Recognizing Postpartum Anxiety in New Mothers

New mothers go through an emotional upheaval and lose their mothering experience in a slew of worries and concerns about the newborn. It is normal for a woman to feel on edge after having a baby, but those suffering from anxiety typically face prolonged anxiety-related symptoms, such as irritability, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, etc., which can impair their ability to take a good care of the new baby.

Andrea is a new mother, with a two-month-old baby. She's been spending sleepless nights attending to him ever since she was discharged from the hospital. Despite the sudden life changes post the delivery, she believes that all these changes are worth the happiness of motherhood. However, she continues to experience dizziness, jittery feelings, constant tightness in the throat and chest, and a pounding heart, which gradually took a heavy toll on her physical and mental well-being.

"What if I go out and he starts crying uncontrollably and I'm unable to calm him" and "what if someone snatched him away from my arms" are some of the many anxious thoughts which continue to haunt her mind. As an outcome, she often ends up asking for repeated reassurances and unnecessary advice from her mother, friends and care providers, surfing the internet for answers to the innumerable questions arising in her mind, avoiding stepping out of the house and obsessively reading books and magazines on parenting.

Thus, when new mothers start to worry about trivial matters and are unable to stop, it could be a sign of postpartum anxiety disorder. Anxiety in new mothers can be highly debilitating as it can reduce the mother-infant bond and can also result in impaired cognitive development later in the child's life.

Tips to deal with postpartum anxiety

Studies have shown that when women are not treated for postpartum anxiety or depression, they are less likely to provide proper care for a dependent infant, which can have a long-term impact on the child's physical and mental development. Such women are highly vulnerable to self-medication with alcohol or drugs which may result in alcohol or drug addiction, along with lifelong chronic anxiety. However, it is important to identify symptoms of postpartum anxiety in new mothers and seek assistance at the earliest. Here are some tips to mitigate anxiety-related symptoms:

Antidepressant medications: Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which include fluoxetine and sertraline, are the class of medications prescribed to combat postpartum anxiety and depression. Venlafaxine, which is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), is also used to counter such conditions.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): This therapy centers around dealing with negative thoughts in a constructive and positive way through problem-solving skills, relaxation, social skills and other related activities. CBT is known to be highly effective in treating postpartum depression and anxiety.

Interpersonal therapy (IPT): This 12-session therapy helps patients to improve relationships with their spouse and is effective in preventing or lowering anxiety-related symptoms.

Some self-help tips to manage postpartum anxiety at home are:

• giving priority to oneself
• having a healthy diet
• doing regular exercise
• spending time with family and friends
• keeping oneself busy with hobbies and other fun activities
• focusing on the present instead of worrying about the future
• getting sufficient sleep

Leading an anxiety-free life

Being anxious once in a while is normal. However, anxiety disorder is a serious mental disorder. The symptoms of the disorder range from general fear of the unknown to excessive paranoia which can hamper day-to-day activities.

If you or your loved one is suffering from postpartum anxiety or any other anxiety disorder, seek medical help from a certified medical practitioner at the earliest. You can connect with the Anxiety Treatment Centers in California for all the required details on anxiety disorders treatment. You may call us at our 24/7 helpline number 855-972-9459 to speak to our certified representatives to know about various anxiety treatment centers.

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Internal Peace For Personal Development

For personal development, the importance of internal peace is paramount. Internal peace refers to a state of calmness, which is free from distracting thoughts. In other words, the integration of feelings and thoughts that results in harmony and tranquility is called internal peace. If you want to achieve that state of mind, you need to honor your emotions and find a way to express or release those feelings. Let's take a look at some practical steps to do that.

1. Listen to yourself

You should listen to your thoughts and emotions. In a certain situation, you kind of 'flip out' as you don't believe that you are losing control. Actually, this happens when you are under intense emotional burden but you are oblivious to it.

2. Be responsible for your emotions and feelings

You should learn to be responsible for how you feel. Remember: others can't make you feel a certain way. Instead, your feelings develop based on how you interpret the situation you are in. If you blame others, you give away all your strength and react with rage.

3. Consult a counselor

Another step is to sit with a friend or counselor and talk about it. In other words, you should express your feelings to someone you trust. This could be a friend who can help you release your emotional buildup.

4. Accept yourself

Nobody is perfect. Therefore, you may want to accept yourself. In other words, you should accept yourself with whatever you have. If you accept yourself, it will create feelings of internal peace.

5. Stop judging yourself

If you judge yourself, it will make you think you are not good enough. Regardless of what you do, know that you won't find yourself perfect.

6. Don't think about your past

You should stop worrying about what you did in your past. You tried your best to get the most out of those days. If you have had painful experiences in the past, try to release those memories and forgive yourself.

7. Find a way to relax

You can choose from many ways to stay in balance. For instance, you can go for daily meditation. Other ways to stay relax include walking, exercising and reading, to name a few. In your home, there should be a peaceful place for this purpose.

8. Practice gratitude

If you want to enjoy inner peace and healing, you should develop your thoughts of abundance, love and peace. This will make you lead a life that is full of balance and harmony, which is what you want.

9. Start a journal

History tells us that people use journal to release their emotions and be aware of what situation they are in. You can express your emotions in the form of words. You can continue this practice if this works for you.

The takeaway

So, these are 9 steps that you can follow in order to release your emotions and find that internal peace you desire. This internal peace can help you achieve your goal of personal development. Hope this helps.

Shawanna Kennedy, a self-care and mental wellness advocate, corporate trainer and conference speaker, helps professionals return to their core value system through personal development. You can find out more about her by checking out http://www.theselffirstmovement.com

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