Symptoms
Symptoms of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs)
Women experiencing anxiety, depression and other PMADs can experience a wide range of symptoms, from sadness to anger and everything in between. Symptoms can vary from person to person and even from pregnancy to pregnancy for the same woman.
- feel sad, hopeless, or overwhelmed
- feel anxious or panicky
- regret having a baby
- have trouble sleeping, even when baby sleeps
- think her family would be better off without her
- fear leaving the house or being alone
- isolate herself from friends and family
- have unexplained anger or irritability
- fear she might harm herself or her baby
- have trouble coping with daily tasks
- have difficulty concentrating or making simple decisions
- feel “out of control”
- feel guilty for feeling this way
Women experiencing PMADs say:
- This is supposed to be the happiest time in my life… why am I so sad?
- Everything would be better if I got a good night’s sleep.
- I feel like the worst mother in the world.
- I’m having thoughts that are scaring me.
- Why am I such a failure?
- I worry all the time.
- Why can’t I snap out of it?
- I want to run away.