Postpartum Anxiety Disorders - Managing Postpartum Anxiety Disorders

Written by Linda Sebastian

Are You Having Any of These Symptoms?

• Are you so anxious that you cannot adquately care for your baby?
• Are you afraid of hurting yourself or the baby to the extent that you are not sure that you can stop yourself?
• Are your compulsive behaviors harmful to the baby?
• Are you so anxious that you cannot eat or sleep?

If so, consult a mental health professional and tell him/her that you require immediate attention.

Symptoms of Adjustment Disorder

• Emotional or behavioral symptoms develop in response to identifiable stressor(s), occurring within three months of the onset of the stressor(s).
• These symptoms or behaviors are shown by either marked distress in excess of what would normally be expected from exposure to the stressor or by significant impairment in social or occupational functions.
• The symptoms are not related to bereavement or grief.
• The symptoms last no more than six months once the stressor has stopped.

What Is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

A more severe form of anxiety is generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). This illness is characterized by a persistent anxiety that affects most areas of a person's life. This disorder is accompanied by worries or fears that are out of proportion to the situation. Many people, men and women alike, have this kind of anxiety but never seek treatment. They are known to their friends and families as "worriers."

If a woman with GAD becomes pregnant, she may feel less anxiety during her pregnancy. But she is likely to experience anxiety again after delivery. Since anxiety continues during pregnancy for some women, it is difficult to predict who will experience anxiety during pregnancy. Jill's story is very typical of a new mother with GAD:

I have always been a "worrywart" and have been teased about my nervousness since I was a little girl. I felt pretty good during my pregnancy. But after the baby came, I got much worse. I couldn't sleep, and I was always calling the doctor because I thought something was wrong with the baby. I developed horrible muscle spasms in my neck. The pediatrician suggested I see a therapist about my anxiety. I didn't realize that what I had could be helped.

Jill meets the criteria for a diagnosis of GAD. She saw a therapist who used a cognitive therapy approach to help her become more aware of how her thinking increased her anxiety. Jill realized that she tended to think of things as either "black or white, right or wrong." She also tended to assume the worst in most situations. Jill learned to use relaxation techniques to help her remain calm. She also learned to change her habit of negative thinking. After a brief therapy process, Jill felt less anxious and enjoyed her baby more.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Criteria

• Excessive anxiety and worry about a number of events or activities, occurring more days than not for at least six months.
• The person finds it difficult to control the worry.
• The anxiety and worry are associated with three or more of the following symptoms:
  - restlessness, feeling "keyed up," or "on edge"
  - being easily fatigued
  - difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
  - irritability
  - muscle tension
  - sleep disturbance (trouble going to sleep or staying asleep)