An individual may experience postpartum anxiety (the postpartum period) after having a baby or becoming a parent. Postpartum anxiety occurs in about 10% of women. These uncontrollable, worrisome feelings frequently dominate your thoughts. It's normal to feel a little anxious after adding a new baby to your household. However, if you experience postpartum anxiety, the fear may become overwhelming or keep you up at night. As a result, you frequently have excessive worries or illogical fears about unlikely situations as a result of it. Sometimes your worry is tied to an event in your past, but other times it is general and nebulous. For instance, you might constantly sense danger but be unable to identify what it is.

What defines postpartum depression from postpartum anxiety?

You might cry a lot or cry a lot often if you have postpartum depression, or you might feel like you can't care for your kid or yourself. You could find it difficult to enjoy your child or feel unqualified to be a parent. Postpartum anxiety shares many symptoms with postpartum depression, including sleep disturbances, heart palpitations, and feelings of fear. Postpartum anxiety symptoms are frequently seen in women who have postpartum depression. But not all women who have postpartum anxiety also experience depression.

Postpartum anxiety symptoms

Your body's reaction to danger or danger is anxiety. You might believe that your baby or you are in constant danger if you suffer from postpartum anxiety. Your body's response to this ongoing stress or worry is manifested in symptoms.

Interrupted sleep, Palpitations, Fast heartbeat, Nausea,  Abdominal pain, Feeling out of breath, Unable to breathe, Decrease in appetite, Difficulty remaining still, Muscle tenseness, Rapid thoughts, Often concerning about worst-case scenarios, Worrying excessively about unfounded concerns or Implausible events. These can be frequently experienced.

Management for Postpartum Anxiety

• Ask your healthcare provider for a referral to a therapist who has experience with perinatal mood disorders or a psychologist who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). "It gives you the skills to change the thinking and behavior patterns that lead to anxiety." An expert can also teach you relaxation techniques such as meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness training. When completed before bedtime, they can set you up for a good night's sleep. Exercise can also relieve anxiety by helping you feel more empowered.

• Increasing emotional support and sleep are typically the first steps in treating postpartum anxiety in women. Even if it's only for 30 or 60 minutes, giving the baby to a spouse or relative while you take a break from nursing may often be quite helpful. Additionally, new moms' organizations frequently aid in reducing loneliness and provide pertinent assistance.

• Exercise and outdoor activities might be beneficial in reducing anxiety for moms after they have physically recovered from giving birth. Start with a yoga class or a regular walk outside. The worrisome thoughts and cycles that women can fall into can be targeted and challenged with the aid of individual psychotherapy.

• For self-directed relaxation and meditation exercises, there are numerous meditation applications available. Medication can be a safe alternative if anxiety keeps getting worse, causes a lot of distress, affects relationships, or prevents you from enjoying life with your kid. These medications are typically provided for a specific amount of time before being tapered off as the healing process advances.