Do I Have Postpartum Anxiety? How Long Does Postpartum Anxiety Last?
Do I have Postpartum Anxiety?
If you’re asking yourself, “Do I have postpartum anxiety?”, you’re not alone. Many new parents wonder if their level of worry is typical or if it might be something more. Questions like “How long does postpartum anxiety last?” or “Will it go away on its own?” are very common. The good news? Postpartum anxiety is treatable, and there are many ways to find relief.
What is Postpartum Anxiety?
Postpartum anxiety—sometimes called perinatal anxiety—is anxiety that begins during pregnancy or after birth. This can occur anytime from conception through the first one to three years postpartum. Unlike typical parental worry, postpartum anxiety tends to be more intense, persistent, and disruptive to daily life.
For example, a parent might purchase extra monitoring devices for a healthy baby and still struggle to sleep at night due to fear something will happen at night. Others may find it difficult to let their baby be held by someone else, feeling a constant worry about the baby’s safety. They also can be postpartum intrusive thoughts about baby.
While occasional concern is completely normal, these fears become significant when they interfere with sleep, daily functioning, or relationships. If you feel like it is bigger than what is normal, it likely is!
Common Symptoms of Postpartum Anxiety
If you’re wondering “Do I have postpartum anxiety?”, here are some common signs and symptoms:
Difficulty with sleeping due to excessive worry
Persistent feelings of tension or tightness in the body
Trouble controlling anxious thoughts
Worrying about many different things, often beyond your control
Difficulty letting others care for your baby
Persistent checking behavior
Some of these symptoms may overlap with other things that can pop up postpartum, such as postpartum depression, but they are distinctive conditions. You also can develop postpartum mental health concerns regardless of whether or not you had them with a prior pregancy.
Postpartum Intrusive Thoughts Examples:
Postpartum anxiety can also sometimes be accompanied by intrusive thoughts around self or baby. Postpartum intrusive thoughts examples may include:
I’m going to drop my baby down the stairs
Something bad is going to happen to my baby
What if that bottle is not clean and I make my baby sick?
I can’t let them hold my baby or something bad is going to happen
I am not a good mom
I am failing as a mom
How Long Does Postpartum Anxiety Last?
The duration of postpartum anxiety can vary. For some, it lasts only a few weeks and improves without formal treatment. For others, it can persist for months—or even years—if left untreated. The most important thing to know is that postpartum anxiety is highly treatable, and getting help can make recovery much faster.
Can Partners Experience Postpartum Anxiety?
Yes. Postpartum anxiety can affect partners, too—not just birthing parents. Non-birthing parents may also experience heightened worry, postpartum intrusive thoughts, or difficulty sleeping due to anxiety about the baby’s wellbeing, themselves, or their partner.
How to Treat Postpartum Anxiety
If you’re asking yourself how to manage or how to treat postpartum anxiety, the answer depends on your unique needs. Common and effective treatment options include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): helps you challenge and reframe anxious thoughts
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Often used to trauma-related anxiety or anxiety that relates to childhood
Medication: In some cases, safe and effective medication can reduce symptoms
The key is that treatment works—and you don’t have to go through this alone.
You deserve support.
If you’ve been wondering, “Do I have postpartum anxiety?” or “How long does postpartum anxiety last?”, and are wondering what to do next, reaching out for help is a powerful first step. At our clinic, we offer complimentary 15-minute consultations so you can share what you’re going through and explore whether therapy is right for you.
You deserve to feel better, sleep easier, and enjoy your new chapter of parenthood without constant fear. Postpartum anxiety is treatable—and help is available.
Schedule your free consultation. You’re not alone and we truly get it.
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Soteria Mental Health
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