What No One Tells You About Postpartum Anxiety
The Hidden Struggle Too Many Moms Are Silently Facing
It’s Not Just the Baby Blues
When people talk about postpartum struggles, most think of postpartum depression—but there’s another experience that often flies under the radar: postpartum anxiety.
It’s not just “worrying a little more than usual.” Postpartum anxiety can feel like your mind is on a never-ending loop of worst-case scenarios, and it can make the already-hard job of motherhood feel almost impossible.
The hardest part? Most moms have no idea what they’re going through even has a name.
What Is Postpartum Anxiety?
Postpartum anxiety (PPA) is a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD) that shows up in the weeks, months, or even the first year after giving birth. While some worry is normal, postpartum anxiety goes beyond that.
Signs might include:
Constantly checking if your baby is breathing
Racing thoughts you can’t turn off
Feeling like something bad is always about to happen
Trouble sleeping—even when your baby is sleeping
Irritability or restlessness
Physical symptoms like nausea, tight chest, or a racing heart
What No One Tells You About It
1. It Doesn’t Always Look Like Fear
Postpartum anxiety often shows up as anger, agitation, or feeling “on edge.” Many moms don’t even realize what they’re experiencing is anxiety—they just think they’re failing or “not cut out for this.”
2. It’s Not Just About the Baby
Yes, a lot of the anxiety can revolve around your baby's health or safety. But it can also be about your identity, relationships, or fear of losing control. You might even obsess over things that feel totally unrelated to motherhood.
3. You Don’t Have to Have a “Traumatic” Birth for It to Happen
Postpartum anxiety can happen after a smooth pregnancy and delivery. It can also affect first-time moms and seasoned moms alike. It’s not your fault. And it’s not something you can just “snap out of.”
4. It’s Often Missed by Doctors and Loved Ones
Because postpartum anxiety doesn’t always look like sadness or withdrawal, it often gets brushed off as “normal new mom stress.” But you know your mind and body—and if something feels off, you deserve to be taken seriously.
You Are Not Broken—Your Brain Is Asking for Help
Postpartum anxiety is not a personal failure. It’s your nervous system responding to massive hormonal shifts, sleep deprivation, and a life that’s been completely flipped upside down. And while it’s incredibly hard, it’s also incredibly treatable.
How to Start Feeling Better
Here’s what can help:
💬 Talk to someone who gets it. Therapy with a maternal mental health specialist can help you understand your anxiety and learn tools to manage it.
🧘 Ground yourself in your body. Breathwork, walking, or even a few minutes of quiet can calm your nervous system.
✍️ Track your thoughts. Writing them down can help separate fear from fact.
🤝 Find your support team. Whether it’s a partner, friend, therapist, or online community—you don’t have to carry this alone.
Therapy Can Help You Reclaim Your Calm
In therapy, we focus on what you need—whether that’s working through intrusive thoughts, learning calming techniques, or just having a safe space to say, “This is so much harder than I expected.”
You don’t need a diagnosis to get help. If you’re not feeling like yourself, or if anxiety is getting in the way of your ability to show up the way you want to, that’s enough. You are enough.
💛 You don’t have to white-knuckle your way through motherhood. Help is here—and healing is possible.