post-partum anxiety?

is this a thing? I know PPD is a common diagnoses, but I am not depressed.

I have always been on the more cautious side even before having DD. I am a planner and would pack for trips days to almost a week in advance because i'd be worried about missing something, and I'm a crazy list-maker for just about everyone. I am a little OCD for sure, but after having DD, I have found that everyday outings with friends or family, and even small weekend trips have caused so much stress and anxiety that I don't even enjoy myself as much as I should be. I am constantly thinking about what I could be missing or forgetting, and it prevents me from sleeping well at night and enjoying time with my family. Also, whenever DD is with someone else, besides Dh, daycare, or my parents, I panic a little. I can't relax and find myself hovering when I don't want to be.

If anyone can relate, what have you done to ease the anxiety? Do you take a pill, talk to someone, do yoga? I'm open to suggestions!

Message edited 7/25/2017 7:37:31 PM.

post-partum anxiety?

Yes it's a thing. I was never depressed either but did/do have anxiety. I always had anxiety and OCD, but having kids made my anxiety so much worse. Fm me anytime.

post-partum anxiety?

My friend has this after having her DC She is now on medication and feels much better. Definitely talk to your doctor about it.

Here is an example of her anxiety:

Her DH would say, I'll be home at 7. He would pull in the driveway at 7:01 and she would be freaking out because he was late.

Re: post-partum anxiety?

It's definitely a thing.

I won't take medication. Unless it's unavoidable I don't take medicine.
For anxiety I workout. I mostly run to deal with my anxiety. It really is therapy for me. I do significantly better on the days I run, if I miss too many days I'm a mess.

post-partum anxiety?

Yes. I've always been incredibly anxious but it's 100x worse now that I have DD. I'm kind of the opposite of you. I have trouble getting motivated and leave things to the last minute which just makes me more stressed.

I don't know the answer. Truthfully, I should probably be on medication but who has time to go to the doctor?!

Re: post-partum anxiety?

post-partum anxiety?

I don't really like taking medications for things, unless it's a vitamin or something of that nature. I've been reading online that taking probiotics can do alot for anxiety. Maybe it's worth a shot.

Re: post-partum anxiety?

Have you had a physical lately? I ask because when I last had one (it's been awhile at this point), my Vitamin D and iron levels were both extremely low. I had to take supplements but noticed I did start to feel better about a month after I started them.

Re: post-partum anxiety?

Thank you for posting this. Since having children I haven't had anxiety, BUT.... I've become so paranoid.
I can't do anything without thinking "what if"..

Re: post-partum anxiety?

post-partum anxiety?

I only had anxiety about bed time. It was the same situation with both my DC. If I remember correctly, it was the fear of sids and that they were going to be up all night if I did 1 slight thing to change their schedule.

Re: post-partum anxiety?

I had post partum anxiety. I took Lexapro and Xanax and it help tremendously. I would highly recommend speaking to your dr. Don't try to tough it out. The med's reduced my anxiety and allowed me to enjoy having a baby.

Re: post-partum anxiety?

Yes. I just went through this. It was awful. I went to my dr for a physical and she recommended lexapro. I get not wanting to be medicated but I feel so much better now it's incredible. I'm like a new person and feel like I have my life back. Feel free to fm me if you want.

post-partum anxiety?

I had PPA and PPOCD after both deliveries. I took Zoloft and went to therapy weekly. The Zoloft really helped so much. I still take it

post-partum anxiety?

I had anxiety bad after my 2nd. I started taking zoloft and going to therapy and it helped tremendously. Don't be afraid of taking medication.

Re: post-partum anxiety?

I have always been relatively laid back but recently, since having #3, I have become very nervous about everything. I had a whole party in a panic 2 weeks ago when I insisted my 5 year old was missing. I KNEW he had been playing hide and seek with older kids but I couldn't find him so I freaked out. DH was like "what the hell is wrong with you? He's hiding!" but I hadn't seen him in a little while so I went nuts and brought everyone with me. He was hiding in a closet. LOL

I just saw the article about the twins drowning in Melville today. I mentally banned going to anyone's home with a pool or waterfront after reading that. Totally impractical and ridiculous but I've turned into a panic.

Re: post-partum anxiety?

I am not sure if what you are describing is classic anxiety though. OCD like, yes. Your mind in a million places, yes.

But the worry about your daughter when she isn't with you, to me, is just normal. I feel like once you have a child, things are SO different. You worry about them all the time. You heart walks around outside your body as the saying goes.

Even when DD is home with DH I will sometimes have a panic attack thinking, is he watching her? Is she ok? Is she getting hurt?
If I can't reach him for a bit I start to have all these terrible scenarios in my head.

I think it's just a mother's instinct. I don't think it ever goes away even when they are grown.

When she was younger and I took her to daycare I would sometimes have a mini heart attack at work thinking- OMG did I leave her in the car? I would have to force myself to remember who I said hi to in the center, who I left her with there, what toys she was playing with when I left, etc.

Are you having anxiety attacks where your heart races,etc?

Or are you just overly worried and and over planner, OCD like etc?

I don't think I would medicate myself unless it was getting in the way of my daily life and functioning.

I feel like all parents have the feelings you do.

JMO

Re: post-partum anxiety?

Re: post-partum anxiety?

ME! full on post-partum anxiety. (but I was anxious before and sounds like you were def on the anxious spectrum before too, just probably was able to handle/control it all before the baby).

I should have taken medication but 1. I was breastfeeding and 2. I get anxiety about anxiety medication LOL. But I would advise that you try it, if you really feel like it is an issue and you need some extra help.

Therapy was really good for me too. If you have the time and money for that you might want to try that before jumping into medication (or if you cant because you are breastfeeding).

DH def. was worried about PPD immediately and I know it wasn't that and honestly I still question myself 5 years later because everything you mentioned... the snapping, the worrying, the lack of sleep, the stressed feelings, the being a homebody response, all of it... I feel it still to this day. but I know its just my anxiety and that is what I need to focus on handling.

Good luck to you!!

post-partum anxiety?

In the vein of extreme anxiety.....

DD came home from daycare with a weird mark on her arm. It felt a little warm to me and she freaked out when I touched it. I start panicking that it's cellulitis because I'm crazy and always think the worst. So I take her to urgent care to get it checked and they clearly think I'm insane when I tell them I'm concerned about cellulitis and I'm explaining to DH what cellulitis is (people DIE of cellulitis).


It was rug burn.

Re: post-partum anxiety?

Re: post-partum anxiety?

Re: post-partum anxiety?

Posted by NervousNell

Posted by mommy2be716

Posted by NervousNell

I am not sure if what you are describing is classic anxiety though. OCD like, yes. Your mind in a million places, yes.

But the worry about your daughter when she isn't with you, to me, is just normal. I feel like once you have a child, things are SO different. You worry about them all the time. You heart walks around outside your body as the saying goes.

Even when DD is home with DH I will sometimes have a panic attack thinking, is he watching her? Is she ok? Is she getting hurt?
If I can't reach him for a bit I start to have all these terrible scenarios in my head.

I think it's just a mother's instinct. I don't think it ever goes away even when they are grown.

When she was younger and I took her to daycare I would sometimes have a mini heart attack at work thinking- OMG did I leave her in the car? I would have to force myself to remember who I said hi to in the center, who I left her with there, what toys she was playing with when I left, etc.

Are you having anxiety attacks where your heart races,etc?

Or are you just overly worried and and over planner, OCD like etc?

I don't think I would medicate myself unless it was getting in the way of my daily life and functioning.

I feel like all parents have the feelings you do.

JMO

i snap more easily at dh, i'm more reluctant to go out and do things because i know it's more difficult to bring a baby around and worry about forgetting to pack something, and I am definitely over-worried and over-planning to the point where it's affecting my enjoyment when we are out doing things together. I don't think I need medication, but I do think I need to maybe do yoga, or meditation or something to relax myself more and be more "balanced"

It IS totally a big pain in the A going out with a baby. I spent DDs first summer in the house because I was so overwhelmed and she was sooooo bad.
So I get that totally.
I never did yoga or meditation but booze helped immensely!

Re: post-partum anxiety?

Yes, I had PPA after both kids. With my first, I muddled through for the first year, then went to therapy for a little while and was able to come out of it. After my second, it happened again but I wised up and after a few months said "F this" and asked for a prescription. What a relief it was! I felt better within a couple of weeks. I knew at that point it was a chemical imbalance. After a little more than a year, I weaned myself off. I came off the meds just fine and have not gone back on. For me it truly was a post-partum anxiety. You have to realize that even if you do take the meds, it doesn't have to be forever. Now, when I start to feel anxiety creep back into my life I either cry, exercise, drink wine or take half a xanax.

Good luck and if you want to FM you can. I know that it can be hard.

Re: post-partum anxiety?

Yes, it's a thing. I suffered from terrible panic attacks and anxiety after both of my kids were born. With DD I had to go on Prozac and Xanax (temporarily) within a week of her birth because the panic attacks were so bad. Definitely talk to your doctor.