It’s Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Week in Australia, so it’s time

Firstly, let’s get the medical jargon out of the way: Perinatal means the time immediately before and after childbirth, and can relate to a number of weeks or months. This time is obvious a fairly intense part of anyone’s life as it’s a point of massive change, impacting your health, lifestyle and mental wellbeing in a huge way.

Baby showers and post-birth grams may lead you to believe that the perinatal period is one of extreme joy, as new mums and dads are bursting at the seams with love for their new addition to the family. However, it is extremely common for new parents to experience serious and devastating depression and anxiety during this time.

In fact, one in five expectant or new mothers and one in ten expecting or new fathers will experience perinatal anxiety or depression.

That means in Australia alone, around 100,000 families will be affected by this illness every single year. When perinatal anxiety and/or depression is left untreated, it can have a heartbreaking impact on parents, partners and babies - with scary side effects including self-harm and even suicide.

But why does Perinatal anxiety and depression get left untreated? Well, because it’s strangely a taboo subject that many new mums and dads are afraid to talk about, due to shame and fear of their own feelings.

That’s why, during PANDA week, we should strive to have those conversations and learn about what the warning signs for this illness so we can protect loved ones and ourselves.

However, perinatal anxiety and depression can be quite difficult to recognise for a whole range of reasons - mainly due to symptoms often being dismissed as ‘normal’ elements of pregnancy and early parenthood. However the main symptoms tend to be:

Feeling sad, low, or crying for no obvious reason
Persistent, generalised worry, often focused on fears for the health or wellbeing of your baby
Being nervous, ‘on edge’, or panicky
Being easily annoyed or irritated
Withdrawing from friends and family
Difficulties sleeping, even when your baby is sleeping
Abrupt mood swings
Feeling constantly tired and lacking energy
Physical symptoms like nausea, vomiting, cold sweats, lack of appetite
Having little or no interest in the things that normally bring you joy
Fear of being alone or with others
Finding it difficult to focus, concentrate or remember
Increased alcohol or drug use
Panic attacks (racing heart, palpitations, shortness of breath, shaking or feeling physically ‘detached’ from your surroundings)
Developing obsessive or compulsive behaviours
Thoughts of death, suicide or bringing harm to yourself or your baby

If you or anyone you know may be suffering with perinatal anxiety or depression, seek medical advice from your doctor or get advice from PANDA’s National Anxiety & Depression Helpline by calling 1300 726 306.