Postpartum Anxiety vs. Postpartum Depression: Knowing the Signs and When to Seek Help

Motherhood is a whirlwind. The rush of emotions, the sleepless nights, the overwhelming love—it’s a lot. But what happens when the emotions go beyond exhaustion and adjustment? When worry takes over or sadness becomes suffocating?

Postpartum mental health struggles are common, but they don’t always look the same. Many people are familiar with postpartum depression (PPD), but postpartum anxiety (PPA) is just as real—and often overlooked. Understanding the differences between the two is crucial so you can get the support you deserve.

What Is Postpartum Depression? Signs & Symptoms

Postpartum depression is more than just the “baby blues.” While it’s normal to feel emotional in the first couple of weeks after birth, PPD lingers and intensifies. It’s a serious condition that affects around 1 in 7 new mothers.

Common Signs of Postpartum Depression:

• Persistent sadness or hopelessness

• Intense irritability or anger

• Lack of interest or joy in activities you once loved

• Difficulty bonding with your baby

• Fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest

• Changes in appetite (overeating or loss of appetite)

• Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby

PPD isn’t a sign of weakness or failure. It’s a medical condition that needs care and support.

What Is Postpartum Anxiety? How It Differs from PPD

While PPD is often associated with sadness and disconnection, postpartum anxiety is marked by excessive worry and fear. Many new moms experience some level of concern, but PPA takes it to another level—it can feel consuming and uncontrollable.

Key Symptoms of Postpartum Anxiety:

• Constant, racing thoughts

• Extreme worry about your baby’s health or safety

• Panic attacks (heart pounding, dizziness, shortness of breath)

• Restlessness and inability to relax

• Trouble sleeping, even when your baby is asleep

• A sense of doom, like something terrible is about to happen

Some women experience both PPD and PPA at the same time, making it even more difficult to pinpoint what’s going on.

How to Get the Help You Need for PPD & PPA

If you’re struggling, know this: You are not alone, and this is not your fault. Postpartum mental health disorders are treatable, and seeking help is the strongest thing you can do for yourself and your baby.

Effective Ways to Get Support:

• Talk to your provider. Your OB, midwife, or primary care doctor can help you find the right treatment plan, whether that’s therapy, medication, or lifestyle changes.If you feel like you are not getting the help you need from your provider, your child's pediatrician also likely has a list of helpful resources.

• Reach out to a therapist. A mental health professional specializing in postpartum care can help you navigate your feelings and develop coping strategies.

• Join a support group. Connecting with other moms who have been there can be incredibly validating and healing.

• Prioritize self-care. Sleep, nutrition, movement, and time for yourself matter. Taking care of you is taking care of your baby.

You Deserve to Feel Better: Take the Next Step

Postpartum depression and anxiety are real, but they don’t define you. You are not broken. You are a mother doing her best—and you don’t have to do it alone. If anything in this blog resonates with you, please reach out to someone you trust. Help is out there, and healing is possible.

You are worthy of support. You are worthy of joy. And most importantly, you are not alone.