How to Know When New Parents' Worries Are Postpartum Anxiety (And When to Get Help)
Having a baby can be a joyful time, but many parents also feel overwhelmed by their new role and responsibilities. Feeling this way is a completely normal reaction to having a new mortal in your life to look up to—especially in the first few weeks. But sometimes worry and anxiety can take center stage. When this happens, it is possible that you could have a complaint of postpartum anxiety. A postpartum anxiety disorder is any internal medical condition that causes anxiety in the period after birth. Examples of common postpartum anxiety disorders include • Generalized anxiety complaint • Complaint of fear • Complaint of social anxiety Postpartum anxiety can also be caused by other associated conditions, such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Postpartum anxiety can occur at any time during the first 12 months after giving birth. It is said to affect about 1 in 5 new mothers. But postpartum anxiety is probably actu...