When Sarah Thompson welcomed her first child, she expected the joy and exhaustion of motherhood—but not the overwhelming anxiety that left her feeling trapped in her own mind. Doctors brushed off her symptoms as typical "baby blues," but Sarah knew something was seriously wrong.
A Mother's Silent Struggle
"I couldn't sleep, eat, or even hold my baby without panic setting in," recalls Sarah, now 28. "But every time I sought help, I was told it was normal—just hormones adjusting."
For weeks, Sarah battled intrusive thoughts and crippling fear alone, convinced she was failing as a mother. "I felt like I was drowning, but no one saw it," she admits.
The Breaking Point
Things came to a head when Sarah collapsed at home, hyperventilating and unable to speak. Rushed to A&E, she finally received a diagnosis: severe postnatal anxiety disorder. "The doctor said I should have been treated weeks earlier," Sarah reveals.
Why New Mums Are Falling Through the Cracks
Experts warn that up to 1 in 5 new mothers experience mental health issues, yet many go undiagnosed due to:
- Lack of specialist training among GPs
- Dismissal of symptoms as "normal" postpartum changes
- Pressure on mothers to appear "coping" perfectly
Life After Diagnosis
With therapy and medication, Sarah is now recovering—but she's speaking out to help others. "No mother should suffer in silence," she says. "If something feels wrong, trust your instincts and keep demanding help."
Her message to healthcare providers? "Listen properly to new mums. What seems small could be someone's cry for help."
