Would you say you’re someone who worries a lot? Even before you gave birth to a child? We all have things we worry about, some of us more than others. But there’s a big difference between worrying and having anxiety.

Postpartum anxiety is a specific type of anxiety that you might develop after pregnancy. Unlike normal worries, anxiety is based on irrational fears. It leaves you feeling anxious and terrified about anything that might go wrong, especially if your baby is involved. There is no real problem or threat, but your distress is real all the same.

Fortunately, postpartum anxiety doesn’t last forever.

Signs of Postpartum Anxiety

If you suspect you might have postpartum anxiety, then it’s important for you to know the signs.

Your thoughts and mood will be affected. You’ll spend most days feeling restless and on edge. You’ll feel a sense of dread, and you’ll keep expecting something to go wrong. Your thoughts might race from one worrying thought to the next without giving you a break.

This can make you more irritable than you used to be, and who could blame you? Struggling with those thoughts and worries would make anyone angry.

You’ll worry about your child, of course. You’ll worry about their health. But you’ll also face negative thoughts about yourself. You might be overwhelmed with the responsibility of parenthood. You might even ask yourself if you truly are able to be a good parent to your child.

There are other signs too. You might find it hard to sleep at night. Your heart rate will be higher than usual. It’s possible you might get all sorts of physical aches: chest pains, nausea, dizziness. You might even feel shaky, or get either chills or hot flashes whenever your anxiety becomes too intense.

When Does Postpartum Anxiety Begin

Postpartum anxiety can begin at any time. It’s more common for it to first appear four to six weeks after birth, but in reality, the timeline is different for everyone. If you develop postpartum anxiety, you might do so within the first four to six weeks, like most people do. You might also develop it right after giving birth.

On the contrary, it’s possible you might develop it several months after giving birth, in which case you might not think you’re struggling with postpartum anxiety at all. It’s also possible you’ll develop it during the pregnancy itself, in which case you might also not realize that it’s postpartum anxiety.

When Does Postpartum Anxiety End

There is no definite time frame for when postpartum anxiety ends. Moderate to severe anxiety does not go away on its own, but it can take a long time for you to reach out for help. In some cases, you don’t even realize you need help until weeks, maybe even months after the first few signs of postpartum anxiety show up.

There’s no definite timeline for treatment either. Everyone heals differently, even with professional help, and your recovery might look different from someone else’s. That doesn’t make your journey any less valid. It just means comparing your healing to someone else’s won’t help you in the long run.

This shouldn’t be discouraging. After all, the one thing we know is that postpartum anxiety isn’t permanent. It’s possible for you to recover. It’s possible to leave anxiety behind and raise your child the way you wanted.

Seeking Help

If reading the signs of postpartum anxiety resonated with you, then it might good idea to seek counseling. It’s important to have people you can count on, of course, like friends and family. But they’re not equipped to help you in the same way a professional can.

So, go ahead and make an appointment. Postpartum anxiety won’t last forever, and you can make sure of that by getting the right kind of help