Health watch: Postpartum anxiety

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - It is normal for mothers to have feelings of anxiety when they welcome a new baby into the world. However, when excessive worry begins to spiral out of control it could be what medical experts call postpartum anxiety.

While postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression share similar symptoms, the Cleveland Clinic says they are different. Explaining that postpartum anxiety is not associated with sadness, but linked with irrational fears that keep people on edge due to overwhelming, constant concerns. Other symptoms of the condition can include increased heartrate, shortness of breath, muscle tension, inability to relax, or obsessive thoughts of things that are unlikely to happen.

Dr. Lara Feldman, a psychologist with the Cleveland Clinic, says therapy is worth a try, but encourages people to always talk to a doctor and come up with a plan that works best for you based on your symptoms and the level of severity of your anxiety.

The clinic also notes that while medication can help, it isn’t always needed. Other ways to find relief can include talking to someone they trust like a family member or friend, getting exercise, eating a healthy diet, and getting adequate sleep.

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