By Sarah Noble
I’ve had ups and downs with anxiety for as long as I can remember.
It manifested postpartum in a way I didn’t expect.
My son cried a lot.
He cried in the car.
He cried in the pram.
He catnapped only for several looong months.
It took hours to get him to sleep, bouncing, rocking, noise, the works.
Then he’d sleep for 20 minutes and the cycle would begin again.
I was anxious thinking about leaving the house.
I’d only go for walks around the block, so if he started crying, I could race home. His crying pained me and increased my anxiety.
I felt everyone was looking at me, judging me.
Look at her, she can’t even get her baby to stop crying.
If I went anywhere in the car, I only went a 10-minute drive away max.
The group of girls from my antenatal class met up regularly.
No one talked of any struggles.
No one seemed worried about crying, naps etc.
I felt lonely, isolated, different.
Postpartum anxiety comes in so many different shapes and forms.
You are not alone in your struggles Mama.
Do you, or have you experienced Postpartum Anxiety?
Sarah Noble is a Maternal Mental Health Coach, and an Accredited Mindfulness Teacher. She specialises in helping mums optimise their mental health, so they can navigate motherhood with confidence, clarity & authenticity. She lives in Dunedin with her partner and son, Dylan, who is 22 months old, with baby number 2 on the way. She loves vegetables, rock music, nature, travel and swearing.
You can find Sarah on Instagram and Facebook and at www.mindfullyyou.nz.
