11 Things You Didn't Know Are Signs Of Postpartum Anxiety
byAutumn Jones
Becoming a mother brings on many emotions and thoughts that you may have never experienced before. Some of these are enjoyable, like overwhelming love and connection. There are some instances, however, where the things you are feeling and thinking are your body's way of telling you there is a deeper issue at play. What may appear like common new parent problems can actually be a luring mood disorder. If you're not aware, the things you didn't know are signs of postpartum anxiety, or PPA, could be dismissed as new mom issues and never properly treated.
Just the name alone may cause your eyebrows to raise. Conditions like postpartum depression have received a lot more attention and research, but more and more professionals are realizing how many women are struggling with the anxiety side of postpartum mood disorders. As psychologist Jonathan Abramowitz told Parents magazine, postpartum anxiety is a hidden disorder, because it is often unrecognized and undiagnosed. This is due largely to the fact that it mimics the symptoms of generalized anxiety, and not given proper attention.
Persistent symptoms of worry and panic, coupled with physical manifestations like loos of appetite should not be brushed under the rug. If you're concerned you may have postpartum anxiety, take a look at these 11 signs that prove you're not just making things up.