They say that being a mother is like having your heart walking around outside your body.
That. Is. Terrifying.
You have no ability to control the things that happen to your helpless baby as they move through the trajectory of their life. Scary things could happen. Things you can’t prevent. Maybe scary things could happen and you COULD have prevented them. Then how will you live with yourself?
A certain amount of anxiety is universal among new parents, both mothers and fathers. It’s normal, in those early weeks, to check your baby throughout the night to make sure they’re breathing. You may suddenly panic that your baby’s carseat straps aren’t tight enough, and what if you get in an accident?
But Postpartum Anxiety as a pathological issue is deeper and more distressing than that. Women describe it as all-encompassing and debilitating. The intrusive thoughts mothers have can be graphic and traumatizing. They can feel deeply ashamed about what they are thinking and how they are feeling, and fear that they will be seen as crazy, or an unfit mother, if they disclose to anyone, including their partner.
I sent a series of questions to mothers who had experienced postpartum anxiety. I hope that if you are feeling overwhelmed by your emotions in the first year of motherhood or beyond, that you will find some validation in seeing some commonality with their experiences.
How would you define your anxiety in one or two sentences?
NATALIE:
“It was all consuming, humiliating, and terrifying.“
MARY:
“My anxiety is all encompassing.“
COURTNEY:
” I suffer from OCD and one part of that for me is an extreme fear of something horrible happening to someone I love. PPA exacerbated that.”
MEL:
“I was constantly worried about if I’m doing enough for my baby (e.g., how will i know what she needs?) Also about my sleep/well-being because my significant other was away from the home working & would only come home every other weekend.”
JULIA:
“A constant companion that is very annoying but somehow knows everything and can predict the future and the future is not so great.“
CARMEN:
“The overwhelming feeling that something has gone wrong, is in the process of going wrong, or is about to go wrong.“
SARA:
“My anxiety has grown exponentially after having a child. It’s always present.“
PHOEBE:
“My anxiety is always being on edge, looking out for the next threat while also having a “gut feeling” that the worst has already happened. I also feel disconnected and not fully present.“
ANNIE:
“I had intrusive thoughts multiple times a day and did not have any time during the day where I wasn’t worried that something would happen to my baby.”
RACHEL:
“My anxiety started when I was 18, prior to leaving for college. It is worse when I have so many tasks and I feel that I am drowning and will never catch up. I was put on medication at 18 and it helped immensely. I continued the medication all through my life up to pregnancy and through pregnancy as the doctor stated the effects of coming off of it would be worse and outweigh any risk of staying on it while pregnant.“
ASHLEY:
“I have always been a worrier and my anxiety has worsened with age. I find myself the most anxious when my house is a mess, when my daughter is away from me, I’m social situations, and while driving.“
VICTORIA
I have been diagnosed with General Anxiety and Panic Disorder. While my anxiety has triggers across the board, overthinking and intrusive thoughts tend to take center stage.
How often were you anxious during your pregnancy or postpartum period?
NATALIE
“Constantly.”
MEL:
“Every day.“
CARMEN:
“My anxiety hit around my third or fourth month of pregnancy. I would get hit with it at least once a day when unmedicated, but when I got medication and it was better controlled, it was closer to once a week.“
SARA:
“All the time. The levels would change but it’s a constant underlying feeing.“
PHOEBE:
“Constantly.”
ANNIE:
“Throughout each day.
RACHEL:
“ I had anxiety during pregnancy due to being pregnant right when Covid-19 began (Found out I was pregnant Feb 2020-gave birth sept 2020. Postpartum was much worse. I felt anxiety every day during my maternity leave- mostly in the evenings.“
ASHLEY:
Every second of every day.
VICTORIA:
“My anxiety was extremely difficult to deal with during pregnancy and postpartum. It was a daily struggle, especially because I refused help and refused to face the problem.“
Was your anxiety more general or about specific things?
NATALIE:
My anxiety was general, but there were specific issues as well. I already had one child with whom I did not experience postpartum anxiety. The way that I felt with my second child was new and scary. I was afraid to leave him, but I was working and studying full time. I was always terrified about his health – he had been born with meconium in his fluid and with low oxygen and was taken to the NICU immediately after birth. I am not sure I ever recovered from that. As a full time student, I felt extra pressure to perform and produce because of the guilt and anxiety I felt over leaving him to work.
MARY:
“Both. I’m anxious about the house being clean, doing my to do list etc. But I’m also very anxious about the safety of my children.“
COURTNEY:
“Both.“
MEL:
“At first specific things then became general.”
JULIA:
“My postpartum anxiety many settled around my first’s eating (nursing). Was he getting enough (he was 90%…he was absolutely getting enough), was it ok for him to take a bottle, was the bottle completely dry before putting in breastmilk?”
CARMEN:
“There were times when it was a general feeling, and there were times when it was about specific things.“
SARA:
“Both. General anxiety heightened by scary “what if” thoughts.“
PHOEBE:
“There were times when it was a general feeling, and there were times when it was about specific things.“
ANNIE:
“Specifically about something happening to my son.”
RACHEL:
“Specifically about sleep- anxiety would hit in the evening dreading making dinner with a newborn then I would try to be ready for bed when he went to bed so I could get that first long stretch of sleep with him. I was not spending time with my husband and I was a mess.“
ASHLEY:
“Pregnancy after loss was the most anxiety I have ever experienced. Every day that I was pregnant with my daughter was a miracle and I constantly worried that I would lose her like I lost her brother. I was so anxious that this pregnancy would end in a loss of life and not with a healthy baby. Her first year of life I was petrified of SIDS. I had constant visions of her sleeping on her belly and suffocated in a blanket. I was always “waiting for the other shoe to drop” and anxious that something horrible would happen.“
VICTORIA:
“While I was pregnant my anxiety centered around the beautiful little creature I was growing. I was so afraid of doing something to harm him that it affected my moods and daily life. After we got to the finish line and he was earth side my anxiety transformed into intrusive thoughts of worst case scenarios and an obsession with being the “perfect mom.”
How did your body feel when you felt anxious?
NATALIE:
“Tight.”
MARY:
“I’ve gained weight due to stress, have panic attacks that cause raised heart rate and rash. I hyperventilate.“
COURTNEY
“My chest gets very tight, I feel stiff and scared and have trouble breathing.”
MEL:
“Increased/pounding heart rate, quick eye movements, nervousness, fatigue, anxious, easily frustrated.”
JULIA:
“My shoulders feel like they are at my ears.“
CARMEN:
“Heart racing and general tension in my muscles are my two main physiological symptoms.“
SARA:
“Heart would race and it has resulted in continued high blood pressure.“
PHOEBE:
“Tense, I hold it all in my shoulders, I forget I have to breathe.”
ANNIE:
“Tense.”
RACHEL
“Tired, exhausted.“
ASHLEY:
“I felt nauseous, on edge, like I couldn’t catch my breath.“
VICTORIA:
“My body would run cold. Nausea and headaches would hit hard. I would feel restless and short of breathe.“
Did you have any scary, intrusive thoughts about your baby?
NATALIE:
“My anxiety manifested largely around my work. I never had scary thoughts about him other than worries over leaving him or him becoming ill.“
MARY:
“If he slept through the night I automatically assume he’s dead. If [my 2 year-old] rides with a family member I assume they will get in an accident.“
COURTNEY
“I was terrified to be alone with my baby, I was scared to be away from my baby; I was petrified to pump gas in the car with them in it because I was afraid it would explode.
MEL:
“I would get so frustrated with adults around me, specifically my husband & my mother, because, though they would try to comfort me with words, they were never there to offer help (e.g., “You need rest, let me take the baby so you can rest”). I resented my husband for not having to worry about the baby or any baby duties because all he had to worry about was working. I resented both of them because I couldn’t take a lengthier shower or wouldn’t shower for 4 days. It was only once that I had an intrusive thought of my baby, “if only she would just be quiet & stop crying!” So I placed her in her crib & walked away. I knew she was in a safe place with no choking hazards while I tried to take a breather, recollect myself & my thoughts. It was at that point I approached my mom & cried to her saying can you please watch her while I take a normal shower?!? To which she responded, “I guess”.
JULIA:
“Absolutely, both times postpartum (this time less because of therapy and meds) I can imagine disasters of all kinds happening around my kiddos.“
CARMEN:
I was very afraid of them dying in their sleep – if they went too long without making noise I would go over to their crib, and if I couldn’t tell if they were breathing I’d rest a hand on their back to see if I could feel it rising or lowering with their breath. Also, it wasn’t specifically about the baby, but I also had a lot of fears of my partner dying and leaving me alone with the baby as a single mother. This was especially pronounced with the first child when I was overwhelmed with motherhood – if I texted him and he didn’t reply or if it took longer than usual for him to get home from work I was convinced he’d gotten into a car accident and was in the hospital.“
SARA:
“Yes, the worst were random scenarios in which my child would die. Just not wake up from a nap. That I would find her dead if I took my eyes off of her for a second. Or a bomb would randomly drop or go off where we were. Unlikely scenarios.“
PHOEBE:
“Yes – I have lots of intrusive thoughts picturing my baby not breathing when I go to get her in the morning. At the worst of it all, I also had intrusive thoughts about “it would be so easy to end this” relating to both baby (especially when I brushed her neck once and realized how fragile she was) and me *
*disclaimer this was months ago and I did get proper treatment and support“
ANNIE:
“Yes. And this part is hard to talk about because it still makes me sick to my stomach. Any time someone held him, I envisioned his head hitting the hard floor and breaking open. I saw similar things any time I walked through a doorway holding him. I was scared to drive in the car with him because I constantly thought we were going to get in an accident and images of him not alive in his car seat would constantly pop into my head. I also had to stop doing dishes when he was awake. I would put him in his bouncer and do dishes but intrusive thoughts caused me to believe that a knife would fall out of my hands from across the room and hurt him. My worst intrusive thought was one night, my husband had already gone back to work and was working overnight. The baby would not stop crying and I was exhausted. A voice popped into my head and screamed “DIE”. That was the most terrifying night of my life and I lay there crying for the next four hours.“
RACHEL:
“I feel that I had the same intrusive thoughts most women experience- “what if I dropped my baby?” knowing I wasn’t going to drop him.“
ASHLEY:
“Yes. I feared she wouldn’t wake up from a nap. I would wake up and check on her in her crib constantly. On multiple occasions I had thoughts that she died in her sleep and I would find her lifeless in her crib. When she started going to daycare I had thoughts that her dad or I would accidentally leave her in the car seat in 100+ AZ heat. I would constantly double check the car seat even though I know she was safe at daycare.“
VICTORIA:
Intrusive thoughts ruled my world. It was a terrifying experience. The ranged from simple fears to outlandish ideas. I would think about forgetting Mateo in the car, I was terrified if of SIDS. What if I fell asleep and he fell out of my arms? What if a car crashed into the house and he was in that room? What if a dog attacked him while we were on a walk? Anything and everything I considered a possible danger took up residence in my mind.“
Did you get help from any professionals?
NATALIE:
“No.”
MARY:
“Yes [counselor and doctor].”
COURTNEY
“Yes. Psychiatrist and therapist.“
MEL:
“No.“
JULIA:
“Yes, my OB prescribed meds this time and I started seeing a therapist in my third trimester.“
CARMEN:
“I started seeing a therapist (LPC) when my oldest was about 9 months old, and she referred me to a psychiatrist when my oldest was a year and a half and I was pregnant with my second.
SARA:
“Yes, my doctor to adjust my meds and am still seeking a therapist.“
PHOEBE:
“Yes – a therapist (LPC), psychiatrist (who couldn’t do too much cause of breastfeeding)“
ANNIE
“I went to my OB and they prescribed me Zoloft. That was the only option.“
RACHEL
“At my 6 week postpartum check up I remember crying to my doctor- especially after the receptionist gave me grief for bringing my baby with me to the appointment. Her first recommendation was to increase my anxiety medication from 20mg to 40mg. I did not like that idea- so instead I made it a priority to exercise more to help my mood.“
ASHLEY:
Yes. I saw a marriage and family counselor.
VICTORIA:
Yes. My midwife was very attentive to my anxiety and depression, but once my insurance changed I wasn’t able to see her anymore. After that my PCP just prescribed meds, but I stopped taking them.
Do you think other people could tell you were anxious? Did they ever say anything?
NATALIE
“Yes.”
MARY:
“I’m not sure. I try to hide it.”
COURTNEY
“Yes. My husband and family were aware of my OCD and on the lookout. They noticed it before I did.“
MEL:
“Nope, I hid it very well.”
JULIA:
“No, I am pretty good at masking it and I think it is tough to differentiate between “normal” mom worry and intense anxiety.“
CARMEN:
“My mom has always been an anxious person, so she could tell. My partner could as well, especially when I got up in the middle of the night to check on the baby.“
SARA:
“Yes they could. But only my husband would mention it.”
PHOEBE:
“Yes – first baby people just thought I had an attitude. Second baby I openly talked about it and the response was generally “this sucks” or “I wish you didn’t have to be so anxious”.
RACHEL:
“Yes, because I was open with my friends and family. I used them to help- I called and Face-timed my mom and sister-in-law daily. I texted and snapchatted with my best girlfriends all day.“
ASHLEY:
“Yes- my mom and my husband both noticed and talked with me about it.“
VICTORIA:
“I believe the people around me could tell I was anxious but I don’t ever remember anyone but my partner saying something about it.“
Did you tell anyone about your anxiety?
NATALIE:
“Not until much later.”
JULIA:
“The first time, no, second time yes.“
MEL:
“Yes, my best friend. But never told anyone about the intrusive thought.“
CARMEN:
“I told my partner and my family, as well as a Facebook group of local moms. The Facebook group is actually where I got the name of my therapist.“
COURTNEY:
“Yes close friends and family.”
MARY:
“My mother, husband, counselor, and best friend.”
PHOEBE:
“Yes – and it wasn’t acted on much until it got very serious.”
SARA:
“My husband and supervisor at work.“
ANNIE:
“Yes my husband and doctor.”
RACHEL:
“Doctor, family, friends, husband.”
ASHLEY:
“Yes.“
VICTORIA:
“Yes. I told my partner, my sister, and a close friend of mine.“
If you could go back, is there anything you would have done differently?
CARMEN:
“I would have started with a therapist earlier, and I would have started with a psychiatrist earlier. I also didn’t want to take medication while I was pregnant and was nervous about taking meds while breastfeeding, but I did end up starting an SSRI about 3 months into my second pregnancy, and kept taking it through pregnancy and postpartum, and breastfed until he was a little over 2 years old.“
JULIA:
“I would have started taking meds with my first, my anxiety took time away from me and my first bonding. Instead of just being a present Mom, I was stuck in my anxious mind.“
MEL:
“Absolutely! I would find a support group or sitter I entrusted to look after the baby so I could get an hour a day to myself. I was with her 24/7, even when my husband was home, he was so unsure of how to care for her, certain things she liked or how to comfort her. I also would seek professional help because I still suffer from anxiety & depression that was brought on postpartum.”
SARA:
“I wish I had been able to understand when I was having manic or anxiety attacks and be able to reframe my thoughts. I wish I’d had the tools to handle it better.“
PHOEBE:
” I honestly don’t know what I would’ve done differently – I already had anxiety prior to pregnancy and postpartum experiences and then I got thrown into an impossible situation with my second baby.“
ANNIE:
“Pushed for a different medication because Zoloft doesn’t work well for me, I’ve taken it in the past and already had negative reactions to it.”
RACHEL:
“I wish I would have been more gentle with myself after he was born. Those first 4 months were so hard but went so fast and now I would give anything to hold that tiny baby again even if it means being up all night. I wish I would have relaxed more knowing it would be gone in an instant.“
ASHLEY:
“Yes. I would’ve seen a different OB with my son and gone to counseling sooner (after having both of my children).“
VICTORIA:
“I would have faced the problem head on. I would have listened to my partner when he saw the signs of my anxiety rearing its ugly head. I would have accepted help. I would have started therapy.
Do you think your anxiety took away from your experience as a mother in the first year postpartum?
NATALIE:
“Yes.“
MARY:
“I’m not sure. I’ve never experienced the first year without extreme anxiety.“
COURTNEY
I try not to think about that, honestly.“
MEL:
“Yes. I feel as though because i had resentment towards my husband & mother as well as the baby, I didn’t enjoy all the “baby moments”. I am grateful I was front & center but wish I was more mentally & emotionally happy & stable to truly enjoy the first year.“
JULIA:
“Absolutely. The time I spent worrying about if my first’s bottle was completely dry I could have been with him. If I was less anxious about what was happening around my first, I could have let him explore his world a bit more freely as well.
CARMEN:
“In addition to anxiety I also had depression, so I’m not sure which contributed more, but yes. It was harder to let go and just enjoy those early days, which I noticed when I had my second and was medicated – I was more able to find moments of joy and relaxation even amongst the sleep deprivation and baby struggles.
SARA:
“It was hard to enjoy when I was always worried.“
PHOEBE:
“Absolutely yes. I was in survival mode, just trying to make it through the minutes. I didn’t know at the time that the second baby would be the last, and I wasn’t honestly able to enjoy any of my early time with her because I just wanted to escape the misery of it all.”
ANNIE:
“100%, I STILL see carefree moms and wish part of me was like that.“
RACHEL:
“I wish I was more relaxed in his first year about EVERYTHING.“
ASHLEY:
Yes. I was not mentally present with my daughter as much in her first year of life because I was so anxious about what could go wrong.
VICTORIA:
Yes. Absolutely. My anxiety was so severe that I don’t feel like I could fully enjoy my child as he was growing. We have wonderful memories and had so many happy times but it was clouded with so much worry. I’m not sure I was ever fully present.“
Were your loved ones supportive? If so, how did they help?
NATALIE:
My husband was always supportive. Once we figured out what was going on (a friend who was a psychologist pointed it out to me at 5 months postpartum, which felt like a massive relief), he encouraged me to talk openly about my mental health. When we were preparing for our third, we took more precautions and steps to prevent additional stress or anxiety.
MARY:
“My mom is very supportive and encouraged me to plug into counseling. [My husband] tries to take things off my plate.“
COURTNEY:
“YES. Got me to therapy, to my psychiatrist for a med adjustment, and were reassuring and understanding of my fears, without being dismissive.“
MEL:
“No.”
JULIA:
“Absolutely after I told him.“
CARMEN:
“They were, as far as being reassuring and helping out when needed. I also didn’t get any judgement about starting medication – they knew I was doing it with the support of both my psychiatrist and my OBGYN, so they trusted me to do what I needed.“
PHOEBE:
“During my first postpartum experience – not really. It was Covid time too though. For second baby, I had people coming to stay with me regularly in the early days when my husband deployed at 3 weeks. Some people were super supportive and helped me take time for myself (aka to sleep) but some were more of a burden to have there. But when my intrusive thoughts got extremely serious and risked harm, my loved ones supported me with coming down early, sending me love, and helping get my husband back home. I was so grateful for that. After husband got home, the burden to support me got put on him and he really helped to even the load and to allow me to get the help I needed.
ANNIE:
“They tried to be supportive as well as they knew how to.”
RACHEL:
“Husband did not understand but was supportive of me not wanting to increase medication as first course of action- he supported me increasing my exercise to help. My family was amazing in that they would Facetime me and just let me cry and talk.“
ASHLEY:
“As best as they could, yes. My husband took on some night time feeds and honored my request for safe sleep habits. My mom and sister encouraged me to seek out counseling.“
SARA:
“Yes, my partner suggested I seek professional help. And was there to listen and help when I had to travel for work.”
VICTORIA:
Loved ones tried to be supportive. They tried to help with the baby. Offered to hold him, console him, let me sleep. I rarely accepted help though. To this day it is my biggest regret. I wanted to do it all myself .
Did your loved ones ever do anything that wasn’t supportive?
NATALIE:
“No.”
MARY:
“Being frustrated by it and essentially telling me not to feel that way is not helpful.“
COURTNEY:
“No.“
MEL:
“Yes. All through my pregnancy my mom constantly publicly professed how involved she was going to be but when the time came, she refused to help with watching her while I showered or washed her bottles or clothes. And the times she did she would make remarks like hurry up or just put her in her bouncer in the bathroom while you shower or ‘I guess’….that one KILLED me. I tried to open up to my husband about it but he would get extremely frustrated & respond ‘What do you want me to do about it? I’m out here working for y’all’ I don’t think he ever understood where I was coming from, how could he?? He hadn’t been a parent since she was born, he left to the oilfield the day after she was born.“
JULIA
“No.“
CARMEN:
“Possibly, but I don’t remember any specifics.”
PHOEBE:
“My mother brought her dog (who fights with my dogs and nips at the babies) and was judgey during her time to be supportive… but that is my typical relationship with her.”
ANNIE:
“Tell me to “relax” or “calm down”. That made it worse.
RACHEL:
“No.“
ASHLEY:
“Telling me my anxiety and worries were irrational or ridiculous.“
VICTORIA:
“The only thing I can think of that lacked in support was loved ones telling me “to stop worrying so much” as if it was a switch I could turn off.“
What, if anything, helped you the most?
NATALIE:
Kindness from friends and colleagues who were open to hearing what I was going through once I recognized it. Now, I attend therapy and work hard to manage my anxiety. I wish that I had that resource when I was postpartum.
MARY:
Counseling has helped tremendously and medication. Counseling helps me to identify environmental factors to listen to my body long before attacks happen. The medication I have found most success with is medication I take in the moment to help me to calm down.
COURTNEY:
“Medicine.”
MEL:
“My faith/beliefs (I am Christian) also going on lunch or dinner dates with my best friend. She would hold the baby & entertain her while I ate & vented to her.“
JULIA:
“Medication.”
Carmen:
“The most helpful thing for my anxiety in general was medication, and the most helpful thing my family did was be nonjudgmental about my going on medication.“
SARA:
“Understanding what was happening wasn’t as normal as I thought it was.“
PHOEBE:
“Good mental health professionals.”
ANNIE:
“Talking to other moms who could relate.“
RACHEL:
“Exercise and talking to people about how I was feeling- not hiding it.“
ASHLEY:
“Counseling. Reaching out and connecting with other loss moms.”
VICTORIA:
“Words of affirmation. Hearing I was doing a good job. That I was a good mom to my child.“
If you could say something to a mother that was experiencing the same thing, would would you say?
NATALIE:
“There is no shame in this. Being a mother is terrifying, and for many of us it triggers a part of us that we don’t recognize. Make sure that you are giving yourself space to allow acclimation to motherhood – both physically and mentally. And rely on postpartum supports, such as doulas, for every pregnancy/birth – they are there to help and are trained to recognize signs of distress that you might not recognize in yourself.“
MARY:
“There are so many resources. Don’t be ashamed, talk about it, work through it.”
MEL:
“Speak up! Please do not stay quiet. You are not alone…although you may feel alone. Ask for the help, there are people out there willing to help if your people aren’t“
JULIA:
“Seek help, even if you think it is “normal” it helps to have someone to talk to about Matrescence when you are on the anxiety spectrum.“
CARMEN:
“Seek professional help! Find a therapist and, if needed, a psychiatrist, is huge. So often people/society talk about the possible side effects of medication while pregnant/breastfeeding, but don’t discuss the side effects of NOT medicating. The health of the pregnant parent is hugely important!! Also, we so often talk about postpartum mood disorders, but rarely about the fact that they can hit during pregnancy, or not immediately postpartum. With both of my pregnancies my depression and anxiety started during the second trimester, and both times I had another major dip in mental health around 10 months postpartum. And with my second, weaning from breastfeeding sent me spiraling into crisis and resulted in an inpatient stay – even though my son was over two years old at the time. Especially if you have a history of mental health issues, staying vigilant during pregnancy and the first few years after birth is hugely important.“
SARA:
“It’s okay to ask for help.“
PHOEBE:
” Oh man, so many things: – It’s okay to not enjoy it all, motherhood is hard and there is so much pressure out there that is impossible to keep up with. – Not everything your brain is telling you is real, just because it feels like a “gut feeling” doesn’t mean it’s actually going to happen. -You matter just as much as your baby, and if you don’t take care of yourself you can’t take care of your baby. It isn’t selfish to get your basic needs met (like sleep) -And lastly, it’s okay to talk about these things and ask for help.“
ANNIE:
“Find someone to talk to who fully understands. One of my closest friends went through similar years before me and I was able to talk to her with zero judgment.“
RACHEL:
“It’s so hard, it feels like eternity before it gets easier but do your best to relax and enjoy each moment because it goes so fast, too fast.“
ASHLEY:
“Navigating anxiety in pregnancy and parenting after loss is scary and hard. It can feel lonely but you are not alone. There is a community of people out there who have walked this awful road as well and who understand. Reach out, connect, and someone is there to hold your hand as you walk along your journey.“
VICTORIA:
“There is no better mom for your baby than you. Accept the help and love that you deserve. Remember to take care of yourself. Mental health matters. ♥️“
Take-Aways:
- Anxiety is a common experience after having a baby.
- You are not the only mother having scary thoughts about harm coming to your baby.
- You do not have to allow anxiety to consume you. Get help: from loved ones and professionals.
- Some of the things that helped people the most were leaning on loved ones, getting counseling, and taking medication.
If you are experiencing anxiety in your first year of motherhood that is significantly damaging your mental health and negatively impacting your experience of motherhood, there is help.
You can call HelpLine: 1.800.944.4773 or visit https://www.postpartum.net/learn-more/anxiety/
#MentalHealth
#Motherhood
#Maternity
#PerinatalAnxiety
#MentalIllness
#PerinatalMoodandAnxietyDisorders
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