What Postpartum Anxiety Feels Like For Women
“I Thought I’d Feel Joyful. Instead, I Feel Constantly on Edge.”
After having a baby, you expected some sleepless nights, big emotions and a learning curve. What you didn’t expect was the constant worry. The racing thoughts. The tightness in your chest. The fear that something bad might happen—even when everything seems okay.
If you’re feeling more anxious than you anticipated after giving birth, you're not alone. And you’re not failing.
Postpartum anxiety is a common but often overlooked experience that affects many new mothers. Unlike postpartum depression, which tends to be more widely discussed, postpartum anxiety can fly under the radar—especially if you’re still functioning well on the outside.
What Is Postpartum Anxiety?
Postpartum anxiety is a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD) that involves excessive worry, restlessness and intrusive thoughts following childbirth. It can begin within days, weeks or even months of giving birth—and often gets dismissed as “just new mom stress.”
But postpartum anxiety is more than typical adjustment. It’s persistent, often overwhelming and can interfere with your ability to rest, bond or feel present in your day-to-day life.
Common Symptoms of Postpartum Anxiety
Postpartum anxiety can show up differently for every woman, but here are some of the most common signs:
Racing thoughts that feel hard to control
Constant worry that something bad will happen to the baby
Trouble sleeping, even when the baby is asleep
Physical symptoms like a racing heart, dizziness or stomach issues
Irritability or feeling emotionally “on edge”
Difficulty sitting still or relaxing
Intrusive thoughts (often disturbing or scary) that cause guilt or shame
Avoidance behaviors, like not leaving the house or avoiding certain situations
How It Feels Internally
Many women describe postpartum anxiety as feeling like they’re “always bracing for something bad to happen.” Even when things are going well, they can’t seem to settle or enjoy the moment. You may feel hyper-aware of risks, over-research everything or feel like you need to constantly be “on” in order to keep your baby safe.
You might also feel isolated—even ashamed. Especially if everyone around you is talking about how magical this time is supposed to be.
Why High-Functioning Women Often Miss the Signs
If you're used to being capable, organized, and emotionally in control, you may try to power through postpartum anxiety without realizing that something deeper is going on. You may think:
“This is just what new motherhood is like.”
“Other moms are handling this better.”
“If I just try harder, I’ll feel better.”
But postpartum anxiety isn’t something you can out-organize or think your way out of. It’s a real, treatable condition—and you deserve support.
When to Seek Support
If your anxiety is persistent, interfering with sleep or daily functioning or making it hard to connect with your baby or yourself, it's time to reach out for support. You don’t need to wait until things feel unmanageable.
Support is available—and it works.
How Therapy Can Help
At the Women’s Counseling Center of Denver, we provide therapy tailored to women navigating postpartum anxiety and the emotional transitions of new motherhood.
We create a space where you can speak honestly—without fear of judgment. Our therapists help you:
Understand what you're experiencing and why
Learn tools to calm your nervous system and reduce anxious thoughts
Work through guilt, overwhelm or intrusive thoughts
Strengthen your self-compassion and sense of identity in motherhood
Build a support system and reconnect to yourself
You don’t have to manage this alone. And you don’t have to wait for it to get worse before getting help.
Motherhood brings enormous changes—and you deserve space to process all of it, not just the parts that look good on the outside. If anxiety is taking the joy or peace out of this chapter, therapy can help you feel more grounded, supported, and connected to yourself again.