Postpartum Depression, Anxiety, and Rage: A Quick Guide to Understanding Perinatal Mental Health
- Jennifer Valenta
- Aug 14
- 4 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
If you're searching for postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, postpartum rage, or information about perinatal mental health, you're in the right place.
Noticing a change in how you’re feeling can be an important part of understanding what you may need during this transition. It’s okay to have questions about whether what you’re experiencing is part of the transition to parenthood or something that could benefit from additional support. Sometimes, the first step is simply having someone who understands perinatal mental health help you make sense of what you’re experiencing.
Becoming a parent is a major life transition, but most of us are not taught how to recognize the mental health conditions that can occur during pregnancy and after having a baby. We aren't always equipped or prepared to recognize when changes in mood, thoughts, emotions, or behavior may be signs of a perinatal mental health condition.
What Do "Perinatal" and "Postpartum" Mean?
These terms are often used interchangeably, but they have slightly different meanings.
Perinatal refers to the period surrounding pregnancy and childbirth. In mental health care, perinatal mental health generally includes mental health during pregnancy and the postpartum period following birth.
Postpartum refers to the period after childbirth. While the postpartum period is sometimes discussed as the first six weeks after birth, postpartum mental health care extends well beyond those initial weeks. For mental health purposes, the first year after childbirth is an especially important period for recognizing and addressing postpartum mental health concerns.
You don't stop being postpartum at six weeks. You don't have to stop seeking support because your baby is several months old. Mental health symptoms can emerge at different points throughout the postpartum year, including after an initially positive adjustment. When left untreated, perinatal mental health conditions can persist well beyond the postpartum period and may continue to affect a parent’s mental health, relationships, and daily functioning for years after a child is born.
Are Any of These Thoughts Familiar?
New parenthood comes with enormous changes. Sleep deprivation, physical recovery, feeding challenges, changes in relationships, financial stress, returning to work, and the constant demands of caring for a baby can make it difficult to recognize when you’re struggling with more than the normal adjustment to parenthood.
We also tend to have expectations about what becoming a parent is supposed to feel like. When reality doesn’t match those expectations, it can be easy to blame yourself rather than recognize that you may need support.
Have you found yourself thinking:
“Why don’t I feel the bond everyone talks about?”
“Is it normal to feel this overwhelmed after having a baby?”
“Why do I feel like I’m failing as a mom?”
“Why am I not happy after having a baby?”
“Why is motherhood so much harder for me than everyone else?”
“Maybe I wasn’t meant to be a mom.”
“Everyone else seems to be handling this better than I am.”
“I should be happier. I have everything I wanted.”
“I regret becoming a mom”
“What kind of mother feels this way?”
“I should be able to handle this.”
“I’m scared to tell anyone how bad I’m actually feeling.”
“Why am I constantly worried something will happen to my baby?”
“Why can’t I relax when someone else has the baby?”
“I don’t have time to fall apart right now.”
“I just need to try harder.”
“I can’t tell anyone how I’m really feeling.”
“Maybe this is just what motherhood is like.”
“I’ll feel better once I get more sleep.”
“I just need to get through this stage.”
“I don’t recognize myself anymore.”
“Why am I still feeling this way months after having my baby?”
“Why am I so angry all the time since having a baby?”
“I just want to feel like myself again.”
You may be functioning, caring for your baby, going to work, or doing everything you believe you’re supposed to do while privately struggling.
Having a hard time does not mean you’re failing. You don’t have to prove that you’re struggling “enough” to deserve support. You were not meant to do this alone.
Understanding Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders
My simplified guide to perinatal mental health conditions offers an easy-to-understand overview of prevalence, typical onset, common symptoms, and key features of several conditions that can occur during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Use it as a starting point to learn more and consider whether talking with a qualified professional might be helpful.
This guide is intended as a simplified educational reference to support postpartum mental health awareness and education. It is not intended to diagnose, rule out, or replace a professional assessment. Symptoms can vary in presentation, severity, and duration. If you have concerns about your symptoms or your partner’s postpartum mental health, please seek an assessment from a qualified healthcare or mental health professional.
Download A Quick Guide to Understanding Perinatal Mental Health:
Connect with Jennifer Valenta Counseling here to get support from a Certified therapist for postpartum depression, perinatal mental health, fertility, and reproductive issues.
Jennifer Valenta Counseling offers virtual telehealth appointments across Maryland including Charles County, St. Marys County, Wicomico County, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County, Howard County, Baltimore and surrounding areas.
Comments