Counselling for Perinatal Anxiety - Geelong
Perinatal Anxiety - what is it?
Perinatal anxiety refers to anxiety experienced any time during the antenatal period or in the 12 months post the birth of the baby. Whilst common it often goes missed or other factors such as hormone fluctuations and sleep deprivation are considered the cause of the mother’s symptoms.
Symptoms of perinatal anxiety include:
anxiety or fear that interrupts thoughts and interferes with daily tasks
panic attacks
outbursts of extreme fear and panic that are overwhelming and feel difficult to bring under control
anxiety and worries that keep coming into the woman’s mind and are di cult to stop or control
constantly feeling irritable, restless or “on edge”
having tense muscles, a “tight” chest and heart palpitations
finding it di cult to relax and/or taking a long time to fall asleep at night
anxiety or fear that stops the woman going out with her baby
anxiety or fear that leads the woman to check on her baby constantly
Perinatal anxiety is common with approximately 1 in 5 women experiencing anxiety during birth or in the following 12 months. There is still stigma attached to this which can prevent women talking about their struggles and seeking help.
Factors impacting perinatal anxiety
Whilst there is no single cause of anxiety there are a range of factors; biological, psychological and social that can place women at higher risk of experiencing perinatal anxiety. Some of these factors may include family history, access to support, coping strategies, past history of mental illness.
Treatment Options
There are various treatment options that can assist with perinatal anxiety including engaging in therapy (talk-based) with a trained therapist or medication which is best discussed with your GP / doctor. If you are unsure what to do or if what you are feeling is perinatal anxiety talk to someone you trust i.e – partner, friend, health professional, MCHN, GP. Being a new mum can be really great but also really tough it is important that you look after yourself as well. Additionally if you are worried about a loved one be sure to talk about it with them as they may not know how to ask for help.