Did having children make anyone less anxious as a person - worried about anxiety as a new mom

[Cameronff]

exactly this - i am anxious by nature & have found 3rd trimester to be very very anxiety inducing. panicked about how i will cope when baby is here - but my doctor said to me sometimes anxious people cope well after birth because baby is a distraction - wondering if this has ever happened to anyone here?

My anxiety has drastically improved since I've had my girls (oldest 2.5, youngest 3 months).

I think it's because I used to only have to worry about myself but now they need me to be strong for them.

Was that all the doctor said or did they offer you mental health support?

Is your anxiety exacerbated by lack of sleep or control issues?

Get some support in place and you will have an easier time, whatever your anxiety level. I would be going back to the doctor, or trying to set up a meeting with a therapist who can give you cbt or other kinds of therapy to help you from now til you feel you can cope with baby without the therapeutic support.

Yea my anxiety was extremely reduced aftet having baby, all your concentration is there. And the lots of cuddles and everything is distraction and brings calmness x

Being responsible for another human being made me less anxious

My anxiety subsided massively in the first few months when my DS was born. I was so consumed by love for him it seemed to connect me to myself which gave no place for the anxiety. My anxiety tends to exist in a void but it was replaced with pure love. I couldn’t believe how relaxed I felt. The anxiety has came back but I’ve made lots of friends through my son and as such my anxiety isn’t as bad.

My anxiety massively improved. I still have it but my mindset completely changed. It's not about me anymore, it's about my child and I'm doing it so he isn't hindered by my anxiety. Whilst physical it's 100% your mindset and my child has really pushed me out of my comfort zone!

I was diagnosed and referred for prenatal anxiety. A charity near us offers listening sessions that bridge birth. I've found my anxiety has lessened since having my child. I usually plan things into the ground and I found prebirth that I was aware that I couldn't plan for her so I was frantic. Now, at least I have some idea what to expect and therefore I make sure I have systems in place borrowed from friends who are experienced mothers. E.g. nappy caddy stations, stash of clean clothes next to each. Keeping those systems up helps keep my anxiety under control and stops me panicking.

Yes, it really improved for me. Although for the first few weeks after birth I did admittedly have bad anxiety and intrusive thoughts about looking after the baby, and worry about things going wrong, over time it almost completely subsided. When she was a few months old, I vividly remember leaving the house to go for a walk with the baby in the sling, and previously my mind would have been racing with all the things I was anxious about, but I just remember thinking "I have everything I need - my baby is safe and happy here with me, and nothing else matters".

However I did need some extra support from PND services in the early weeks. It was a big adjustment, the responsibility of caring for a small human. But after a few weeks of doing it, I gained a huge amount of pride and self-esteem from how I was managing to sustain my baby, how much I cared about looking after her, and a sense of peace and contentment I'd never felt before. I'm so much less anxious now than I was before I became a mother.

So so interesting and helpful to hear all of these