We’re all familiar with the term “post-baby blues”, but did you know it’s not uncommon for new mums to develop “post-baby fears, phobias and anxieties” too?

Around 8% of new mums all over the world are thought to suffer with what’s known as generalised anxiety disorder, characterised by feelings of nervousness and constantly feeling on edge.   

Anxiety in new mothers

If this sounds like something you’ve been experiencing, you can rest assured that it’s pretty common and no, you’re not alone.  On the face of it, it’s hardly surprising given the strain childbirth can put on a woman’s body in terms of physical shock, hormonal fluctuations and sleep deprivation.

With time, these feelings should begin to fade - for some mums though, these feelings of anxiety can go on to develop into more serious conditions such as panic attacks and phobias. 

In practice

In my wellbeing practice, it’s not unusual for me to see mums two or three years after they’ve had a baby, confused as to why they’ve suddenly developed a fear of flying or travelling in lifts. 

Phobias do not simply involve intense fear, they can seem completely irrational, quite random and persist over a long period of time.  I’ve come across people who have phobias of buttons, zips, tomatoes and pens that go ‘click’ at the top.  As long as people are able to avoid the object of their fears, they feel fine, but once the feelings of panic begin to attach themselves to ordinary everyday objects, the stress of avoidance becomes too much to bear. 

It’s often only when the embarrassment of having anxiety issues becomes too big to manage, do many mums start to think about seeking help without realising that Hypnotherapy and NLP (Neuro-linguistic Programming) can offer the ideal post-natal ‘detox for the mind’.  

About the Author

Alicia Eaton is a Harley Street based Psychotherapist and Clinical Hypnotherapist and the author of four best-selling books. She’s also a Winner in the latest ‘Global Health & Pharma’ Mental Health Awards 2023. For more details of appointments see here: Consultations.