Being a new mom is exciting, but it can also be stressful. You’re adjusting to a major change in your life. Meanwhile, your hormones are in flux, and you may be seriously sleep-deprived. It’s understandable if you occasionally feel a little blue or anxious.
For most women, these feelings are mild and short-lived. For some, however, they can become a more serious mental health disorder that drains the joy from parenting. You’ve probably heard of postpartum depression (PPD)—serious, long-lasting depression that starts after giving birth. What you might not know is that postpartum anxiety (PPA) is just as common and disabling.
Fortunately, these conditions can be treated with talk therapy, medication, or both. But first, you need to recognize when you have a problem. Here’s what to watch for and how to tell the difference between the two.
PPD: More than baby blues
It’s not uncommon to feel a bit blue for a few days after giving birth. If your sadness or empty feelings linger, and if they interfere with your day-to-day life, you may have PPD. This condition can start anytime in the first year after having a baby, but it typically begins one to three weeks after childbirth.
Watch for these symptoms:
- Being uninterested in your baby
- Feeling sad, hopeless, or overwhelmed
- Feeling worthless or guilty
- Having trouble paying attention or making decisions
- Lacking energy or motivation
- Losing interest in things you once enjoyed
- Thinking about hurting yourself or your baby
- Withdrawing from other people
PPA: Out-of-control worries
Many new moms have concerns about handling the responsibilities of parenthood. But if your worries become hard to control, and if they start causing problems in your daily life, you may have PPA. This condition gets less attention than PPD, yet is estimated to affect up to 20% of new mothers.
Watch for these symptoms:
- Being unable to concentrate or feeling as if your mind has gone blank
- Feeling restless or irritable
- Having stress-related physical symptoms such as muscle tension or an upset stomach
- Worrying excessively about a variety of things such as your baby's well-being, your parenting ability, and your finances
What these conditions have in common
Some women feel guilty about being anxious or depressed when they expected to feel blissful. But having PPD or PPA doesn’t mean you’re a bad mother. It just means you have a common disorder, which luckily is very treatable. If you have any of these symptoms above, reach out for help. Tell a loved one and contact your health care provider to discuss a treatment plan that’s best for you.