Anxiety After Birth: How EMDR for Birth Trauma Helps Calm a Nervous System That Never Got to ‘Rest'
You prepared for everything. The books were read, the nursery was set up, and you braced yourself for the sleepless nights. But no one prepared you for this constant, humming anxiety that lingers long after the baby is fed and sleeping peacefully. It feels like your body is still braced for an emergency, even in the quietest moments. This experience is common, especially for high-achieving women who expect to handle motherhood with ease but instead feel overwhelmed and unlike themselves. If you feel a persistent sense of unease or worry, know that healing is possible. For many, EMDR for birth trauma in Columbus, Ohio, provides a path to calm a nervous system that never truly got to rest after the intensity of birth. It can help you feel grounded and like yourself again.
This feeling of being constantly on high alert is more than just "new mom stress." It’s often a sign of postpartum anxiety, a physiological response to a nervous system that became stuck in survival mode during birth. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a powerful, evidence-based tool. It can help your body and mind process this experience, offering a way back to feeling safe and present in your own life.
What is Postpartum Anxiety? More Than Just "New Mom Stress"
It’s so important to understand the difference between the expected stress of new motherhood and the pervasive nature of postpartum anxiety. While it's normal for any new mother to feel overwhelmed at times or experience some worries about her child, this stress is usually manageable. You can still find moments of calm, regulate when you need to, and get some rest. Postpartum anxiety, however, feels different.
It is a chronic and overwhelming state of worry that can interfere with your daily life, making even the simplest tasks feel impossible. Feeling like your nervous system is on overdrive, any sense of calm or relaxation can seem out of reach. If you find yourself consumed by these feelings, please know you are not alone, and this is not a reflection of your ability as a mother. It is a real and treatable condition.
The Experience of Postpartum Anxiety Can Show Up in Many Ways.
It impacts your emotions, body, and behavior, with each area connected in a way that can feel overwhelming. Recognizing how these effects show up is key to breaking the cycle and finding relief. Let’s explore how it manifests in these areas and what you can do to navigate it.
Emotionally: You might experience constant worry about your baby's health or safety, a persistent feeling of impending doom, or intense irritability. These intrusive thoughts can lead to guilt, shame, and a nagging feeling that you are not a good enough mom. You might find yourself thinking, "I should be able to do it all," or "Maybe I'm not capable."
Physically: The anxiety can manifest in your body as a racing heart, muscle tension, and restlessness. Many women struggle with insomnia because their brain simply won't shut off, leading to a cycle of exhaustion and heightened anxiety. This ongoing stress can also cause physical pain and even gut health issues.
Behaviorally: You might feel an intense need to be with your baby at all times, fearing something bad will happen if you are away. This can make the transition into motherhood feel terrifying. It can create a fear of driving with the baby or taking them around other people.
The Biology of Birth: Why Your Nervous System is Still in "Fight or Flight"
The experience of childbirth, whether medically complicated or not, is a major physical and emotional event. It is designed to put your body into survival mode, but sometimes, your nervous system has trouble finding the "off" switch. During birth, your body activates the sympathetic nervous system: its "fight, flight, or freeze" response. The pain and intensity of delivery signal a potential threat, causing your body to release stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. This is a natural and protective process. However, for many women, the body remains in this activated state long after the baby has arrived.
Hormonal shifts after birth can contribute to this, leaving you feeling on edge, hyper-alert, and perpetually restless. This is why you might feel like your body never got the message that it’s safe now. It’s still responding to the "threat" signals it received during birth. Many mothers find themselves in a heightened protective mode, making them more sensitive to noise and other stimuli. You are stuck in survival mode, unable to access the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for "rest and digest."
This is the State Where Your Body Heals and Regains Balance.
But it can feel completely inaccessible when you are experiencing postpartum anxiety or dealing with birth trauma. Interestingly, some mothers notice they experience random bouts of crying without knowing why. While this can be unsettling, it can sometimes be a healthy sign that your body is trying to release stored stress and access that calming parasympathetic state. It's your nervous system's way of trying to find balance again.
Healing with EMDR: Calming a Nervous System That Never Got to Rest
EMDR for birth trauma offers a unique way to communicate with your brain and body.This method helps your nervous system finally receive the message that the danger has passed and it is safe to rest. An incredibly effective approach, it’s ideal for overwhelmed moms who feel like they’ve tried everything to calm down but still feel stuck. So, how does it work? EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (such as guided eye movements or tapping) to connect the logical and emotional sides of your brain. This process helps your brain desensitize the distress associated with the birth experience or other postpartum stressors.
It specifically helps calm the amygdala, your brain's "smoke detector," which is responsible for the fight-or-flight response. By reducing its alarm signals, EMDR allows your body and brain to finally feel safe. This therapy is particularly helpful for women who say, "I don't know what's wrong, I just feel off." EMDR can tap into the nervous system by targeting that very feeling of being "off." This helps your brain make the connections it needs to understand what is causing the distress.
It Can Also Help Heal Complex Trauma that Occurred Over Years
You don't need one single overwhelming moment for it to be effective. One of the most powerful aspects of EMDR is its ability to reconnect the mind and body. You may find yourself thinking, "Logically, I know I'm safe, but emotionally, I don't feel it." EMDR bridges that gap. It helps you move from an internal belief of "I am not safe" to a deeply felt, emotionally integrated belief of "I am safe." As a women's EMDR therapist in Columbus, I have seen how this process empowers women to feel calm and in control again.
Life After EMDR for Birth Trauma: Reclaiming Calm, Confidence, and Yourself
Healing postpartum anxiety with EMDR isn't just about reducing worry. It's about transforming your experience of motherhood and feeling more like yourself again. Women who complete EMDR for birth trauma often describe the change as feeling like "a heavy weight has been lifted." They report being able to breathe again, both literally and figuratively. The results are felt emotionally, physically, and relationally.
Emotionally, women feel lighter, more in control of their emotions, and better equipped to manage future stressors without becoming overwhelmed.
Physically, they report feeling calm and safe within their own bodies, with a noticeable reduction in muscle tension and restlessness.
Relationally, this newfound calm allows them to be more present and connected with their baby, their partner, and themselves.
This healing has tangible impacts on daily life. Racing thoughts quiet down, allowing for restorative sleep. The intrusive thoughts of self-doubt and guilt are replaced with a confident inner voice that says, "I am a good parent" and "I am doing enough." You gain the emotional regulation needed to navigate the challenges of motherhood with grace and confidence.
Your First Steps Toward Feeling Calm Again
If what you've read resonates with you, please know that you are not failing, and you don't have to carry this weight by yourself. Postpartum anxiety is often a physiological response, not a personal shortcoming. Your nervous system can get stuck, but there are powerful ways to help it feel safe again. While professional therapy is the most effective path forward, here are a few things you can try right now to begin regulating your nervous system:
Practice Body Awareness.
It can feel uncomfortable at first, but try to tune into your body. Close your eyes and take a moment to notice where you are holding tension. Is it in your jaw? Your shoulders? Your stomach? Take a few deep breaths at a comfortable pace for you, and with each exhale, imagine that tension melting away.
Ground Yourself with Sensation.
Use your senses to bring yourself into the present moment. Take a warm bath or shower and focus completely on the feeling of the water on your skin. Notice the warmth and any sense of calm or relaxation that shows up in your body.
Share What You Are Feeling.
It is okay not to be okay. Find someone you trust (a partner, a friend, or a family member) and talk about what you are experiencing. Trying to push these feelings down will only increase their power. Sharing your anxiety can feel like a release and lessen the pressure you feel.
Prioritize Sleep.
Sleep is vital for your brain and nervous system. This can feel impossible with a newborn, but it's crucial to ask for help. See if your partner can take a night shift, or ask a loved one to watch the baby so you can take a nap.
You don't have to navigate this journey alone. If you're tired of feeling overwhelmed and on edge, healing is within your reach. As a women's EMDR therapist in Columbus, I specialize in helping overwhelmed moms and high-achieving women find calm and confidence after birth. With the right support, it's possible to help your nervous system rest, reclaim your peace, and rediscover the joy in your journey.
What Could EMDR for Birth Trauma in Columbus, OH Help You Reclaim?
Perhaps as you’ve read this, something inside you feels seen—a gentle recognition, a quiet hope that things could feel different. Please know that this feeling is where your healing can begin. Choosing to care for your own well-being is one of the most powerful and loving things you can do for yourself and your new family. You deserve to experience the joy of motherhood with a sense of inner peace, free from the constant hum of anxiety.
Here at Merrianna Holdeman Counseling, I specialize in guiding new mothers through this very process. As a women's EMDR therapist in Columbus, OH, I can help you explore how EMDR for birth trauma can support you. This gentle and effective therapy can help your nervous system finally feel safe, allowing your body and mind to rest. Together, we can help you process the overwhelming experiences and reconnect with your confident, centered self.
Schedule your complimentary 15-minute therapy consultation today.
Learn more about my approach as an EMDR therapist for birth trauma and how I can support you on this journey.
Embrace a fresh perspective on motherhood: one rooted in peace, self-assurance, and meaningful connection, tailored just for you.
Other Therapy Services at Merrianna Holdeman Counseling
As you begin to address the weight of postpartum anxiety and birth trauma, you may notice other challenges coming to the surface. The impact of these experiences often connects with other feelings. Perhaps a constant undercurrent of anxiety or feeling depleted by the demands of motherhood. Or struggling to focus as exhaustion makes everything feel overwhelming. Many of the overwhelmed moms and high-achieving women I support are not just coping with the aftermath of birth but are also navigating the ongoing challenges of anxiety, trauma, and ADHD.
These experiences can create a difficult cycle, where the pressure to be the “perfect” mom meets self-doubt and emotional overwhelm. This can make it hard to find a sense of peace or balance. Therapy offers a space to hold all of these challenges together. It’s a place where you can stop pretending everything is okay and speak honestly about what you’re experiencing. Here, you’ll find gentle support as you work your way back to a life that feels more steady and aligned with your true self. That’s why at Merrianna Holdeman Counseling, I offer specialized in-person therapy for women ready to heal from anxiety and trauma and find clarity with ADHD.
About the Author
Merrianna Holdeman, LPCC, is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Ohio who is passionate about helping women navigate the complexities of postpartum anxiety and birth trauma. She provides a warm, non-judgmental space for new mothers feeling the weight of anxiety and overwhelm. With specialized training in EMDR, Merrianna guides her clients with deep compassion, helping them process their birth experience and find calm. Her practice is built on the belief that every woman deserves to feel confident and connected as they transition into motherhood.
