These unusual symptoms will generally have been present most of the time, for a period of longer than ten days.
Mood swings are common and many women report feeling numb.
1. Depression:
- Feeling sad; suicidal thinking
- Feeling overwhelmed with fatigue
- Feeling hopeless
- Feeling guilty
- Feeling lonely, abandoned, unsupported
- Feeling no love for baby
- Forgetfulness, indecisiveness
2. Anger:
- Feeling out of control
- Feeling angry most of the time
- Fighting with other people
- Feeling irritable
- Feeling frustrated
- Feeling trapped
3. Anxiety:
- Feeling anxious most of the time; “knot in my stomach”
- Fear that she might harm herself, the baby or others
- Fearfulness: being alone, going out, unbearable, obsessive anxiety over health, her own, baby’s, baby’s father
- Panic attacks, feeling panicky
- Frightening thoughts; that she/the baby/her partner is not safe
4. Loss:
- Of joy
- Of motivation
- Of interest in previous interests
- Of interest in her own appearance, of taking care of herself
- Of interest in sex, loss of libido
- Of self-esteem and self-confidence
- Of concentration, of the ability to think clearly
- Of appetite – or control of appetite
5. Physical Symptoms:
- Loss, or dramatic increase, of appetite – comfort eating, or being unable to eat
- Weight loss or gain, beyond what is normal after having a baby
- Insomnia – can’t sleep even when baby is asleep; early waking; sleep disturbances; wants to sleep all the time
- Agitation, restlessness, or a general physical slowing down
- Headaches, nausea, vomiting, other unusual physical symptoms
