| Symptom Category | Postnatal Depression | Postnatal Anxiety |
|---|---|---|
| Mood & Emotions | Persistent sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness; feeling numb or disconnected; irritability; mood swings | Constant worry or dread; feeling on edge or restless; sense of impending doom; irritability |
| Thoughts & Mental State | Difficulty concentrating; feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt; thoughts that you're a bad mother; in severe cases, thoughts of harming yourself or baby | Racing thoughts; excessive worrying about baby's health or safety; catastrophic thinking ("what if" spirals); intrusive thoughts; difficulty switching off mentally |
| Physical Symptoms | Fatigue or loss of energy; changes in appetite (eating much more or less); sleep problems (insomnia or sleeping too much); physical aches and pains | Restlessness or feeling keyed up; muscle tension; headaches; rapid heartbeat; shortness of breath; dizziness; nausea; sleep problems (difficulty falling or staying asleep) |
| Behaviour & Activity | Loss of interest or pleasure in things you used to enjoy; withdrawal from friends and family; difficulty bonding with baby; moving or speaking more slowly | Hypervigilance (constantly checking baby); difficulty relaxing or sitting still; avoidance of situations that trigger anxiety; seeking constant reassurance |
| Duration & Pattern | Symptoms present most of the day, nearly every day, for at least 2 weeks; often worse in morning | Persistent worry and tension that's hard to control; may have panic attacks (sudden intense fear); often worse at night |
| Impact on Daily Life | Difficulty completing daily tasks; struggling to care for yourself or baby; feeling overwhelmed by basic responsibilities | Difficulty making decisions due to worry; exhaustion from constant alertness; avoiding activities or places due to fear |
Important note: It's very common to experience both postnatal depression and postnatal anxiety at the same time. If you're experiencing symptoms from both columns, you're not alone, and effective treatment is available for co-occurring conditions.
You should reach out to a healthcare professional if:
Both postnatal depression and perinatal anxiety are treatable. Treatment options include: