Antenatal and Postnatal Anxiety

Antenatal is the period of time during pregnancy, postnatal is the period of time after pregnancy and anxiety is a condition that affects the fight, flight or freeze response within the body.

Anxiety is a feeling we all get in a situation that is perceived as life threatening or difficult. Normally, this anxiety stops when you get used to the situation, when the situation changes, or if you leave the situation. However, with an anxiety disorder/mental illness the feeling of dread and imminent danger doesn’t go away. If left untreated, this can lead to depression and a paralysing fear of normal activities.

Although some people find a particular situation triggers their anxiety, many do not always know what they are feeling anxious about. Not knowing what triggers your anxiety can intensify it and you may start to worry that there’s no solution.

The body reacts to anxiety in two different ways, causing either psychological or physical symptoms.

Psychological symptoms include

• Feeling anxious all or most of the time and not being able to control it
• Restlessness
• Feeling very worried
• Feeling a sense of dread
• Being unable to concentrate, or feeling like your mind goes blank
• Feeling irritable
• Feeling constantly on edge
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Catastrophising and experiencing unwanted negative thoughts

Pychological symptoms include

• A racing heartbeat
• A feeling of dread or fear of dying
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath/hyperventilation
• Feeling dizzy
• Excessive sweating
• Feeling faint
• Feeling shaky/unable to steady hands
• Tingling in the hands/feet
• Churning stomach
• Aches and pains

Treatment

Your symptoms may cause you to withdraw from social contact (seeing your family and friends) to avoid feelings of worry and dread.

Early recognition, support and treatment can be a huge benefit to the health and wellbeing of the whole family unit, so it is important to seek professional help/guidance from a GP or midwife as soon as you think that you or someone you know might be affected by any of these symptoms.

 More information about anxiety can be found here: Anxiety and generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) | Royal College of Psychiatrists (rcpsych.ac.uk)