Why is Postpartum Anxiety a Serious Issue?

The birth of your baby is your entry into a new world where you experience a jumble of some of the most powerful emotions, from joy and excitement to anxiety and fear. The majority of the new moms go through “postpartum blues,” which commonly include crying swells, mood swings, difficulty sleeping, and anxiety.

Postpartum blues generally begin within the first two to three days post-delivery and can last for around two weeks. However, some new moms experience a long-lasting and more 

severe depression called postpartum depression. Postpartum depression and anxiety are in no way a weakness or a character flaw, and most of the time, they are just a complication associated with delivering a child. If you are suffering from postpartum anxiety, instant treatment can help you manage your symptoms and bond with your newborn.

What Is Postpartum Anxiety?

Many changes accompany the postpartum phase. Your body changes suddenly; your relationships become different and hormonal fluctuations change how you feel. Apart from these changes, you can even face mental health problems.

Recent studies put down that 8% to 12% of individuals experience a minimum of one anxiety disorder in the postpartum phase. But there’s very little research available on postpartum anxiety, considering that it is a newly researched subject of interest.

Postpartum anxiety is a kind of anxiety new moms experience in the months after delivery. While it is not possible to discuss the occurrence of an anxiety attack in casual conversation, many birthing mothers still experience this form of anxiety. 

What Are the Major Signs of Postpartum Anxiety?

Postpartum anxiety is more common than it is generally considered. It is important for new moms to clearly understand the signs of postpartum anxiety to access support as and when required.

As far as the mental health arena is concerned, it does not consider postpartum anxiety as an official diagnosis. It is often characterized by the signs of anxiety issues existing outside the postpartum era, like OCD or obsessive compulsive disorder and GAD or generalized anxiety disorder.

The signs of postpartum anxiety can arise within weeks after the delivery of a baby and can last up to a year and even longer. Some of the most common symptoms of postpartum anxiety that you might face after embracing motherhood are as follows:

• Uncontrollable worry or concern that cannot be eased 
• Obsessive behavior or impulses
• Intrusive thoughts Shakiness
• Struggles in bonding with the new baby, presenting excessive detachment or withdrawing from the caregiving responsibilities.
• Feelings of panic and dread about things that you might fear will happen.
• Racing thoughts
• Sleep disruptions: this is common after the delivery of a baby because having a newborn means sleep is likely to be disrupted even without experiencing anxiety. But when you have sleep problems at times when your baby is sleeping peacefully, it can be considered a symptom of anxiety.
• A persistent case of jitters or constant agitated feeling
• There is an overwhelming sense of stress, concern, and burden about the ability to become a good parent.
• Excessive worry about the safety, development, and health of the baby.

There are even different physical signs of postpartum anxiety, which include:

Vomiting or nausea

• Fatigue
• Sweating
• Heart palpitations
• Trembling or shaking
• Hyperventilation
• Changes in breathing and heart rate, including rapid breathing, elevated heart rate, or pain in the chest.
• Hot flashes and chills
• Dizziness

The signs of a postpartum panic attack are as follows:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Choking sensation
• Dizziness
• Racing heart

What Is the Cure?

Fortunately, there are a number of remedies for new moms experiencing postpartum anxiety and depression. Nevertheless, treatment for the condition will completely depend on its severity.

First of all, consult a doctor when you first see the signs of excessive dread, worry, and fear after delivering a baby. If you are feeling overly worried, panicked, overwhelmed, losing control, or having any signs of postpartum anxiety, depression, PTSD, or OCD, inform your doctor as soon as possible.

Your doctor will screen you for postpartum anxiety and refer you to a good mental health care expert possessing good experience in treating mood disorders in new moms. Just avoid suffering alone and ask for help, as this will be your first step to recovery and the very best thing you can do for yourself and your baby.

Consulting a supportive family member or friend can be enough to get rid of mild anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy or talk therapy can be sufficient for treating mild to moderate postpartum anxiety. Therapy and techniques like relaxation exercises, mindfulness training, and meditation can always be of good help.

Treatment options for postpartum anxiety are generally the same as those used for the other forms of anxiety disorders. The most common cures for postpartum anxiety are as follows:

• CBT or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Short-term cognitive behavioral therapy or talk therapy with a healthcare professional can help learn how to change anxiety-producing thought procedures and patterns.
• Aromatherapy: This involves breathing in soothing essential oils that can help in reducing and managing anxiety and stress. Bitter orange and lavender oil, in particular, can be highly beneficial. However, breastfeeding moms should avoid applying essential oils on their skin as the oils can enter the bloodstream and get into breast milk.
• Stress-Reduction Procedures: Different practices can also help in reducing and managing stress. These include mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and relaxation techniques.
• Antidepressant Medicines: Medicines like noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, selective serotonin, SNRIs, and SSRIs that increase the levels of mood-stabilizing brain chemicals can also be of good help.
• Anti-Anxiety Medicines: These are medicines that help in reducing anxiety. These include benzodiazepines.

The majority of the antianxiety and antidepressant medicines are only prescribed in moderate to severe cases of postpartum anxiety as they can have major side effects. They can even cross over from the bloodstream and get into the mother’s breast milk, thus causing harm to the breastfed baby.

Moderate to serious cases of postpartum anxiety are generally treated with medicines and therapy. With the right cure and support from friends and family members, new moms dealing with postpartum anxiety can get better

without taking much time.

Unexpected birth results and high-stress levels post-delivery can result in postpartum anxiety. The key is optimal social support from support groups and mental health professionals. Postpartum anxiety is common, and there’s a good cure available. So, there’s nothing much to worry about on the part of the new moms.