Need advice

I am only at 31 weeks but I am experiencing high anxiety mostly just at night. It is really affecting my sleep.

I know I am tossing and turning due to the baby but when I am up and lying in bed my thoughts wander. I think about how I still have 2 months left and I am scared that i am going to have anxiety attacks every night. I think about labor and it scares me. I was literally shaking last night. My mind just races and that makes it even worse to find a comfortable position to stay in.

Any suggestions on relaxing techniques or how I can reducce my anxiety?

Re: Need advice

I'm sorry you're feeling that way! I don't know how to meditate, but I know many people who swear by it. Maybe they have have cds at the library you could try out?

Feel better!

Re: Need advice

This happened to me at about 34 weeks for a week straight. I found that taking a bath with soft music and not reading any baby stuff before bed helped.

Re: Need advice

I feel your pain. Ive been a sufferer of anxiety pretty much all my life. I am now a mother of two. And can I tell you I used to drive myself nuts through out both of my pregnancies thinking something was always going to go wrong then when i got further along I too was up all night and my mind would just wander. Thinking of labor, the pain, if baby was going to be alright etc.

I can give you the advice of reading a really good book, to distract your thoughts listen to your favorite cd even if its in the middle of the night. I also used to use the breathing technique of taking deep breaths in thru the mouth and exhaling thru my nose...slowly
Trust me everything will be great and once the baby is here every thing will fall into place. If you ever want to talk feel free to fm me anytime.

Re: Need advice

Posted by Larasmommy

I feel your pain. Ive been a sufferer of anxiety pretty much all my life. I am now a mother of two. And can I tell you I used to drive myself nuts through out both of my pregnancies thinking something was always going to go wrong then when i got further along I too was up all night and my mind would just wander. Thinking of labor, the pain, if baby was going to be alright etc.

I can give you the advice of reading a really good book, to distract your thoughts listen to your favorite cd even if its in the middle of the night. I also used to use the breathing technique of taking deep breaths in thru the mouth and exhaling thru my nose...slowly
Trust me everything will be great and once the baby is here every thing will fall into place. If you ever want to talk feel free to fm me anytime.

Thank you. I'm tearing up just reading this. I just don't want this to become an everynight thing. I will try some of the things suggested here.

Re: Need advice

i wish i could help becaue i am having the same issues lately as well. full blown attacks and then i get more scared because i cant take an emergency xanax like i used to before pregnancy.

sometimes i definately feel them coming on and other times....i think i am fine and it hits hard.

and no one gets it unless they havce anxiety disorder

i do try to take warm baths and ready silllllly books and go to bed watching family guy or a funny show. no more baby books or news watching if i can help it.

you can fm me too bc i am up every hour on the hour peeing so i usually check my blackberry alot lol

big hugs ..its super scary adn sucky but you arent alone!!!

Re: Need advice

Ive suffered with anxiety my whole adult life... Night time for me is the worst as well... I get so much anxiety about something going wrong that it keeps me up, mind races... Same thing as you... I totally understand what your feeling...

I have found meditation really really works... It has done wonders for me. I downloaded somethimg from itunes... There are apps you can get... I also listen to fave talk radio show or I listen to classical music like mozart lullabies. I put my headphones on just 1 ear and listen until I fall asleep... It just helps to distract me...
I find breathing techniques help... And just good ole talking myself off the ledge hehe

if you ever need to talk please fm me anytime...

Re: Need advice

If anxiety is something you've had before and its getting worse, If you aren't now I would be getting professional help. Labor and birth is just the beginning- parenthood will probably have many triggers as well. I don't have anxiety but started seeing my therapist when I became depressed after a year of parenthood

Re: Need advice

all of the above is great advice but I especially agree with the pp who suggested seeking professional help. I suffer anxiety, and had PPD after DD1, and would not have survived without therapy. It helped me soo much. I know this is controversial, but if it gets really bad, there are medications that can be taken during pregnancy. but definitely try all of the techniques mentioned as well.