Although pregnancy and childbirth can be one of the
best things to happen to a woman, for many
It can also lead to unwanted mental health conditions.
On top of the stress of caring for a newborn, recently
more and more women are developing postpartum anxiety.
In this video,
we will be taking a look at what this is,
how it can be identified and how it can be
treated.
Postpartum anxiety
tends to make you feel like you or your baby
are in constant danger.
The symptoms
You experience is your body's way of reacting to this
constant sense of fear
or worry.
The symptoms of postpartum anxiety can be broken down into
three categories,
physical, emotional,
and behavioural symptoms.
Physical symptoms
include: interrupted sleep,
increased heart rate,
nausea or stomach aches, and a loss of appetite.
Emotional symptoms include: an inability to relax
forgetfulness, and irritability. Behavioural symptoms
include: avoiding certain activities, people or places, and
being overly cautious about situations that are not dangerous.
Postpartum anxiety
may be more common than you think.
In fact,
studies reveal it impacts 11 to 21% of mothers who
give birth. In Canada alone
23% of mother's who recently gave birth reported feelings consistent
with either postpartum depression
or an anxiety disorder.
Some of you may have heard of postpartum depression or
PPD.
And may be wondering what is the difference between postpartum anxiety (PPA) and PPD?
Well first,
let's go over some of the symptoms of PPD. Those
who suffer from PPD may experience low mood, changes in
eating habits,
a withdrawal from family and friends, insomnia or too much
sleep,
a lack of interest in their baby, and thoughts of
self-harm or harming their baby, along with other symptoms.
Some of these symptoms are similar to those of PPA.
However the major differences are that PPA
involves more worrying and an overwhelming fear regarding their baby compared
to the excessive sadness or lack of interest that comes with
PPD.
This panic and anxiety is not commonly seen in those
with PPD. Those with PPA have trouble leaving their baby alone
or with others due to excessive fear.
However,
with PPD,
others may be spending more time with the baby compared
to the mother due to her lack of interest in
her child.
Both symptoms for PPA
and PPD
must last 2 weeks or longer in order to
be diagnosed.
PPD & PPA can sometimes be
comorbid meaning,
they occur simultaneously. This, paired along with the fact that they
share many symptoms can sometimes make it difficult for individuals
to know what they're dealing with.
It is best to talk to a doctor and get
help from them in order to create a treatment plan.
Treatment for PPD involves psychotherapy,
such as cognitive behavioural therapy,
or interpersonal therapy
antidepressants or other medications.
This is similar to the treatments available for PPA,
which will be discussed in more detail next.
So what can be done
if you suspect
you have postpartum anxiety.
Well,
in mild cases,
one of the most effective things you can do is
educate yourself on this issue,
to reduce stigma and increase your compassion and understanding around
the topic.
Also one of the most effective treatments for any type
of anxiety is a type of therapy called cognitive behavioural
therapy, or CBT
where the focus is on
developing coping mechanisms, setting goals, and managing discomfort.
Finally, relaxation and mindfulness therapy can be implemented.
This can be either taking some time every day to intentionally
relax, meditate, or so forth.
For more serious cases,
professionals recommend either CBT, medication,
or, ideally, a combination of both.
The most commonly prescribed medication for
postpartum anxiety
is SSRIs or SNRIs, or benzodiazepines,
for short term use.
Lastly, some further resources you could use are BetterHelp
which virtually connects you to therapists,
MamaCareHealth which provides care,
and support services for parents during pregnancy and postpartum
and ADAA, or the Anxiety and Depression
Association of America.