Modern Therapy For Postpartum Anxiety For Women in California

Therapy For Postpartum Anxiety Symptoms: What California Moms Need to Know (And Why It’s Not Just “New Mom Nerves”)

By Alexa Levine, LMFT · Founder of Therapy For California Moms, Therapy For Pregnancy, Postpartum Depression and Postpartum Anxiety for Women Throughout California

Motherhood has a way of turning your entire world inside out — your sleep, your identity, your relationship, your body, your sense of safety. And while everyone warns you about sleepless nights and diaper changes, no one really prepares you for the anxiety that can crash into your life after having a baby.

If you’re here because you’re googling symptoms at 2am, replaying every “what if,” or feeling like your brain has been overwhelmed by constant worry — you’re not alone.

What you’re experiencing might be postpartum anxiety, and it deserves support, compassion, and real treatment — not dismissal, and definitely not more pressure to “just relax.”

Before we go deeper, here’s what I want you to hear clearly:

Postpartum anxiety is common.
Postpartum anxiety is treatable.
And you’re not “crazy,” “dramatic,” or “too sensitive.”
You’re overwhelmed — and your nervous system is begging for help.

As a therapist specializing in postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and the mental load of motherhood across California, I’ve helped hundreds of moms make sense of what’s happening inside their minds during this vulnerable season.

Let’s walk through the signs, the symptoms, and what actually helps.

⭐ What Postpartum Anxiety Actually Feels Like

Most moms don’t walk into my virtual office saying, “Hi, I have postpartum anxiety.”
They say things like:

• “My mind won’t shut off — even when the baby is fine.”

• “I feel jumpy, tense, on edge, or like something bad is about to happen.”

• “I can’t relax, even when someone else is holding the baby.”

• “I keep imagining worst-case scenarios — and I can’t stop.”

• “My body feels wired all the time.”

• “I’m scared to admit how anxious I am because I don’t want anyone thinking I’m a bad mom.”

If you relate to any of these, keep reading.

⭐ Common Postpartum Anxiety Symptoms (That Moms Often Don’t Realize Are Symptoms)

1. Racing Thoughts That Won’t Slow Down

Your brain feels like it's running in fast-forward — analyzing, worrying, planning, catastrophizing.

This isn’t “being a prepared mom.”
This is a nervous system stuck in overdrive.

2. Intrusive Thoughts or Scary “What If” Images

These are unwanted, upsetting mental images or thoughts that pop in without permission.

Examples:

• dropping the baby

• the baby getting hurt

• something happening during sleep

• imagining accidents

• imagining medical emergencies

These thoughts do NOT mean you want them to happen.
They’re a sign of anxiety — not intention.

3. Constant Tension in Your Body

Shoulders up near your ears.
Jaw clenched.
Chest tight.
Heart pounding at random.
A sense of “something bad is coming.”

This is your body’s alarm system stuck on “high.”

4. Difficulty Sleeping (Even When Baby Sleeps)

Not because you’re not tired — you’re exhausted.
But your mind won’t let your body rest.

This is one of the strongest postpartum anxiety symptoms.

5. Irritability or Feeling “On Edge”

You feel overstimulated.
Every noise feels too loud.
Every request feels like too much.
Every comment from your partner or parents feels like pressure or judgment.

This isn’t you being “mean.”
This is anxiety wearing the mask of irritability.

6. Health Anxiety (About You or the Baby)

Googling symptoms.
Checking the baby’s breathing.
Worrying about infections, choking, illness, fevers.
Convincing yourself something’s wrong, even with reassurance.

7. Trouble Eating or Nausea from Worry

Anxiety often dulls appetite or makes your stomach tight.

8. Feeling Like You Can’t Be Away From the Baby

Not because you don’t trust others — but because your anxiety feels unbearable without being able to monitor everything.

This is extremely common and it doesnt need to stay this way, therapy can help you feel grounded and supported in motherhood.

⭐ How Postpartum Anxiety Differs From “Normal New Mom Stress”

Every mom worries.
But postpartum anxiety is different.

Here’s how you know it’s more than stress:

• The worry isn’t occasional — it’s constant.

• The thoughts aren’t rational — they’re catastrophic.

• The tension doesn’t go away — it builds.

• The fear affects your ability to sleep, relax, or enjoy your baby.

• You don’t feel like yourself.

• You’re functioning, but you’re suffering.

You don’t need to wait until things get “bad enough.”
Your suffering is already valid.

⭐ Why High-Achieving Moms Are More Prone to Postpartum Anxiety

This part is important — because it’s YOU.

If you’re a woman who is:

• organized

• high-achieving

• hardworking

• thoughtful

• responsible

• mentally overloaded

• doing everything “right”

…you are actually more likely to experience postpartum anxiety.

Why?

Because the traits that made you successful before motherhood —

• planning

• anticipating

• preparing

• managing

• being in control

— suddenly become the same traits that make postpartum feel terrifying and overwhelming.

Your brain is used to control.
Motherhood is chaos.

That mismatch creates anxiety.

⭐ The Mental Load Makes Postpartum Anxiety Worse

If your partner asks, “What can I do?”
If your parents or in-laws judge your parenting choices.
If you feel like the entire household depends on you.
If you’re carrying invisible responsibilities for everyone…

The mental load becomes gasoline on postpartum anxiety.

This is why therapy is not just about reducing fear —
it’s about reducing responsibility, guilt, resentment, and overwhelm.

⭐ When Postpartum Anxiety Overlaps with Postpartum Depression

Many moms have both, even if one is stronger.

This can look like:

• anxiety + irritability

• worry + crying episodes

• fear + sadness

• intrusive thoughts + hopelessness

• exhaustion + dread

It’s extremely common for postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety to appear together — and treating both is absolutely possible.

⭐ How Therapy Helps (What We Actually Do Together)

When I work with moms across California, therapy focuses on:

1. Understanding your symptoms

You learn what’s anxiety — and what’s your nervous system trying to protect you.

2. Calming your body first

You can’t “logic your way” out of postpartum anxiety.
We regulate your nervous system before we touch your thoughts.

3. Addressing intrusive thoughts safely

We talk about them WITHOUT shame and help them lose their emotional charge.

4. Reducing the mental load

Because you cannot heal in a life you’re drowning in.

5. Supporting your relationship

Your partner often wants to help but doesn’t know how.
We fix that.

6. Rebuilding your identity

Motherhood changes everything.
You get to find yourself again.

⭐ You Don’t Have to Feel This Way Forever

Postpartum anxiety is treatable.
You are not stuck.
You are not broken.
You are not failing.
You are overwhelmed — and you deserve support.

I help moms across California heal from postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and the mental load of motherhood.

If you read this and thought, “This is me,” then therapy can make this so, so much lighter.

⭐ Book Your First Session

If you’re ready to feel like yourself again — calmer, safer, more grounded, and more supported — I’m here.

✨ Book your first session today.

You don’t have to navigate this alone.

⭐ Frequently Asked Questions

What is postpartum anxiety?

Postpartum anxiety is a condition where new moms experience excessive worry, fear, and physical tension after having a baby. It often includes racing thoughts, intrusive images, and difficulty relaxing or sleeping.

How common is postpartum anxiety?

Very common. Studies show it affects up to 20–25% of new moms — and even more high-achieving moms.

Is postpartum anxiety the same as postpartum depression?

Not exactly, but they often overlap. Many moms experience both postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety at the same time.

When should I seek therapy?

If your anxiety is constant, interfering with your daily life, feels intrusive, or you don’t feel like yourself anymore — therapy can help right now.

Do you offer virtual therapy?

Yes. I offer virtual therapy for women across all of California, including Southern CA, Northern CA, the SF Bay Area, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and everywhere in between.