Former Stormont justice minister Claire Sugden had spoke about her battle with postnatal anxiety and how she “really struggled to function” following the birth of her daughter.
Ms Sugden said her anxiety spiraled in the weeks after she welcomed baby Indy in May 2023, revealing how it led to an irrational fear over everyday events.
“I really struggled to function. I was always worried that something was going to happen to her,” she said.
The independent MLA is speaking out about her battle in a bid to encourage others to seek support.
She lived with what she described as “low-level anxiety” since she was a teenager, but after he daughter’s arrival her health deteriorated.
“In my head I manifested situations - which in reality were very unlikely,” she told the BBC.
“If I was walking down the stairs, I would imagine that Indy was going to jump out of my arms.
“It was really difficult travelling in the car with her, I was worried about oncoming traffic and that we were going to have a horrific accident.
“If there was so much as a tiny speck on the baby, I would imagine the worst in terms of illness. I would be in tears.
“The anxiety made me reluctant in those first few months to go out anywhere.
“Every day was hard.”
Ms Sugden said she lost two stone within a month of giving birth as a result of her anxiety.
“I think at the time I didn’t see what was happening to me even when people around me were suggesting getting support,” she said.
“I was reluctant and resistant to help as I felt this what being a new parent was like.
“But looking back now, I very much didn’t recognise the person I was in those first few months.
“I had a really fantastic health visitor who recognised what was happening wasn’t right and she advised I get some extra support.”
Urging others to seek help, Ms Sugden said: “You can come out the other side being able to enjoy your baby and your life”.
“We talk a lot about postnatal depression, we don’t talk about postnatal anxiety and therefore people don’t recognise it and assume it’s a new part of motherhood,” she said.
“Worry will be with you for the rest of your life as a parent. But what I had was a very severe form of anxiety which needed support.
“My message to anyone feeling the same is, you don’t have to feel like this.
“There is support there.”
