DOES IT GO AWAY AFTER BIRTH? Most moms experience the “baby blues” for a few weeks after birth, but many moms go on to experience PPD. “I didn’t start taking anxiety meds until after I had kids,” a friend recently joked when I asked if she’d experienced anxiety while pregnant. My mom also wrestled with intense postpartum anxiety and depression after giving birth to me—and she’s not alone. In fact, the number of women experiencing anxiety during the perinatal period has only gotten worse since COVID, according to an article on post-pandemic mater- nal mental health from The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine . “Postpartum depression alone affects at least 14 percent of new mothers and their families,” states authors Natalie Feldman and Sarah Perret in an arti- cle called “Digital mental health for postpartum women: perils, pitfalls, and promise.” If you’re experiencing birth anxiety, it might shape-shift into other concerns after birth. Nevertheless, it does not last forever—if it’s treated.
Psychotherapy is the go-to treat- ment. Medicines are also commonly prescribed to help get your hormones back in whack. In the meantime, here are some practical tricks to address or reduce pregnancy-related anxiety. MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT ■ Don’t Like? Don’t Click If you’re scrolling, don’t interact with content you don’t want more of—or else, you may end up only seeing You can’t always trust the internet, and every situation is different. When you’re afraid or uncertain, don’t spiral (for too long) before asking your doctors or sharing your concerns. similar content. ■ Ask Questions ■ Be Honest with Your Community Sometimes, you just need a good lis- tening ear; other times, you need a wise friend to remind you of what is true and calm you down. Regardless, you can’t do this alone. ■ Ask for Help Don’t let shame’s chokehold prevent
you from reaching out when you need help. You are not “less than” for dealing with real, hard emotions. Telehealth is a great option, and there are many free helplines for those struggling with mental health, including the Nation- al Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-TLC-MAMA), SAMHSA, and Postpartum Support International (PSI) (1-800-944-4PPD). ■ Utilize Technological Resources “Not all digital resources are good resources,” Feldman and Perret warn— so be smart. But there are some really cool programs out there like the free PSI app and Mothers and Babies Internet Course. Other technological advances like digital phenotyping, which uses passive data to screen for mental health conditions like mood disorders, may be worth checking out. No matter where you are on your journey, as the Mayo Clinic so aptly put it, “Postpartum depression is not a character flaw or a weakness.” It’s okay to feel anxious, but don’t stay there.
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