Anxiety in Motherhood — You’re Not Alone

By Yolanda Testani, RP | Clairville Therapy Group

No one told you the love would come with so much worry.

Motherhood is full of joy, but also full of questions that keep you up at night:
Am I doing this right?
Why am I so anxious all the time?
Is it normal to feel this overwhelmed?

The truth is, anxiety in motherhood is incredibly common — and not something you have to navigate alone.

What Does Maternal Anxiety Look Like?

It’s not always panic attacks or racing thoughts. It can also look like:

  • Constantly researching, planning, or second-guessing yourself

  • Feeling on edge, even when things are calm

  • Trouble sleeping (even when your baby sleeps)

  • Irritability or feeling overstimulated

  • A nagging sense that something might go wrong

These experiences can start in pregnancy or postpartum and often go unnoticed or dismissed — especially if you’re “functioning.”

Why It Happens

The transition into motherhood is massive. You’re adjusting physically, emotionally, hormonally, and relationally — often on little sleep and under immense pressure to “enjoy every moment.”

Anxiety can be triggered by:

  • Hormonal shifts

  • Identity changes

  • Birth trauma or NICU experiences

  • Lack of support or unrealistic expectations

  • A personal or family history of anxiety

You are not weak, broken, or failing — your nervous system is trying to make sense of all the change and responsibility.

What Helps

  • Talk to someone — whether it's a friend, partner, or therapist

  • Set small, realistic expectations (good enough is truly enough)

  • Ground yourself with gentle movement, breathing, or going outside

  • Rest when you can, but more importantly, lower the mental load when possible

You’re not meant to do this alone.
At Clairville Therapy Group, we specialize in perinatal mental health and support women through every stage of the motherhood journey — from pregnancy to postpartum and beyond.


Looking for support with postpartum anxiety or overwhelm?
Visit www.clairvilletherapygroup.com to book a free 15-minute consultation.

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