Beyond the Baby Blues: Understanding Postpartum Mental Health
You’re told it’s normal to cry
Everyone says the first few weeks after birth are emotional. Your hormones are shifting, you’re sleep-deprived, and your world has completely changed.
So when you find yourself crying easily or feeling a little off, it seems to make sense, it’s the baby blues, right?
But what if those feelings don’t fade after a couple of weeks, or they start to feel heavier, sharper, or more consuming? That is when it might be something more than just “baby blues.”
The Difference Between the Baby Blues and PMADs
The “baby blues” are common, up to 80% of new parents experience them. They usually begin a few days after birth and last no longer than two weeks. You might cry easily, feel irritable, or have mood swings, but overall, you still feel connected to your baby and yourself.
Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) are different. They include postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and, more rarely, psychosis. They are influenced by hormones, stress, sleep deprivation, and life circumstances, and they are incredibly common and treatable.
These experiences are part of how your mind, body, and sense of self respond to a life that has changed in every direction.
For some parents, the intense emotions of early postpartum gradually fade, but something quieter remains: a version of themselves that feels unfamiliar. When the weeks turn into months or even years of feeling “off,” it may not be a new episode of depression, but a sign that your identity is still catching up to all that has changed.
Therapy can help make sense of that in-between place — not by erasing who you’ve become, but by helping you reconnect with the parts of you that still feel like home.
What PMADs Can Look Like
PMADs do not always look like what people expect. It is not always tears or sadness, sometimes it is numbness, irritability, or relentless worry.
Signs to Watch For:
- Feeling detached from your baby or from yourself
- Racing thoughts or panic that will not quiet down
- Trouble sleeping even when your baby is asleep
- Feeling overwhelmed, ashamed, or guilty
- Thoughts that feel scary or unwelcome
- Thoughts like "I should be happier" or "Something must be wrong with me"
Some parents describe it as a heavy fog they cannot shake. Others feel like they are living someone else’s life.
Whatever your experience, it is valid.
Why It’s Hard to Talk About
Many new parents I work with tell me they hesitated to share how bad things felt. They didn’t want to worry anyone or risk being seen as ungrateful — or worse, as a “bad” parent.
Our culture tells new parents to savor every moment and be grateful for what they have. But when you’re anxious or overwhelmed, that kind of pressure can deepen the shame.
Naming what’s actually happening isn’t a sign of failure, it’s an act of courage. Sometimes saying it aloud, even in a few words, can begin to lighten the weight of it.
You’re Not Alone — and Healing is Possible
PMADs are common and deeply human responses to change, stress, and depletion. The good news: PMADs are highly treatable. Therapy, social support, and sometimes medication can make a profound difference. With help, most parents recover fully and rediscover joy and confidence in their role.
Remember:
Postpartum mental health struggles are common. You are not alone, and help is available. Early support can make a meaningful difference.
Healing from postpartum distress isn’t about returning to who you were before. It’s about discovering who you are now: shaped, stretched, and still whole.
You deserve care and support, and you do not have to wait until things get unbearable to reach out. Healing happens one conversation, one honest moment, at a time.
