of pharmaceuticals that includes one of the most often prescribed medications. These can enhance the therapeutic components of your anxiety treatment and have antidepressant qualities as well.