Postpartum Rage: Uncontrollable Anger After Birth

What is Postpartum Rage?

Many new moms wonder: what is postpartum rage? Simply put, it’s the overwhelming anger a new mother might feel after the birth of a child.

Although postpartum anger is related to postpartum anxiety and depression, its hallmark is feelings of severe rage that are accompanied by shame and guilt. After all, aren’t you supposed to be joyful, grateful, and glowing after the birth of a child as a new mom?

Sometimes you feel anything but, and overcoming the rage and intense anger you may be feeling seems impossible. If you’ve been feeling more angry than usual and you feel like you can’t control it, the most important thing to know is that you’re not alone.

How Common is Postpartum Rage?

As much as 22 percent of new mothers experience some type of postpartum mood disorder. That’s nearly 1 out of every 4 mothers feeling the baby blues! Although we don’t have stats specifically for postpartum anger, experts know that rage is an increasingly common symptom of postpartum depression.

One 2018 study by researchers at the University of British Columbia found that rage is a “very common symptom of postpartum depression, and one that has been woefully overlooked.”

Causes of Postpartum Rage

Experts are unsure about what exactly causes postpartum rage. We simply don’t know why one new mother might experience it during the postpartum period, while another one won’t. However, we do know that a few things likely increase the odds.

Some factors we think may contribute to developing postpartum rage include:

• Personal or family history of depression or anxiety
• Extreme stress in work or personal life
• A difficult pregnancy causing pregnancy anxiety or prenatal depression
• A difficult delivery
• Feeling unheard
• Not getting enough sleep
• Out of balance thyroid hormone levels
• Major emotional events, like the death of a loved one or a divorce
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Feeling judged about their parenting
• Feeling let down or unsupported

Symptoms of Postpartum Rage

While many postpartum rage symptoms can be easy to notice, they’ll typically vary among women. That is, two women can both have postnatal rage but have very different symptoms, triggers, and reactions.

Some common symptoms of postpartum rage can include:

• Finding it difficult to control your temper
• Feeling angry and upset about things that normally wouldn’t bother you
• Screaming and swearing
• Violent thoughts, often directed at a spouse, your baby, or a family member
• Physical expressions of anger, such as punching or throwing things
• Feeling flooded by emotion after an outburst

Risks and Complications

Postpartum rage doesn’t just make you feel out of control and angry. It can also lead to physical harm. Obviously, it’s no fun being this upset all the time. It can be a vicious cycle, where frustration mounts, leading to anger, which makes you more frustrated, which makes you more angry, and the cycle continues.

The rage you might be experiencing has the potential to escalate into violence or even into postpartum psychosis. In addition, mis-managed anger can also contribute to physical health problems like heart disease, type II diabetes, and eating disorders.

Treatment for Postpartum Rage

The good news is there are several effective treatments for postpartum rage and conditions like postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. They can be used alone or, more commonly, as part of a more comprehensive plan that includes multiple approaches.

1. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

CBT is a type of psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) that can be effective in helping manage the overwhelming anger and other symptoms of postpartum rage.

During CBT sessions, you can get professional medical advice about your feelings, frustrations, and rage from a licensed and trained therapist. The goal is to find the underlying mental health issues that might be contributing to your anger. Once you’re able to identify unhealthy behavior and thought processes, you can learn how to alter them and begin to make healthier choices.

If you’re struggling with postpartum rage, get connected with a Talkspace therapist for online CBT.

2. Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)

Dialectical behavioral therapy takes CBT a step further by helping you learn ways to cope with anger so you can live “in the moment” and reduce stress and anxiety. DBT teaches and enforces the use of mindfulness skills so you can control your emotions better and find other ways to improve relationships. At Talkspace, you also have access to online DBT techniques with a therapist.

3. Medication

Certain medications can be used short-term as an effective way to treat postpartum depression and anger. Some medications can be used alone, but most women see better results if it’s used in conjunction with therapy and/or other holistic treatment options.

Medications that might be prescribed can include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). These medications work by increasing levels of mood-stabilizing brain chemicals in the body.

4. Support

In addition to therapy and possibly medication, it’s a good idea to build a support system if you don’t already have one. Remember: you just had a baby, so don’t try to do all of the things you used to.

Enlist friends or family members who can help you out — let them assist with chores, keep you company, or even just take the baby for a few hours to give you a break. Online and peer support groups can also be helpful, especially if you live far away from family or are new to an area.

5. Lifestyle changes

Making simple adjustments to your lifestyle and daily routine might help you deal with baby blues and postpartum rage.

Getting exercise, doing yoga, journaling, eating healthy, doing meditation, or making sure that you take time for yourself are always important things new moms can do. They become especially essential if you’re trying to navigate the challenging aspects of postpartum rage.

Getting Help

Postpartum rage is a serious, frightening experience to go through. If you’re feeling symptoms of rage, it’s important to get help. You don’t have to suffer alone.

The most important thing to remember is that this is not your fault. You don’t have to feel (and you shouldn’t feel) shame about the fact that you need help. Another essential thing to understand is that these uncontrollable feelings you’re having can be a sign that what you’re going through is a lot. Everything about your life has changed, and sometimes feeling overwhelmed can just be too much.

Talking with your doctor can be a good first step towards improving your mental health. They can connect you with a therapist or other healthcare professional who can help ease or get rid of your postpartum rage altogether. If you’re looking for convenient, accessible therapy, try Talkspace. Our online therapy platform makes therapy simple, which for a new mom, can be huge.