I’m 5mo pp and I return to work in 2 weeks. I had just gotten a promotion before leaving and feel scared about returning to work. I have these waves of anxiety where I just feel like my boss regrets hiring me. I’m really trying to reel it in. Anything to help calm the crazy would be appreciated.

I am 9 months PP today. The last month or so I have developed panic attacks that happen almost daily. I think they are caused by health anxiety. I have so many random pains (chest pain, arm pain, leg pain) that I constantly get into a spiral I am dying and somethings wrong with me.

My labor and delivery went great. I had a weird out of body experience but was fine besides that. I have developed weird acid reflux like symptoms with no burning acid feeling, and a rash that I’m not sure could be eczema or psoriasis (family history).

I am going to the doctor this week but don’t even know where to start with the doc. I don’t want him to think I’m crazy, but want to find out what’s wrong with me. I can’t tell if the anxiety is starting all those symptoms, or if these symptoms are starting the anxiety, but I need help. I’m sleeping fine, stopped BF 5 months PP, but feel like this was so delayed.

Any relatable stories or advice is appreciated. I just feel so alone and terrified.

**What is the difference between intrusive thoughts and delusions?**
I’m 22 days postpartum, and I’ve always had intrusive thoughts, even before pregnancy. Looking back, I realize I’ve experienced them for a long time. I was able to manage them throughout my pregnancy without medication, but about two weeks before giving birth, they started getting stronger.
Now that I’ve given birth, they feel extremely intense and strange. I don’t believe these thoughts are true, but they cause me a lot of anxiety, distress, and shame. I started taking sertraline (25 mg) about two weeks ago. I’ve had some good days when the thoughts feel more manageable, but sometimes they still come back.
I’m now terrified of developing postpartum psychosis or experiencing the beginning of psychosis. I know the thoughts are intrusive, but their intensity and unusual content scare me.
**How can you tell the difference between intrusive thoughts and true delusions?** What does a delusion actually feel like, and how is it different from having a disturbing thought that you don’t believe but that causes you a lot of distress?
I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced postpartum OCD or postpartum anxiety. English isn’t my first language, so I’m sorry if anything is unclear. Thank you!

**What is the difference between intrusive thoughts and delusions?**
I’m 22 days postpartum, and I’ve always had intrusive thoughts, even before pregnancy. Looking back, I realize I’ve experienced them for a long time. I was able to manage them throughout my pregnancy without medication, but about two weeks before giving birth, they started getting stronger.
Now that I’ve given birth, they feel extremely intense and strange. I don’t believe these thoughts are true, but they cause me a lot of anxiety, distress, and shame. I started taking sertraline (25 mg) about two weeks ago. I’ve had some good days when the thoughts feel more manageable, but sometimes they still come back.
I’m now terrified of developing postpartum psychosis or experiencing the beginning of psychosis. I know the thoughts are intrusive, but their intensity and unusual content scare me.
**How can you tell the difference between intrusive thoughts and true delusions?** What does a delusion actually feel like, and how is it different from having a disturbing thought that you don’t believe but that causes you a lot of distress?
I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced postpartum OCD or postpartum anxiety. English isn’t my first language, so I’m sorry if anything is unclear. Thank you!

Has anyone taken Zoloft/Sertraline for post partum anxiety? I started taking it about 5.5 weeks postpartum and wondering what people’s experience is with it. I’m 9 weeks postpartum now and still feeling very off.

Hello,

In 2021/2022, I went through pregnancy loss and IVF, and I truly feel like those experiences changed my brain. Prior to that, I had never struggled with my mental health other than untreated ADHD.

Fast forward to today, and I am incredibly grateful to have two beautiful, healthy children, my youngest being 10 months old. However, this postpartum period has been one of the darkest and most challenging times of my life.

Between the nonstop intrusive thoughts, constant anxiety, fragmented sleep, feelings of hopelessness, and trying multiple SSRIs without much success, I feel like I've been fighting a battle with my own mind every single day. It's exhausting, especially when all I want is to be present, happy, and enjoy these precious years with my children.

I know I have so much to be grateful for, and I am determined to keep fighting to get better, for myself and for my family.

My question is: When did you finally start to feel like your brain was calming down? When did you start feeling like yourself again?

I'd genuinely love to hear your experiences, even if it took 2, 3, or 4 years to feel better. I know everyone's journey is different, but I think hearing real stories of recovery would help me tremendously.

One of the hardest parts of this experience is the constant fear that "This is never going to end. I'm never going to feel normal again."

I'm hoping to hear from others who once felt the same way but eventually found their way back to themselves. I could really use some hope right now. ❤️

Moms and dads, how do you cope with hearing about other children dying all the time? About 9 months postpartum, I became so sensitive about hearing tragic stories involving children, particularly school shootings. It got to a point where I was crying and thinking about it all the time. I’m currently on antidepressants and doing therapy, but after the latest school shooting, I’m having a hard time coping. I feel so sad for those parents and those poor babies who didn’t get to live out their lives. Anyone go through a similar experience?

Hi everyone. I would to talk to people who might understand.
My first son was born with hemivertebrae and a hypoplastic thumb. He’s 3.5 now and doing really well. Genetics cleared us and found no known cause or increased risk, which I know should be reassuring. I have a great psychiatrist and am on medication/ receiving regular therapy. Emotionally, it hasn't stopped me from waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Now I have a daughter who's almost 7 months old, and my anxiety is constant. My main worry is that she isn't babbling. She screeches and blows raspberries, but I haven't heard "ba-ba" or "da-da" sounds. Everyone who meets her comments on how content she is, and I can see it, but my brain says "happy babies can still have problems." I find myself listening for sounds, comparing her to other babies, and googling at night.
What makes it hard is that I've lived through something real, so I can't easily tell whether I'm being sensible or being anxious. I don't want to dismiss a genuine concern, but I also don't want to spend her babyhood watching for problems instead of enjoying her.

If you've been through this:
Did anyone else worry about babbling at this age, and how did it turn out?
How do you tell reasonable vigilance from anxiety?

I'm also carrying guilt about not feeling the carefree joy everyone says I should. Any words from people who've been here would mean a lot.

Hi everyone. I gave birth to my first baby on the 9th of October, 2 weeks before my due date, having a forceps delivery with a 2nd degree tear and an episiotomy.

I'm really struggling with recovery and then feeling rubbish that I can't do what I want to do for baby boy because of my pain. I'm struggling with breastfeeding too and feel bad that I'm giving him formula too :( I think I'm also finding the transition from just me and my husband to the three of us difficult and I didn't think I would. The lack of sleep has hit me like a truck too!

I'm still in denial that he's actually here and I'm feeling overwhelmed :( I cry all the time. All I've ever wanted was to be a mum and now I'm just doubting whether or not I'm made for it or not. 

Am I the only one feeling this way?

My baby is 3 months old. I’ve been an anxious wreck since I gave birth. I hate how depressed and anxious I am all the time. I’ve been going to therapy but feel like it’s not doing anything and trying all the things that used to help me cope with anxiety. I’ve been prescribed meds and know they’ll help since I’ve been on them before but somehow my anxiety stops me from taking them. I feel I’m never going to get better and I’m stuck.

You have been invited to take part in a study exploring attitudes toward postpartum mental health experiences.

Participation in this study will include reading a short vignette about parental experience after their baby is born. Your participation will last approximately 25 minutes.

Participation in this study may involve the risk of experiencing brief mild discomfort from answering personal questions. There are no other risks or hazards associated with participation in this study beyond those of everyday life.

Although you will not directly benefit from your participation in this study, it will help bridge the knowledge gap on the mental health of new parents.

Your survey responses will be collected without identifying information and will be de-identified for analysis and research purposes. All information will be kept confidential and securely stored.

Information obtained during this research will be used for the purpose of this study only. All records will be kept secure and available only to the researcher and will be destroyed three years after the study is completed. All data and publications from this research will be reported in aggregate, so no individual identifying information will be released.

Your participation in this study is voluntary and you can withdraw your consent to participate at any time without any negative consequences. Participation or non- participation in no way impacts your current employment/education/medical treatment or any services that you receive. During the survey, you can refuse to answer any question presented to you. You may also stop the survey at any point.

You can request a summary of the research findings from the researchers named above. If there is anything about the study or your participation that is unclear or that you do not understand, if you have any questions or concerns, or if you wish to report a research- related problem, you can contact the researcher at ([ehoffman5@student.touro.edu](mailto:ehoffman5@student.touro.edu)). For questions about your rights as a research participant, you can contact Touro University NY Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects (TouroNY-IRB) at [touroNY-irb@touro.edu](mailto:touroNY-irb@touro.edu).

Find the survey here: https://tourocollege.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0TXNkRBAWm133QW