“You’re supposed to be happy… So why am I scared?”

eolyne0

Sep 2

2 min read

By: Alexandra Garcia, LMFT 123868

Picture that you just had a baby. The baby you wanted so badly and now you are terrified. You find yourself constantly checking on your baby, constantly worrying and questioning every decision you make, and or questioning every little change that comes with your baby. You find yourself unable to relax, start to notice persistent fear, dread, irritability, avoiding leaving the house with the baby and constantly seeking reassurance from google, new parent facebook groups, and your loved ones.

Up to 20% of new mothers and 10% of new fathers experience postpartum anxiety. Postpartum anxiety is intense, overwhelming worry and or fear after having a baby. Becoming a parent is likely to bring worry into your life, but with postpartum anxiety the fear and worry can be all consuming and non stop.

Postpartum anxiety can onset due to the many hormonal changes that women go through during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. The other factors that contribute to postpartum anxiety are:

● Sleep deprivation

● The enormous responsibility of caring for a newborn

● Previous anxiety or mental health difficulties

● A difficult pregnancy, delivery, or postpartum experience

● Lack of support or other life stressors

You are not a bad parent because you’re struggling with anxiety. Postpartum anxiety can make even ordinary moments feel frightening and overwhelming, but experiencing these feelings doesn’t mean you love your baby any less or that you’re failing as a parent. You deserve support, care, and the opportunity to feel like yourself again. You’re not alone, and asking for help is a sign of strength, not failure.

And for anyone who is a support person for a new mom here are some things to keep in mind:

● Listen without judgment.

● Avoid dismissing concerns with “all new moms worry.”

● Offer concrete help rather than simply saying “let me know if you need anything.”

● Encourage professional support when appropriate.

● Check in regularly, a quick thinking of you text can make all the difference

A lot of times new moms feel alone and scared to ask for help.

Know that you are not alone and there is help available.

Visit healingsolutionsftc.org or call 661-903-8822 to schedule an appointment.