• Home
  • About Us
    • Jessica Bauer
  • Counseling Services
    • Pregnancy Counseling
    • Postpartum Therapy
    • Couples Counseling
    • Anxiety Therapy
    • Therapy for Stress Management
    • Depression Therapy
    • Therapy for Grief & Loss
    • Neurodivergent Therapy
  • Resources
    • Job Openings
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Rights & Protections
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Menu Menu
You are here: Home1 / Postpartum2 / How Postpartum Rage Can Affect Your Relationship (And What You Can Do About...
A young woman sits on a couch with her hands covering her face, visibly overwhelmed and distressed. This emotional moment may reflect the experience of postpartum rage in Atlanta, GA — a common but often overlooked response in the postpartum period. Support from a postpartum therapist in Atlanta, GA can help those facing intense emotional shifts. Alpharetta postpartum anxiety treatment offers a safe space to process these difficult feelings.

How Postpartum Rage Can Affect Your Relationship (And What You Can Do About It)

September 23, 2025/by Melissa Light

By Jessica Bauer, Ph.D., a Perinatal Therapist in Atlanta, GA

Let’s talk about something not enough people talk about: postpartum rage.

Yes, rage.

A woman clutches her hair in frustration, eyes closed, and face tense with emotion — a raw depiction of postpartum rage in Atlanta, GA. This powerful image highlights how emotional dysregulation can show up after giving birth. If you're feeling this way, you're not alone. A postpartum therapist in Alpharetta can support you with personalized care, and Alpharetta postpartum anxiety treatment can offer tools for emotional regulation. Not just the “baby blues” or feeling extra emotional. Postpartum rage is the explosive, unpredictable anger that can sneak up on you after having a baby. If you’ve ever slammed a door, snapped at your partner over dishes, or felt like you’re going to explode because the baby won’t nap, you’re not alone.

As a perinatal therapist in Atlanta, GA, I work with new moms every day who feel ashamed or confused by these feelings. One of the most common (and most surprising) things they say is:

“I didn’t expect to be this angry.”

Let’s dig into what postpartum rage is, how it can affect your relationship, and how perinatal therapy can help.

What Is Postpartum Rage?

Postpartum rage is an often-overlooked symptom of postpartum mood disorders, like postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety. While sadness and worry are often discussed, anger tends to be left out of the conversation, even though it’s just as real and just as valid.

It can look like:

  • Snapping at your partner over the smallest things
  • Feeling like you’re constantly on edge
  • Wanting to scream or cry when you’re touched one more time
  • Losing it when the baby won’t stop crying, even when you know it’s not their fault
  • Feeling guilty or ashamed afterward

And no, it doesn’t mean you’re a bad mom. It means you’re a human going through one of the biggest transitions of your life.

Why Does Postpartum Rage Happen?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but here are some common reasons:

  • Hormones: Your body is recovering from childbirth, and your hormones are all over the place.
  • Sleep deprivation: Chronic lack of sleep can turn anyone into a short-fused volcano.
  • Overstimulation: Constant noise, touching, crying, and being “on” 24/7 is draining.
  • Unmet needs: If you’re not being supported, emotionally, physically, or mentally, resentment builds fast.
  • Unspoken expectations: There may be expectations we place on ourselves as mothers, and expectations we have of our partners and family members. When we’re struggling as moms, it’s natural to wish someone could step in and make everything better. But the reality is that even when our support system tries to help, their efforts may not truly ease the stress or overwhelm. Over time, this can build up, leading to a deep sense of helplessness in it all.

How Postpartum Rage Can Impact Your Relationship

Relationships take a hit when one (or both) partners are running on empty. Here’s how postpartum rage can sneak in and shake things up:

Communication Breakdowns

Let’s say your partner forgot to do the laundry, again.

Instead of calmly saying, “Hey, I need your help with this,” postpartum rage might push you to yell, “Why do I have to do EVERYTHING around here?!”

Your partner feels attacked, shuts down, and suddenly you’re both hurt and disconnected. This becomes a pattern, and soon you’re barely speaking or only speaking in jabs.

Resentment on Both Sides

You might resent your partner for getting more sleep, having more freedom, or not understanding how hard your day is. Your partner might feel helpless or confused, not knowing how to support you without triggering another explosion.

This mutual resentment can quietly eat away at the relationship if it’s not addressed.

Intimacy Fades

A couple lies in bed facing away from each other, both appearing disconnected and emotionally distant. This scene represents the strain postpartum struggles can place on relationships. Postpartum therapy in Atlanta, GA helps couples navigate the emotional challenges that come with new parenthood. A postpartum therapist in Alpharetta can offer tools for communication and healing during this vulnerable season. Emotional disconnection often leads to physical disconnection. When you’re angry, touched out, and exhausted, intimacy is usually the last thing on your mind, which can deepen the divide.

Guilt and Shame

After a rage episode, many moms feel deep guilt. You might apologize to your partner, cry in the shower, or think, “What is wrong with me?”

This shame can keep you from asking for help, and the cycle continues.

So… What Can You Do About It?

The good news? You don’t have to live like this. Postpartum rage is treatable, and you don’t have to figure it all out alone.

Here’s what I recommend as a postpartum therapist in Atlanta, GA:

Talk to a Perinatal Therapist

This is what I do every day with moms just like you. Perinatal therapy helps you process everything you’re going through, the anger, the sadness, the overwhelm, the guilt, in a safe, judgment-free space.

You’ll learn tools to manage your rage, communicate with your partner, and reconnect with yourself. Think of it as putting on your oxygen mask first, so you can breathe again.

(If you’re in the Atlanta area, I’d love to support you. Keep reading for how to reach out.)

Normalize the Conversation

Tell your partner what’s going on. You don’t have to explain every detail, but saying something like, “I’m feeling way more overwhelmed and angry than I expected, and I think I need help” opens the door for support, not shame.

Rage is a symptom, not a personality flaw.

Set Boundaries & Ask for Help

Repeat after me: I don’t have to do this alone.

That might mean asking your partner to take the baby for an hour, hiring a postpartum doula, or just saying no to extra visitors for a while. Boundaries = peace.

Sleep (If You Can)

Yes, easier said than done. But even short naps, rotating night shifts with your partner, or sleeping when the baby sleeps (for real!) can help regulate your nervous system.

Give Yourself Grace

You are not failing. You’re adjusting, growing, learning, and healing. That’s a lot. Be kind to yourself.

You’re Not Alone. Let’s Talk. Therapy for Postpartum Rage in Atlanta, GA, Can Help.

A peacefully sleeping newborn is cradled in the gentle hands of a parent, symbolizing the beauty and tenderness of early parenthood. Yet, for many new moms, this period can also bring unexpected emotional challenges. Postpartum depression counseling in Alpharetta supports parents navigating this contrast between joy and exhaustion. A compassionate postpartum therapist in Atlanta, GA can help process the intense emotions that may follow childbirth. If you’re struggling with postpartum rage, relationship stress, or just feeling like you’re drowning, help is here.

As a perinatal therapist in Atlanta, GA, I specialize in supporting moms through the hardest parts of the postpartum journey. Whether it’s postpartum therapy for yourself or couples therapy to help you and your partner reconnect, you don’t have to do this alone.

Let’s get you back to feeling like you again. Start your therapy journey with Informed Therapy Group by following these steps:

  1. Visit my Contact page, call (404) 444-8974, or email info@informedtherapy.com for a free 15-minute consultation!
  2. Meet with a caring Atlanta therapist 
  3. Start finding the support you deserve on your postpartum journey!

Other Services Offered with Informed Therapy Group

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share by Mail
https://informedtherapy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/upset-mother-postpartum-rage-in-atlanta-ga-scaled.jpg 1707 2560 Melissa Light https://informedtherapy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Logo-12072022_1.svg Melissa Light2025-09-23 08:00:422025-09-16 20:49:30How Postpartum Rage Can Affect Your Relationship (And What You Can Do About It)

Latest Posts

  • A young woman sits on a couch with her hands covering her face, visibly overwhelmed and distressed. This emotional moment may reflect the experience of postpartum rage in Atlanta, GA — a common but often overlooked response in the postpartum period. Support from a postpartum therapist in Atlanta, GA can help those facing intense emotional shifts. Alpharetta postpartum anxiety treatment offers a safe space to process these difficult feelings.How Postpartum Rage Can Affect Your Relationship (And What You Can Do About It)September 23, 2025 - 8:00 am
  • A distressed man sits on the floor covering his face, symbolizing emotional pain and overwhelm. A trauma therapist in Atlanta, GA can provide support through trauma therapy in Atlanta, GA and help address related struggles often seen in depression therapy in Atlanta, GA.Is Your Anxiety or Depression Rooted in Trauma? Here’s How to Know from a Trauma Therapist in Atlanta, GASeptember 9, 2025 - 8:00 am
  • A woman holds a positive pregnancy test, reflecting mixed emotions of hope and fear while seeking postpartum therapy in Atlanta, GA, postpartum counseling Atlanta, postpartum anxiety treatment Atlanta, and Alpharetta postpartum anxiety treatment.No, You’re Not Overreacting: The Truth About Pregnancy After Loss from a Postpartum Therapist in Atlanta, GAAugust 20, 2025 - 8:00 am
  • A new mother sits on a park bench holding her baby, appearing overwhelmed—symbolizing the emotional weight that postpartum therapy in Atlanta, GA or postpartum anxiety treatment in Atlanta can help address.10 Signs You Might Be Experiencing Postpartum Anxiety from A Postpartum Therapist in Atlanta, GAAugust 8, 2025 - 8:00 am
  • Close-up of a pregnant woman in a white lace dress gently holding her stomach in a serene outdoor setting, symbolizing pregnancy therapy in Atlanta, GA, and the compassionate care of a perinatal therapist in Atlanta, GA for those navigating grief & loss therapy in Atlanta.Pregnancy After Loss: Navigating the AnxietyJuly 21, 2025 - 1:48 pm
  • A stressed mother sits with her hand on her forehead while her child gently comforts her—reflecting the emotional toll that can be eased through ADHD therapy in Atlanta, GA, especially with ADHD treatment for adults in Atlanta, GA guided by a compassionate ADHD therapist in Atlanta, GA.Surviving Each Day as a Parent with ADHDJuly 10, 2025 - 8:00 am
  • A postpartum therapist in Atlanta, GA helps a pregnant woman with gentle core exercises on a stability ball, supporting her through postpartum therapy in Atlanta, GA and offering care that complements postpartum anxiety treatment in Atlanta.Postpartum Self-Care Starts with Your Pelvic FloorJune 23, 2025 - 8:00 am
  • A calm mother gazes at her newborn in a softly lit room, reflecting the emotional journey of receiving ADHD therapy in Atlanta, GA and support from a postpartum therapist in Atlanta.When Overwhelm Feels Like Failure: An Atlanta Therapist’s Look at ADHD in the Postpartum PeriodJune 10, 2025 - 8:00 am
  • A panoramic view of Atlanta's skyline on a clear day, symbolizing hope and connection for those seeking postpartum anxiety treatment Atlanta or anxiety therapy in Atlanta, GA. A reminder that support from a postpartum therapist in Atlanta, GA is available right in the heart of the city.A Postpartum Therapist’s List of Outdoor Activities in East AtlantaMay 16, 2025 - 8:00 am
  • Image of a mother looking overwhelmed. If you’re in a constant state of overwhelm, you may be experiencing postpartum anxiety. Reach out to an understanding postpartum therapist in Atlanta, GA, to start getting the support you need.How Does Postpartum Anxiety Affect Your Relationship? Insights from a TherapistMay 9, 2025 - 9:43 pm

Let’s stay connected!

Join our newsletter and get FREE tips for wellness and updates about our practice.

Everyone deserves the opportunity to feel safe and supported in the therapeutic alliance.

(404) 444-8974

Quick Links

  • About Us
  • Counseling Services
  • FAQs
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Scheduling

  • New Clients
  • Client Portal

© Copyright 2024 - Informed Therapy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Service
Is Your Anxiety or Depression Rooted in Trauma? Here’s How to Know from a...A distressed man sits on the floor covering his face, symbolizing emotional pain and overwhelm. A trauma therapist in Atlanta, GA can provide support through trauma therapy in Atlanta, GA and help address related struggles often seen in depression therapy in Atlanta, GA.
Scroll to top