To ask if you had anxiety postpartum…

[PPAdays]

How long did it take for you to work through it?

I have a great support network and have sought professional support but I just don’t know if anxiety is something I am always going to be living with. I have always been an anxious person but usually self help tools, podcasts etc and mindfulness keep it at bay. It has ramped up since becoming a mum and is usually centred around my baby’s health and safety. Is baby warm enough, did I sterilise that dummy, and so on. Some are less rational (half of my gel nail fell off yesterday and I was anxious that it might have somehow been eaten by my 2 month old baby!). It’s things I know are objectively quite crazy but I don’t seem to have the logic for it in the moment of worry.

Did anyone else experience this and have any tips?

There was a netflix programme explaining that your amygdala starts firing off after giving birth and it sends you stress signals to make sure you keep baby safe. The men don't get these signals if the mother is there receiving them. It's really interesting, I'll try and remember the name.
Anyways yes it is supposed to happen unfortunately. Most people notice it subsiding before baby is a year old. Be kind to yourself and allow your confidence to grow x

I went on medication for a while and did talk therapy. The meds were literally life saving. My anxiety came out of nowhere and started immediately after the birth, was severe and kept getting worse. I remember shaking in bed and having multiple panic attacks one after the other all day and night.

It does become manageable again. Good luck <3

Yes. I need counselling and I still use the techniques it taught me regularly 6 years on.
Get support early. I didn't and ended up in a bit of crisis.

Yes. Struggled sleeping for a long time as kept checking baby was still ok. Struggled with weaning too. It did get better but I find I am still anxious at times.

Yep, definitely.
Infact only today, 5 years after my DD2 was born, I suggested to my DH that I might benefit from something, medication wise, to calm my brain down. Mine is particularly triggered when either of my children are poorly. I just cannot think straight. It’s crippling.
I can’t give you any advice I’m afraid because I haven’t solved it yet but thought I’d answer for solidarity xx