Postnatal Anxiety Test: Self-Screening Questions and AU Support

Postnatal Anxiety Test: Self-Screening Questions and AU Support

There is no single blood test, scan, or five-question quiz that definitively diagnoses postnatal anxiety. What follows is a structured way to reflect honestly on your experience since birth, and to decide whether talking to your GP, PANDA, or a practitioner is a reasonable next step.

Section 1: Worry and physical symptoms

• Do you worry most days about your baby's safety, health, or feeding, in a way that reassurance doesn't settle?
• Do you experience racing heart, breathlessness, dizziness, or a sense of dread, without an obvious physical cause?
• Has it been more than two weeks since birth, with these symptoms persisting or intensifying rather than settling?

If it has been fewer than two weeks and symptoms are mild, this may be the baby blues, which affect about 4 in 5 new mothers and usually resolve within about 10 days.

Section 2: Sleep, checking, and avoidance

• Do you find it hard to sleep even when your baby is settled?
• Do you check on your baby's breathing, temperature, or feeding beyond what has been medically advised?
• Do you avoid leaving the house, or avoid leaving your baby with anyone else?

Section 3: Thoughts and mood

• Have you had intrusive thoughts, including about harm coming to your baby?
• Is worry the dominant feeling, or is it more low mood, numbness, or hopelessness? (The second pattern points more toward postnatal depression.)

Intrusive thoughts about harm should always be raised with your GP or midwife promptly. This is a recognised symptom of perinatal anxiety, not evidence that you would act on it, but it needs a proper clinical assessment, not just self-screening.

Interpreting your responses

If Sections 1 and 2 resonate strongly and it has been more than two weeks since birth, a pattern consistent with postnatal anxiety is a reasonable description of your experience. COPE estimates this affects around 1 in 5 women in Australia, so recognising this pattern in yourself is common, not unusual.

When to see a GP without waiting

• Intrusive thoughts about harm to yourself or your baby
• Symptoms affecting your ability to function day to day
• Symptoms that are getting worse rather than settling

Next steps

Take the postnatal anxiety screening quiz →

Read: What is postnatal anxiety? →

Explore postnatal anxiety hypnotherapy at Norwest Wellbeing →

FAQ

Is there a medical test for postnatal anxiety? No single test. Your GP can conduct a clinical assessment and, if appropriate, use validated screening tools alongside a conversation about your symptoms.

How is this different from postnatal depression screening? Anxiety screening focuses on worry, panic, and physical tension. Depression screening focuses on mood, interest, and hopelessness. Many people experience both, and a GP can assess for either or both.

Who can I call in Australia? PANDA National Helpline: 1300 726 306 (Monday to Saturday). Pregnancy, Birth and Baby: 1800 882 436. Lifeline: 13 11 14. Call 000 in an emergency.

Does hypnotherapy diagnose postnatal anxiety? No. Hypnotherapy complements a GP diagnosis and treatment plan; it does not replace clinical assessment.