Perinatal depression and anxiety awareness week
Perinatal mental illnesses like anxiety and depression are common and can be serious. The perinatal period is from pregnancy to 12 months after birth. One in five expecting or new mothers and one in ten expecting or new fathers will experience anxiety and/or depression, affecting around 100,000 families across Australia every year. The key to getting help is being able to recognise that something is wrong and being brave enough to ask for help – to ‘tell someone who cares’. Parents You've Got This is proud to join forces with PANDA to raise awareness for PANDA Week this week, 8 - 15 November. For the past fifteen years, PANDA Week has raised awareness about perinatal mental illness and worked to reduce stigma so those affected can seek help. The theme for PANDA Week 2020 is ‘Tell someone who cares’. If you are struggling, know that you are not alone, and you can reach out for help. This has been a most unusual and difficult year for so many communities nationwide. With many expecting and new parents struggling due to COVID-19 impacts, restrictions and isolation, it is critical that we work together to support families facing mental health challenges at this time. This means PANDA Week is more important than ever. This PANDA Week, we want to raise awareness and help the community and the health system provide the best support possible for expecting and new parents who seek help. We need to work together to build a system where people who are struggling can know that if they reach out for help, they will be supported by ‘someone who cares’.
Anxiety in pregnancy and postnatal depression
When anxiety or depression occurs during pregnancy, it is referred to as antenatal anxiety or antenatal depression. Up to 1 in 10 women and 1 in 20 men experience antenatal depression. The figures are even more stark in parents after the birth of a baby. More than 1 in 7 new mums and up to 1 in 10 new dads experience postnatal depression each year in Australia. Anxiety is just as common, both during pregnancy and postnatally, and many expecting and new parents experience anxiety and depression at the same time. It is normal to experience a degree of anxiety and ‘ups and downs’ when expecting a baby and in the first 12 months. However, some people develop a more pronounced anxiety or lower mood (depression), affecting their daily life and functioning. There are treatments, supports and services available to help you through this experience. If symptoms last for more than two weeks, it’s generally understood that it’s time to seek support.
Symptoms of anxiety and depression
Symptoms of anxiety and depression postnatally include: • Panic attacks (a racing heart, palpitations, shortness of breath, shaking or feeling physically ‘detached’ from your surroundings)
Persistent, generalised worry, often focused on fears for the health or well-being of your baby • The development of obsessive or compulsive behaviours • Abrupt mood swings • Feeling constantly sad, low, or crying for no obvious reason • Being nervous, ‘on edge’, or panicky • Feeling constantly tired and lacking energy • Having little or no interest in all the normal things that bring joy (like time with friends, exercise, eating, or sharing partner time) • Sleeping too much or not sleeping very well at all, even when the baby is asleep • Losing interest in sex or intimacy • Withdrawing from friends and family • Being easily annoyed or irritated • Finding it difficult to focus, concentrate or remember (people with depression often describe this as a ‘brain fog’) • Engaging in more risk-taking behaviour (e.g. alcohol or drug use) • Having thoughts of death or suicide.
Anxiety and depression thoughts
Although the experience of antenatal anxiety and depression will be different for everyone, some common feelings and thoughts expressed by expecting parents include: • “I’m not supposed to feel like this. Pregnancy is supposed to be a time of great happiness, so why am I so miserable?” • “I felt numb and lacking emotional connection and it scared me.” • “I couldn’t do anything. I found it hard even to leave the house, I felt so down.” • “My whole relationship with my body changed, and I hated it.”
Parenting with anxiety and depression
Parents who have postnatal anxiety or depression may describe some of the following experiences and thoughts:
• Anger or guilt about not having ‘normal’ feelings of maternal or paternal love
• Confusion or frustration about feeling low during a time when everyone is saying, “You must be so happy!”
• Being overwhelmed or confused by the advice or opinions of doctors, family or friends about how to manage their baby
• Wondering if their relationship with their partner will ever be the same
• Resenting physical changes to their bodies after childbirth and motherhood (“I was just a mum in some puked-on dressing gown, day in and day out”).
What causes depression and anxiety?
Many factors can contribute to developing perinatal anxiety and depression, which include:
History of anxiety and depression
Family history of mental Illness
Previous reproductive loss (infertility, IVF, miscarriage, termination, stillbirth, death of a baby)
Birth trauma
Premature or sick baby
Challenges with feeding and settling
Sleep deprivation
Pre-existing physical illness
Financial stress
Relationship stress
Anxiety and depression help
Confide in your partner, trusted friend or family member
Let your GP or other trusted health professional know what you're experiencing
Talk to other parents who have recovered from perinatal anxiety and depression
Call the PANDA Helpline to talk about your thoughts and feelings and explore options for support 1300 726 306 Information is taken from: PANDA Anxiety & Depression In Pregnancy & Early Parenthood Fact Sheet PANDA website A note from Freya and Christy: Hi Mamas! Never has motherhood been so tough. We take our hats off to you. We are running Free virtual mamas groups and would be honoured if you would join, to connect with other mamas at the same stage as you. We are all in this together. Our parental education masterclasses range from preconception to first aid! Parents You’ve Got This.
