What Is Postpartum Anxiety?
Postpartum anxiety (PPA) is a diagnosable level of anxiety that can affect mothers after giving birth. Women who have PPA experience extremely intense worries, anxiousness, and fears that throw their daily life into disarray. Whether these feelings are real or perceived, new mothers suffering from PPA feel overwhelmed. PPA can set in as early as two weeks after giving birth.
Unlike Postpartum Depression (PPD), which is more focused on things that have happened, Postpartum Anxiety creates doubts when thinking about the future. Some women experience both types- PPA & PPD.
Causes of Postpartum Anxiety.
If you suspect you or someone you know may suffer from PPA, you might feel disappointed with what's coming up next.
Postpartum Anxiety can be influenced by hormonal changes, problems with previous pregnancy (miscarriage and/or stillbirth), feeling overwhelmed with taking care of your child, postpartum expectations and even sleep deprivation. If you have a history of anxiety, you stand a risk of developing PPA.
Postpartum Anxiety Symptoms
As a mom it's quite natural to be worried about your baby after giving birth, but if you feel you're constantly living on edge, here are some postpartum anxiety symptoms you can look out for:
- persistent worry or distress that does not go away.
- Constantly worrying that bad things will happen to your baby if you are distracted or leave your baby for a while.
- having trouble sleeping even when baby is asleep and won't be up for hours.
What treatments are available?
The first step to take in taking care of any health condition is getting diagnosed. PPA treatment depends on the severity of the condition. For those suffering from PPA, some treatments include medications or a referral to a specialist in mental health. Some doctors also encourage moms suffering from PPA to exercise as a way of coping with the stress.
🦋Please do not stay silent about your symptoms. If your quality of life is being affected by anxiety, seeking the right treatment for PPA will leave you feeling like yourself again. Even though recovery periods may vary, it will be worth it. You deserve to enjoy your time with your child without a cloud over your head.