Symptoms of perinatal anxiety

There are many types of anxiety disorders. While the symptoms of perinatal anxiety disorders are different, women who have symptoms of an anxiety disorder may experience:

  • 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 difficult to stop or control
  • constantly feeling irritable, restless or “on edge”
  • having tense muscles, a “tight” chest and heart palpitations
  • finding it difficult 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.

The psychosocial question on “worrying” and Questions 3, 4 and 5 of the EPDS reflect some of these symptoms.

 

See also

Assessing women for symptoms of anxiety disorders

Management of anxiety in the perinatal period

Things to remember about perinatal anxiety

Help for perinatal patients under Medicare