Information about Postpartum Anxiety Reactions
For many women, struggles during the postpartum period can be described in terms of intense anxiousness and worry rather than depression. Thoughts and behaviors are focused on “what if” scenarios and are quite distressing to the new mother. Reassurance from others often does not reduce the anxiety. Women with postpartum anxiety will sometimes express fears that they are “losing it” or “going crazy.”
Postpartum Anxiety Reaction
Postpartum Anxiety is characterized by intense worry. During the postpartum transition, some new mothers report being highly anxious and describe an inability to “quiet their mind and body.” Listed below are other possible symptoms of postpartum anxiety:
- Worry that accidental harm may come to the baby or other children
- Feelings of not being a good enough mother
- Fear that the baby will become sick or be hurt
- Extreme irritability, agitation or anger
- Fear of going crazy or losing control
- Changes in eating or sleeping patterns
- Difficulty relaxing
- Afraid to leave the house or take the baby on outings
- Afraid to let others take care of the baby
Postpartum Panic Reaction
For approximately 10% of women with Postpartum Depression and Anxiety, symptoms can manifest in panic attacks. Postpartum Panic Reaction is characterized by frequent panic attacks which come on suddenly, often without an identifiable trigger, and tend to last for less than 10 minutes. Other symptoms might include:
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Chills or hot flashes
- Fear of losing control, going crazy or dying
- Numbness or tingling in body
- Increased heart rate or palpitations
- Feeling faint or dizzy
- Feeling of pressure in chest or of being smothered
- Fear that symptoms might be related to a heart condition
- Excessive worry or fears including fear of additional panic attacks
Postpartum Obsessive Compulsive Reaction
A variation of Postpartum Anxiety is Postpartum Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Postpartum OCD occurs in approximately 3–5% of new mothers and includes distressing thoughts that are difficult to stop. It is important to seek medical help if these symptoms are occurring. Thoughts typically involve an obsessive fear about harm coming to the baby or self and can also include:
- Fearful thoughts of causing harm to the baby
- Excessive worry about germs or illness
- Repetitive behaviors such as cleaning, counting or checking
- Ongoing thoughts of feeling like a bad mother
- Intrusive, upsetting thoughts that seem to come out of nowhere
Sources:
- Postpartum Support International
- “Beyond the Blues—A Guide to Understanding and Treating Prenatal and Postpartum Depression,” by Shoshana S. Bennett, Ph.D., and Pec Indman, Ed.D., MFT
- “Overcoming Postpartum Depression and Anxiety” by L. Sebastian
- “Postpartum Survival Guide” by A. Dunnewold, Ph.D. and D. Sanford, Ph.D.