Would anyone like to share their experiences with postpartum anxiety with me?
[name_f][/name_f]Mine has recently been rather bad, and my usual coping techniques aren’t really helping. She’s almost 11 months old now so I really wasn’t expecting a big upswing in it now but I know it’s possible for at least the first year.
[name_f][/name_f]Things I’m struggling with [name_f][/name_f]-
[name_f][/name_f]Intrusive thoughts
[name_f][/name_f]Some insomnia
[name_f][/name_f]Increased social anxiety
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I suffered horribly from post partum anxiety, and mine did not ease much until my both of my babies were closer to 2. And this may not be the advice you’re looking for but I really really wish I had reached out to my Dr. and gotten help, from either medication or therapy. I feel like i was so miserably anxious I couldn’t enjoy my babies when they were babies.
But other ways I coped with it was making sure I was honest with myself and making sure I voiced my anxiety to someone. It didn’t always help but often times it did.
I also had to force myself to get up in the morning, shower and get ready and leave the house everyday for awhile. To somewhere I didnt necessarily have to talk and interact with other people but that other people were around. Being back in the ‘normal’ world kind of put my anxiety back into check, rather than being surrounded by baby stuff and new moms and especially alone in my house where my thoughts would start to spiral.
And if necessary sleeping aids are worth it for short term. I know my anxiety increases ten fold when I don’t get adequate sleep
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I understand what you are going through. [name_f][/name_f] And I am sorry you are experiencing this.
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]My[/name_f] advice would be to talk with your health care provider. [name_f][/name_f] As a mother who expirenced PPD, I never would have survived without medication. [name_f][/name_f] Also, be honest with your partner or others you consider your support system. I was not and that just made everything more difficult.
[name_f][/name_f]Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.
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I have pretty intense anxiety naturally so it was magnified, especially during the first 6 weeks. I am almost 8 weeks postpartum now. A few things:
[name_f][/name_f]- [name_f][/name_f]
- [name_m]Even[/name_m] though it’s surprising, don’t feel bad that it’s “later” than you thought. Everyone’s timeline is different, especially with something has hormonally complex/impactful as pregnancy and postpartum. I think guilt about it can make it worse in some cases. [name_f][/name_f]
- Something that works for me because mine is often related to overstimulation is to either go on a walk alone (let DH care for baby girl for a bit) or if the weather isn’t permitting (we had a winter baby so it wasn’t great for a long while) I take a long, hot and dark/low-lit shower. [name_f]Kinda[/name_f] weird but it helps me reset and you could try it. [name_f][/name_f]
- Could it be related to TTC? You know you better than a stranger on the internet but maybe that is subconsciously dredging fears to the surface? Maybe discussing it with DH or just sorting through your thoughts/feelings related to TTC would be helpful with a real-life friend or therapist if you have on? [name_f][/name_f]
In any case, you’re not alone!
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I’m almost 4 months post partum and it definitely comes and goes. I don’t have much general advice except that I’ve found if I get an intrusive thought that makes me anxious, saying outloud that it’s not true/won’t happen is more effective than just thinking it.
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I’ve dealt with postpartum anxiety/depression & intrusive thoughts (the insomnia & social anxiety are with me always lol). It’s been much better this time around as I realized that I was dealing with brain inflammation (a lot of women do - it can cause a whole host of issues like depression, brain fog, anxiety, & etc.). Funnily enough, before I realized this was my issue, I had an anti-inflammatory juice recipe that I started making during my second pregnancy that I called my magic juice because it took away my depression if I drank it regularly lol. I later learned about the brain inflammation & connected the dots. I’ve been more intentional about my nutrition this time around too. With my first I didn’t know how to help myself & suffered through it for over a year. Now it comes & goes. Whenever I’m feeling poorly I start back on my juice (because I tend to not make it when I’m feeling better.. life is busy & I only remember to do so when I’m horribly anxious & depressed lol) as well as some other anti-inflammatory/detox aids. I’m not sure if the brain inflammation is my only issue (probably not.. I’d like to do a heavy metal & parasite cleanse but I’m waiting until I wean my son to do so), but the changes I’ve made this go around really have helped! Of course, every body is different. I hope you find some relief soon!
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A few quick thoughts: when I went to the GP, 6 months postpartum, the GP said that he expects every woman at some point in the first year after having a baby. That’s not to minimise or be reductive but to normalise: apparently it takes a year for the mother’s minerals and hormones to get back to what they were or close to. You should have your iron, Vit D, Vit B, calcium and magnesium checked, same for thyroid. Postpartum acupressure/acupuncture can help, even some regular massages just to get the cortisol down and have a break. It’s a huge thing having a baby, round the clock living/work with broken sleep instead of night and day; feeling like you’re exposed/ being judged for something that’s impossible to be perfect at; it can trigger a lot of childhood stuff too. Do you have mother friends you can meet up with?
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[name_m]Can[/name_m] you please share your juice recipe? 
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I could talk at length about postpartum anxiety (or in my case, a perinatal increase), so I am trying to keep it shorter for now, but I am happy to share more if it would be helpful.
[name_f][/name_f]I still find I struggle to sleep without a medication I started in pregnancy due to awful awful hormone-induced insomnia. I am weaning now and hoping I can work back to to sleeping independently when that is done. The insomnia makes everything worse and the lack of sleep definitely was part of the period that was emotionally hardest for me postpartum (so far). Adequate sleep is important for me to be a functional person and if I am on antihistamines the rest of my life..at least I am also managing my allergies!
[name_f][/name_f]I have social anxiety and it has flared up on and off for ages. I think it makes sense that it would increase at this time in life, given how much judgment and opinion-giving exists around motherhood. [name_f]My[/name_f] social anxiety isn’t as specific to that (at least right now), but with regard to postpartum-specific social anxiety I find I get worried about how I appear to the pediatrician or other care providers and it means I have to work to get myself to ask questions or do anything that might make me seem “difficult” or “neurotic.” It helps for me to think less about whether or not a judgment is realistic, but about whether or not the potential judgment matters as much as it feels like it does. With social anxiety around peers it is worse, and honestly exposure that is consistent helps more than anything else.
[name_f][/name_f]It is hard for me to stay in a personal place about intrusive thoughts because psycho-education about intrusive thoughts is a major part of the work I do, but they are more common than people talk about. I don’t know how distressing yours are, but if they are causing distress it can make a big difference to work with someone experienced with intrusions (be they images, memories, or ego-dystonic/upsetting thoughts).
[name_f][/name_f]Having a community of other new moms, sometimes in a support group setting and more often a little group chat with some moms from a prenatal yoga class, has also been really valuable. I hope you have good support around you from people who help the anxiety feel managed rather than who increase it.
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Thank you! 
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Thank you all for your responses!! I don’t have time for a proper response right now but I appreciate you all so much!
[name_f][/name_f]I am doing better the last day or two, I have struggled with anxiety since childhood, and it flares up worse at times, especially like some of you noted, while sleep deprived!! Which I definitely was for a few rough nights there, with the anxiety not helping the already disturbed sleep [name_f]Olenna[/name_f] was having!
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