logo

(310) 208-3105
DrGaryBrown@gmail.com

Gary Brown

  • Home
  • About
  • Services
    • Individuals
    • Couples
    • Adolescents
    • Parenting Coaching
  • Appointment Request
  • Articles
    • Couples
    • Dating
    • Family
    • Foundations of Love
    • General counseling
    • Individuals
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Teens
  • Media
  • Contact

Postpartum Anxiety: What It Is and Tips to Help You Cope

October 2, 2018 by Dr. Gary Brown

Postpartum Anxiety. Postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, anxiety, mental health, parenting, family counseling, new mom, new family, Dr. Gary Brown, Los Angeles therapist, individual therapy, relationship therapy, couples counseling, DrGaryLATherapist

Postpartum Anxiety, Postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, anxiety, mental health, parenting, family counseling, new mom, new family, Dr. Gary Brown, Los Angeles therapist, individual therapy, relationship therapy, couples counseling, DrGaryLATherapist
I frequently receive referrals of clients from pediatricians and OBGYN’s. One of the most common reasons is that their patient has reported feeling somewhat depressed and/or anxious, post-delivery. Most everyone is familiar with postpartum depression. However, we don’t often hear about postpartum anxiety, which is a condition that can lead to feelings of anxiousness, feeling overwhelmed, irritable, generally fearful, inadequate, and often feelings of shame about feeling anxious.

It’s a painful and disorienting experience for a mom who has just delivered her baby.

Postpartum anxiety is somewhat different from postpartum depression. With depression, someone can generally be described as feeling extreme sadness and even disinterest in their newborn. While with postpartum anxiety you can appear happy yet have immense worry. And “worry” is the key word here.

Good news! This is also a fairly common condition that is often very treatable.

Approximately 10% of new moms experience postpartum anxiety, which is different from what most of us are familiar with hearing, postpartum depression.

And that is just the number of moms who report this condition. Because of the shame involved, the number may very well be higher. That is why postpartum anxiety is sometimes referred to as “the hidden disorder.” Even healthcare professionals can miss the signs, which would explain why it can often go unrecognized and untreated.

I actually don’t like the word “disorder” in this context as I have found the vast majority of moms who experience postpartum anxiety to be rather normal women, who are experiencing normal but upsetting thoughts and feelings, about an incredibly powerful experience – giving birth to another human being! It’s bad enough for a new mom to feel this way so let’s do what we can to remove the stigma and drop the word “disorder.”

What is postpartum anxiety?

It is completely common for new parents to be concerned or even worry about how all this newness is supposed to work. How does the baby sit up in the baby tub without drowning? How am I ever going to get to the store, let alone shower again? What if the baby rolls over in the middle of the night? And until you get the swing of things, it’s appropriate to be vigilant, protective and cautious.

new mom anxiety, Postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, anxiety, mental health, parenting, family counseling, new mom, new family, Dr. Gary Brown, Los Angeles therapist, individual therapy, relationship therapy, couples counseling, DrGaryLATherapist

There is an amount of time to adjust to the new normal. That’s for sure. And it takes some people longer than others (and that’s okay).

However, postpartum anxiety is this kind of ongoing, relentless worry that starts to affect your regular functioning because your brain is constantly consumed with irrational fears. You may also exhibit symptoms like:

• Constant worry – fretting over your baby
• Feeling on edge, like something bad is going to happen all the time
• Rapid heartbeat
• Nausea
• Inability to sit still
• Can’t focus
• Panic attacks
• Not bonding with your baby

When might you have postpartum anxiety

Postpartum anxiety can happen between birth and 1st birthday. But it most commonly shows up between the 2nd and 6th week post-delivery. Any life stress or weaning may also trigger it. Women that have a history of certain symptoms of PMS (including agitation or weepiness), a personal or family history of anxiety or depression, or a history of OCD or eating disorders may be particularly susceptible.

Hormones are at play

Being pregnant and subsequently nursing your body is like hormone soup. So, it’s no wonder that your emotions may be all over the place. However, after the first few weeks, they start to settle.

Sarah Gottfried, M.D., author of The Hormone Cure says, “I think of postpartum anxiety as the loss of the normal sense of balance and calm, and postpartum depression as a loss of heart.”

Tips for postpartum anxiety

All of the following tips I offer here really come under the overall heading of self-care. New first-time mothers and moms who have had a number of babies have told me that truly embracing these self-care tips have significantly helped to ease much of their anxiety.

Talk it out

There’s an old saying, “Pain shared is pain halved.” Certainly, start by sharing this with your partner who may be in a great position to support you. The simple act of talking it out can help relieve at least some of your suffering, especially if another woman has gone through the same thing. Being a new mom is not easy!

talk about postpartum anxiety, Postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, anxiety, mental health, parenting, family counseling, new mom, new family, Dr. Gary Brown, Los Angeles therapist, individual therapy, relationship therapy, couples counseling, DrGaryLATherapist

But if you feel it is greater than you want to share with your partner, a family member, friend or coworker, then consider getting professional help. It is not uncommon to seek short-term care to get over this hump. And it’s better to seek help sooner rather than later.

Take a break

Allow yourself to be supported. You may think that you’re prepared. That you and your partner have got it under control, but you don’t have to power through. It’s important to have a support system and when the going starts to get tough and you feel like the anxiety is getting to you, CALL IN THE TROOPS!

People love to help, especially when it comes to babies!

Do yourself a favor, go get a mani-pedi. Sit alone under a tree in a park and read your favorite book or magazine. Catch a yoga class. Go out on a date. But get out and remind yourself of who you are. It will help you catch your breath and keep things in perspective.

Get some exercise

Exercise can relieve anxiety, reduce tension, and make you feel empowered. If you can get someone to watch the baby at least once a week, go for a run, take that spin class or go for a hike. If regular coverage isn’t an option, at least get out of the house and speed walk the baby in the stroller to get that heart pumping! You’ll be thankful that you did.

Join a moms group

This is one of the very best things you can do for yourself. Talking to other new mothers may help you gauge if your level of worry is about right, or if you really don’t need to be worrying as much as you might be. All new parents worry at some level about their babies, just in different ways.

Meeting other moms may help you get a better understanding of where you’re at. It may also increase your confidence and encourage you to seek help if the amount and degree of worry is impacting your ability to function.

You may find comfort that you’re not the only one having a hard time or you may come to realize that many of these fears are slightly over-the-top. It may give you a new perspective of motherhood and your relationship.

Often times these kinds of groups become mini-therapy sessions and (bonus points) it will get you out of the house! Moms who join these groups, almost always report feeling better. Just knowing that you’re not the only one can be a true blessing and stress reliever!

Ask for help

If you are considering seeking professional help, it is always better to see someone in person. Even with Facetime or Skype, something can get missed over wifi. Nothing replaces direct human contact. I routinely see new moms in my practice and I also invite and encourage them to bring their babies if that helps them to feel more comfortable.

It can also be that someone can stay with your baby such as a trusted family member or friend.

There’s an app for that

That said, if you are concerned that you can’t go to a therapy appointment for fear that your baby will miss a feeding or worse yet you take him/her to your therapy session and they will cry through the whole session, there’s an app for that.

7Cups, BetterHelp, and Talkspace are companies that provide support from licensed clinical therapists through your phone or computer. Each have different formats and plans available, but they all offer affordable and accessible mental health services to people with internet access.

It may be awkward at first, but any form of communication about how you’re doing, even your own personal self-reflection can have great value and may be just what you need to help you develop the ability to manage your anxiety.

One of best lessons to really take to heart is that taking care of yourself is also taking care of your baby. You know every time you’re on an airplane they say cover your face first with the air mask before assisting others or children. Well, there’s a reason for that! You’re needed! There’s no need for you to sacrifice yourself for your child. They need you. The healthy, happy you. So please take care of yourself!

taking care of self and baby

As the father of three, I know that being a new parent can sometimes have the most extreme emotions of sheer and utter joy and deep, deep love and then can send you down a mental road of worry and despair in a single minute. But hopefully, this post can give you some tips to help you move through these lovely, but often challenging times. I have worked with hundreds of new parents and love it! This is one of the most satisfying things I get to do in my profession! If you would like to have a free 15-minute consultation, I would be happy to see if I could be a good resource for you.

Filed Under: Family, Parenting Tagged With: anxiety, baby, couples counseling, Dr. Gary Brown, DrGaryLATherapist, family, family counseling, individual therapy, infant, Los Angeles therapist, mental health, new family, new mom, parenting, postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, relationship therapy, stress

Search This Website

Guidance from Gary:

"People who learn to settle for more are truly grateful for what they already have...and expand from there."

- Gary

Counseling Services

  • Counseling for Individuals
  • Counseling for Couples
  • Counseling for Adolescents
  • Coaching for Parents

Hot Topics

  • The Core Foundations of Real Love and True Intimacy – Part 6: Gratitude
  • The Core Foundations of Real Love and True Intimacy – Part 5: Kindness
  • The Core Foundations of Real Love and True Intimacy – Part 4: Self-Awareness

As featured in:


Related Posts

dr. Gary Brown, therapy in LA, pregnant

Having A Baby – Part 2: You’re Pregnant, Congratulations! Now what?!

Joy. Elation. Fear. Euphoria. Hesitation. Celebration. Anticipation. Anxiety. Love. Confusion. None of these. All of these and more.

vulnerability, relationships, intimacy, trust, couples counseling, Dr. Gary Brown, Los Angeles therapist, individual therapy, relationship therapy, DrGaryLATherapist

The Core Foundations of Real Love and True Intimacy – Part 1: Vulnerability

In relationships, we talk about taking them to another level. Maybe it’s the first time you say those three special words, maybe it’s when you take your loved one to meet the parents over the holidays or maybe it’s moving in together. No matter what phase of your relationship you’re in, you can always take […]

Related Posts

Partner Works Too Much, Dr. Gary Brown, Los Angeles therapist, relationship therapy, DrGaryLATherapist

What To Do If Your Partner Works Too Much

  “It may not be another woman, but it sometimes feels like it.” Are there late night texts, phone calls that are “just a quick minute” during meals, and long late hours at the office? I’ve had a number of female clients through the years express their sadness, frustration and even loneliness because they felt […]

Enhance Your Relationship After Your Baby Is Born, Dr. Gary Brown, Los Angeles therapist, relationship therapy

Having A Baby – Part 4: 12 Tips To Enhance Your Relationship After Your Baby Is Born

You’re exhausted, you’re not having sex (that may be the last thing on a new mother’s mind) and emotions vacillate wildly. Is this the blissful time you were expecting? And what about you, new dad?  How is your life changing now that you are a parent?  What do you need? If you’re concerned that you’re […]

Related Posts

Postpartum Anxiety. Postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, anxiety, mental health, parenting, family counseling, new mom, new family, Dr. Gary Brown, Los Angeles therapist, individual therapy, relationship therapy, couples counseling, DrGaryLATherapist

Postpartum Anxiety: What It Is and Tips to Help You Cope

I frequently receive referrals of clients from pediatricians and OBGYN’s. One of the most common reasons is that their patient has reported feeling somewhat depressed and/or anxious, post-delivery. Most everyone is familiar with postpartum depression. However, we don’t often hear about postpartum anxiety, which is a condition that can lead to feelings of anxiousness, feeling […]

Enhance Your Relationship After Your Baby Is Born, Dr. Gary Brown, Los Angeles therapist, relationship therapy

Having A Baby – Part 4: 12 Tips To Enhance Your Relationship After Your Baby Is Born

You’re exhausted, you’re not having sex (that may be the last thing on a new mother’s mind) and emotions vacillate wildly. Is this the blissful time you were expecting? And what about you, new dad?  How is your life changing now that you are a parent?  What do you need? If you’re concerned that you’re […]

Dr. Gary Brown

PhD, LMFT, FAPA
310-208-3105
drgarybrown@gmail.com

921 Westwood Blvd
Suite 226
Los Angeles, CA. 90024

Find My Office

If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please do not hesitate to contact me. I would love to work with you!

Contact Me »

Appointments »
Privacy Policy
Site Provided by Brighter Vision

Copyright © 2019 · Genesis Child on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in