Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Postpartum Anger?How Common Is Postpartum Anger?SymptomsCausesCopingTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Postpartum Anger?
How Common Is Postpartum Anger?
Symptoms
Causes
Coping
Treatment
Close
One feeling that somepostpartumparents experience is anger. While this feeling may be normal at times, at other times, it may be a sign of a postpartum mood disorder.Either way, if you are experiencing postpartum anger, you are not alone.
What’s more, there are options out there for coping with postpartum anger, and treating your symptoms so you feel more like yourself again.
How Long Does Postpartum Depression Last?
Some feelings of anger may be fleeting, and result from the normal stressors that new parents experience, such as feeling like they aren’t getting enough support, or anger and frustration over the fact that they are losing so much sleep. But other times, postpartum anger may feel more constant, severe, and all-consuming.
If your postpartum anger lasts past the first two weeks after childbirth, and if your symptoms are severe and debilitating, your anger might be a symptom of a postpartum mood disorder.Studies have shown that postpartum anger often exists as part of postpartum depression,a mental health condition affecting as many as 1 in 7 new parents.
Coping With Postpartum Anger
It’s unclear how many new parents experience postpartumanger, but it is probably more common that most of us realize. According to a study inBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, about one-third of the postpartum women surveyed experience “intense anger” after giving birth.
A 2018 review published inBirthfound that feelings of anger in the postpartum period are indeed common,and study researchers recommended that anger be added as a symptom that healthcare providers screen for in the postpartum period.
11 Anger Management Strategies to Help You Calm Down
What Are the Symptoms of Postpartum Anger?
Other signs of postpartum anger and postpartum depression may include:
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
What Causes Postpartum Anger?
Why Social Support May Be the Best Way to Help Reduce Stress
How to Cope With Postpartum Anger
Ways to Manage Postpartum Anger
Importantly, there are things you can do to manage your anger, and also to make your life as a new parent a little easier. Here are some ideas for how to do that:
Why You Should Keep a Stress Relief Journal
Treatments for Postpartum Anger
Postpartum Depression Is TreatableThe good news is that postpartum depression is highly treatable. Treatment options usually involve a combination of psychotherapy, lifestyle choices, and medication.Many people who experience postpartum depression and postpartum anger benefit from medication, and you shouldn’t be ashamed to use it if needed.
Postpartum Depression Is Treatable
The good news is that postpartum depression is highly treatable. Treatment options usually involve a combination of psychotherapy, lifestyle choices, and medication.Many people who experience postpartum depression and postpartum anger benefit from medication, and you shouldn’t be ashamed to use it if needed.
Medications commonly prescribed for postpartum anger include antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), orbupropion.You will need to visit an MD or a psychiatrist to be prescribed medication for postpartum depression.
Common Antidepressant Medications
A Word From Verywell
You can take heart in knowing that you are not the only postpartum parent feeling this way. You should also know that it’s possible to feel more like yourself again. There are many effective ways of coping with postpartum anger, and there are treatment options available for you if you need them.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider if your feelings of postpartum anger are taking over your life, or if you feel that your feelings are spinning out of control. Help is out there, and you deserve it.
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6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ou C, Hall W., Rodney P, et al.Correlates of Canadian mothers’ anger during the postpartum period: a cross-sectional survey. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22:163. doi:10.1186/s12884-022-04479-4American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Postpartum Depression.American Psychiatric Association.What Is Postpartum Depression?Ou C, Hall W.Anger in the context of postnatal depression: An integrative review. Birth: Issues in Prenatal Care. 2018;45(4):336-346. doi:10.1111/birt.12356University of British Columbia.Anger overlooked as feature of postnatal mood disorders: UBC study.American Psychiatric Association.What Is Postpartum Depression?
6 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ou C, Hall W., Rodney P, et al.Correlates of Canadian mothers’ anger during the postpartum period: a cross-sectional survey. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22:163. doi:10.1186/s12884-022-04479-4American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Postpartum Depression.American Psychiatric Association.What Is Postpartum Depression?Ou C, Hall W.Anger in the context of postnatal depression: An integrative review. Birth: Issues in Prenatal Care. 2018;45(4):336-346. doi:10.1111/birt.12356University of British Columbia.Anger overlooked as feature of postnatal mood disorders: UBC study.American Psychiatric Association.What Is Postpartum Depression?
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Ou C, Hall W., Rodney P, et al.Correlates of Canadian mothers’ anger during the postpartum period: a cross-sectional survey. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22:163. doi:10.1186/s12884-022-04479-4American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Postpartum Depression.American Psychiatric Association.What Is Postpartum Depression?Ou C, Hall W.Anger in the context of postnatal depression: An integrative review. Birth: Issues in Prenatal Care. 2018;45(4):336-346. doi:10.1111/birt.12356University of British Columbia.Anger overlooked as feature of postnatal mood disorders: UBC study.American Psychiatric Association.What Is Postpartum Depression?
Ou C, Hall W., Rodney P, et al.Correlates of Canadian mothers’ anger during the postpartum period: a cross-sectional survey. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22:163. doi:10.1186/s12884-022-04479-4
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Postpartum Depression.
American Psychiatric Association.What Is Postpartum Depression?
Ou C, Hall W.Anger in the context of postnatal depression: An integrative review. Birth: Issues in Prenatal Care. 2018;45(4):336-346. doi:10.1111/birt.12356
University of British Columbia.Anger overlooked as feature of postnatal mood disorders: UBC study.
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