Millions of women struggle with anxiety and depression while pregnant or shortly after they give birth. Unfortunately, many don’t get the help they need. When you understand the fundamental features of postpartum anxiety vs. depression, you’ll be best prepared to recognize the symptoms and seek appropriate care before either disorder causes significant harm.
At Robles Ranch, our team has decades of combined experience helping people with these and other complex mental health concerns. To learn more or to schedule a free assessment, contact us today.
Learn more about treatment for postpartum depression and anxiety disorders in California or verify your insurance now.
Postpartum Mental Health Concerns
The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which is the standard reference book for clinicians and other mental health experts in the U.S., does not contain entries for either postpartum anxiety or postpartum depression.
But those omissions in no way indicate that these conditions aren’t real.
About one of every five women experience anxiety or depression while pregnant or shortly after giving birth:
- Anxiety: According to the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, about 20% of pregnant women and new mothers experience symptoms of anxiety disorders, with these symptoms arising most frequently during the early stages of pregnancy.
- Depression: The American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) has reported that 19.2% of women have a major depressive episode within the first three months after the end of their pregnancy, but 40% of these women don’t seek treatment.
Symptoms of Postpartum Anxiety vs. Depression
Though there are many differences between the two disorders, the symptoms of both postpartum anxiety and depression can include physical discomfort in addition to emotional pain.
Postpartum Anxiety Symptoms
When diagnosing postpartum anxiety, health professionals may refer to the DSM-5 entries on generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic disorder.
Symptoms of postpartum anxiety can include:
- Extreme fear or apprehension that something bad is about to happen
- Inability to suppress or cope with this fear
- Feeling of being perpetually “keyed up” or on edge
- Physical and mental exhaustion
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating or maintaining a train of thought
- Persistent muscle tension, often in the back and shoulders
- Headaches, stomach aches, nausea, and similar symptoms that don’t have a clear medical cause
Some women who develop postpartum anxiety also have panic attacks. These are brief but extremely distressing episodes with intense physical symptoms can cause a person to believe that they are having a heart attack.
Symptoms of a postpartum panic attack can include:
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Excessive perspiration
- Racing heart rate or palpitations
- Chest pain
- Nausea
- Inability to catch your breath
- Sensation of being choked or smothered
- Tingling in the hands and feet
- Trembling or shaking
- Hot flashes and/or chills
- Depersonalization
- Fear that you are “losing your mind” or about to die
Postpartum Depression Symptoms
Postpartum depression is sometimes also referred to as peripartum depression or major depressive disorder with peripartum onset. The “peripartum” part of the term indicates that these symptoms can begin while a person is pregnant as well as in the immediate aftermath of giving birth.
Symptoms of postpartum depression can include:
- Sudden and extreme mood swings
- Excessive crying
- Difficulty bonding with the baby
- Intrusive thoughts that they may harm or kill their child
- Acute fear that they are a bad parent
- Inappropriate guilt and/or shame about self-perceived shortcomings as a parent
- Persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness
- Having trouble focusing, concentrating, or making decisions
- Pervasive fatigue and exhaustion
- Diminished interest in, or ability to enjoy, almost all activities
- Significant appetite change, and resultant unintentional weight gain or loss
- Abnormal sleep patterns, which may include insomnia or hypersomnia
- Agitation and restlessness or slowed responsiveness
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Thoughts of self-harm and/or suicide
A small subset of women who experience postpartum depression also develop psychotic symptoms.
Symptoms of postpartum psychosis can include:
- Hallucinations: Women with postpartum psychosis often report hearing voices that command them to kill their child.
- Delusions: A common delusion among women with postpartum psychosis is the belief that their infant is possessed.
- Paranoia: This is a type of delusion that causes a new mother to believe that she is being persecuted or spied on, or that others are trying to harm her or her baby.
- Depersonalization: This involves episodes during which a woman feels like she has become detached from her body and mind.
- Disorganized thoughts: This symptom usually manifests as the inability to communicate with other people in a logical or even understandable manner.
Causes of Postpartum Depression vs. Anxiety
There is no single cause of either postpartum depression or anxiety. Instead, the likelihood that a person will develop one or both of these conditions can be influenced by a range of factors.
An October 2022 Cureus article included the following risk factors for postpartum depression:
- Personal history of mental health struggles
- Family history of mental illness
- Living in poverty
- Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy
- History of multiple births
- Premature birth or low birth weight
- Negative birth experience
- Previous or ongoing domestic violence
- Poor health or history of severe illness
- Having limited access to healthcare during and active pregnancy
- Low spousal and social support
The authors of the Cureus article identified prior mental health struggles and low spousal support as the two factors that have the greatest impact on a person’s risk of postpartum depression.
A March 2025 review in the Journal of Affective Disorders cited the following risk factors for postpartum anxiety:
- History of anxiety, depression, or an eating disorder
- Inadequate support, especially from partner
- Previous or ongoing intimate partner violence
- Low satisfaction with their relationship
- History of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), especially childhood sexual abuse
- Financial stress
- Low socioeconomic status
- Low education level
- Tobacco use
- Perceived excessive crying by the infant
- Having diabetes or premenstrual syndrome prior to pregnancy
- Dysfunctional coping strategies
- Unrealistic expectations of motherhood
Treatment Options for Postpartum Anxiety vs. Depression
Treatment for postpartum anxiety and/or depression can occur in several environments and involve a range of therapies and support services.
Programming options for postpartum anxiety and depression include:
Therapies that can be beneficial for women with postpartum anxiety or depression include:
- Individual psychotherapy
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy
- Holistic therapy
- Somatic therapy
There isn’t one program or type of therapy that is ideal for every person with postpartum anxiety or depression. That’s why it is so important to choose a treatment provider who will take the time to assess the full scope of your needs, then develop a truly personalized plan for you.
Learn More About Treatment for Postpartum Anxiety and Depression in Paso Robles
Robles Ranch is a trusted source of personalized care for women whose lives have been disrupted by postpartum anxiety and depression.
Our treatment center is a safe and welcoming environment where clients benefit from a dynamic array of evidence-based therapies and innovative holistic practices. We are committed to helping each person achieve true and lasting healing through the transformative power of nature, expert clinical support, and genuine human connection.
To learn more call 866-840-3841 or verify your insurance now.