Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders

As a Certified Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C), I provide an inclusive, safe, non-judgmental environment for supporting women with perinatal mood and anxiety, birth trauma, post-partum depression, and early parenting adjustments and struggles to discuss concerns, feelings, thoughts, and distress.

An important part of a mother’s mental health and well-being is being able to share in an authentic, open, and honest way how everything feels like, whether it is experiencing panic attacks, anxiety, depression, pregnancy difficulties, or adapting to pregnancy.

It’s a common misconception that having a baby is life’s most joyous event. In reality, around 6% of pregnant women and 10% of postpartum women develop anxiety. The arrival of a new baby, while exciting, can also be overwhelming, leading to a stressful pregnancy. If these feelings start to interfere with your daily life, you may be experiencing perinatal anxiety. It’s important to remember that you’re not alone in this. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are more common than you might think, with various factors, including hormones, biology, psychology, and environment, contributing to their development.

Biological, psychological, and physical changes happen during pregnancy and after having a baby. These changes can fill the pregnancy experience with anxiety, worry, and feeling overwhelmed. These factors can fluctuate from person to person and even from one pregnancy to another for the same woman. The risk factors for perinatal anxiety and panic include a family history of anxiety, previous perinatal anxiety or depression, or a thyroid imbalance (hypothyroid or hyperthyroid).

Someone who experiences anxiety may have intrusive thoughts, fears, and worries about their baby’s health, safety, and well-being. You may experience sleep disturbance and insomnia due to overthinking and ruminating thoughts. It may escalate into a panic attack with symptoms of being short of breath, dizziness, chest pain, numbness, a lack of control, and tingling sensations.

Perinatal Anxiety Symptoms

· Constant worry

· Feeling that something dreadful is going to happen

· Feeling that you cannot turn your brain off

· Disturbances in appetite

· Feeling Guilty

· Low Self-Worth

· Inability to sit still

· Sadness

· Scary or Racing Thoughts

· Sleep Disturbance (not enough or oversleeping)

· Crying Frequently

· Fear Of Being Left Alone With The Baby

· Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy

· “I am not a good enough mother.”

Perinatal Panic Disorder

You may experience shakiness, trembling, restlessness, irritability, and numbness. It may feel like you cannot take a deep breath and have heart palpitations and chest pain. A pain attack is temporary, and it may feel like it comes and goes like a wave

Panic Attack Symptoms

· Racing Heart

· Lightheadedness

· Dizziness

· Numbness

· Tingling in the hands or feet

· Sweating

· Trembling

· Short of breath

· Feeling of choking

· Chest pain

· Nausea Chills

· Fear of Dying

What Is Postpartum Depression? 

Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders consist of anxiety or depression during pregnancy (perinatal) or throughout the first year after giving birth (postpartum). Approximately 15% to 21% of pregnant and postpartum women experience Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder. It is common for women to experience mood swings after giving birth. You may have ups and downs due to being a first-time mother, exhaustion, joy, sleep deprivation, worry, or stress. 

Although it is normal to feel emotionally overwhelmed and physically exhausted in taking care of a newborn baby, these emotions and mood swings can develop into significant unpleasant feelings, anxiety, depression, or panic attacks that linger during pregnancy and a year after giving birth. If you are uncertain whether or not these symptoms can be something more, please get in touch with your healthcare provider for a consultation.

Symptoms 

Anxiety

Low self-worth

Difficulty focusing

Lack of motivation

Crying often and weeping

Sadness and depression

Not feeling like yourself

Becoming easily annoyed, irritable, or angry

Isolation and social withdrawal

Having thoughts of harming the baby or yourself

Not interested in things you used to enjoy

Feeling disconnected from the baby

Sleep disturbance – having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep

It’s crucial to understand that perinatal anxiety or depression is not your fault. You are not alone in this. These feelings may prevent you from functioning normally and caring for yourself and your baby. If you’re experiencing these symptoms during or after giving birth, please don’t hesitate to seek assistance from your primary healthcare provider. Physicians and psychotherapists can work together to create a treatment plan that can help alleviate these extreme mood swings and restore balance to your well-being. Remember, you have a team of professionals ready to support you.

It’s important to remember that perinatal anxiety, panic disorder, and depression are usually temporary and can be effectively treated with professional help. If you’ve been experiencing these symptoms for more than two weeks, please reach out for help. You don’t have to suffer in silence. Remember, this is not your fault. You are not to blame. With the right support and treatment, you can overcome these challenges. I offer a comprehensive approach that provides acceptance, validation, understanding, compassion, guidance, and support. 

Together, we can use evidence-based techniques to calm your anxiety, soothe your body, decrease depression, increase self-confidence, heal from childhood wounds, identify interpersonal patterns, and learn new skills to navigate challenges. I understand what you’re going through, and I’m here to support you.

If You Are Experiencing a Crisis, Suicidal Thoughts, or Thoughts of Harming Your Baby

If you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, immediately seek help taking care of your baby.

· Immediately call 911 or the local hospital emergency room

· Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK

· (1-800-273-8255) 24 hours a day, seven days a week

· Chat at suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat.

· Contact the Crisis Text Line 24 hours a day, seven days a week

· Text HELLO to 741741.

· Seek help from your primary care physician

· Call a mental health professional

· Reach out to your partner, close friend, or family.

· Contact a spiritual leader in your faith community.