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Dealing with Postpartum Anxiety? Physical Therapy Can Help

by | Oct 5, 2023 | Reproductive Mental Health

Postpartum Anxiety Treatment Physical Therapy

By Ashley Rawlins, PT, DPT, Origin Physical Therapy

Becoming a new parent can be a wild ride of fleeting emotions. One minute you find yourself calmly breathing in that perfect baby smell or adoring those impossibly tiny hands, and the next minute you’ve broken into a cold sweat because you’re worried that your baby isn’t eating enough or could roll over onto their stomach in the middle of the night.

To some extent, we all share worries like these, but a growing number of new parents experience excessive worry and anxiety. You might find that worrying disrupts your ability to get through the day or leads to physical symptoms such as a racing heart beat or shortness of breath. When this is the case, you may be dealing with postpartum anxiety, a serious perinatal mental health disorder that requires comprehensive treatment — and all the support you can get. 

Few people with postpartum anxiety know that, in addition to other medical approaches like mental health counseling and medication, working with a postpartum physical therapist can be a huge help. Find out why below.

Understanding Postpartum Anxiety

Postpartum Anxiety (PPA) is a perinatal mental health disorder that may affect up to 21% of birthing people in the postpartum period. While PPA is a different mental health disorder than the more well known postpartum depression (PPD), they commonly occur together and even have overlapping symptoms.

The symptoms of PPA can show up at any time during your pregnancy and up to 1 year in the postpartum, and may include:

  • Worry that is persistent and excessive, disrupting your day-to-day life
  • Feeling that something bad is going to happen to you or your family
  • Racing thoughts
  • Disturbances of sleep and appetite
  • Restlessness, or inability to sit still
  • Physical symptoms like dizziness, hot flashes, and nausea

In addition to generalized anxiety, Postpartum Panic Disorder, and Postpartum Obsessive Compulsive Disorder are two other forms of anxiety seen in the perinatal period.

Getting proper treatment for PPA is important however because left untreated, anxiety during pregnancy and in the postpartum can impact your:

  • Health and wellbeing
  • Ability to bond with your baby
  • Relationship with your partner
  • Child’s long term health and development

The most commonly recommended treatment options for PPA include psychotherapy, medications such as SSRIs, or both. And while it can feel like a big hill to climb, with proper treatment full recovery is possible.

Add Support with Physical Therapy

While seeking help from a medical provider is essential, incorporating physical therapy into your treatment plan is well worth doing. Here are some of the benefits you can expect:

Restoring your physical health and wellness:

Pregnancy and birth can put your body through a lot, so take time to heal and recover. But when you have PPA, it is important to stay active and exercise for physical health and wellness. By addressing your physical health, physical therapy can help you restore any existing muscle weakness, pelvic floor dysfunction, diastasis recti (separation of abdominal muscles), so that you can feel strong and comfortable exercising again. Afterall, exercise is a proven method for helping to reduce anxiety.

Alleviating any musculoskeletal discomfort and pain: Pain and pelvic floor dysfunction are common in the postpartum period, but when present they may be associated with an increased risk of postpartum mood disorders. Physical therapy interventions, such as manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, and body mechanics recommendations for baby care and daily activities, can effectively address these discomforts, to reduce your pain, improve your mobility and activity levels, and contribute to a more positive emotional state.

Enhancing Mindfulness to Ease Anxiety:

Research shows that integrating mindfulness strategies as a helpful tool in treating postpartum anxiety. Physical therapy can help you increase your body awareness and enhance mindfulness, so that you can connect with your body in a positive way. Through education and guidance, physical therapists can teach relaxation techniques, breathing and yoga exercises, and postural adjustments to help you better manage stress, reduce muscle tension, and improve overall mindfulness. 

Promoting Self-Care and Empowerment:

When you have postpartum anxiety, it’s common to feel like you aren’t capable enough to care for your baby. Feeling tired and weak, or having pain can often exacerbate this feeling. A pelvic physical therapist will help you find the right exercises to help you feel strong and comfortable, and optimize your posture and body mechanics to make sure you are successful at the activities you don’t feel your best. 

Offering a Supportive Environment and Education:

Physical therapy sessions create a safe and supportive environment where new parents can openly discuss their concerns and receive guidance from experienced professionals. This is especially true when appointments are virtual and can be completed in the comfort of your own home. It often feels like chatting with a friend who just happens to have individualized, evidence-based, and empathetic advice to help address your symptoms. The need for emotional support cannot be understated in the postpartum period, and has been shown to be protective of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. 

Postpartum anxiety deserves comprehensive treatment that addresses both the physical and emotional aspects of your health and wellness. 

By restoring your physical wellness, improving your mindfulness and body awareness, alleviating any pain or pelvic floor dysfunction, promoting self-care, and offering a supportive environment, pelvic physical therapy can be an invaluable tool in the treatment of postpartum anxiety. 

Therapy Houston Texas 77006

At the Houston Center for Valued Living, we offer therapy in Houston for a variety of life’s challenges. Our team of compassionate therapists offer a variety of therapeutic specialties including: 

We are located at 4203 Montrose Blvd in Houston, Texas 77006. You can reach us at 713-331-5538 or info@hcfvl.com