Anyone with experience with anxiety

[jesster88]

Anxiety runs in my family and I struggled with it a lot myself a few years ago. Many insurance plans have some form of virtual counseling. I started with an email correspondence and was referred to a counselor. My insurance covered 6 sessions I think. I also saw my primary care physician and was tested for thyroid issues which can have anxiety as a side effect. She prescribed lexapro which I took until I started weaning off of them in order to clear them out of my system and adjust mentally before TTC...something your H will not have to think about. I will be honest coming off of the meds was a bad enough experience that I would seriously reconsider being on them again. It didn't help that my dr kind of shrugged off the symptoms I was having.

My H was an advocate for me and very lovingly pushed me to get the care that I needed. I was very stubborn but had reached a point where my anxiety was interfering with my work and life. He would ask me to promise him I would pursue counseling and I didnt want to let him down.

[chicorojo]

I have horrible anxiety. And nothing really triggers it for me it's just always there. Caffeine and nicotine make it much much worse. It got so bad I was having the physical symptoms, aching and sharp pains in the left side of the chest, numbness in my arms, pain in my shoulder. I finally talked to my dr. And now that I am on medicine I rarely feel anxious. I also make sure I spend atleast 30 minutes in the sun everyday. That helps.
Push him to speak to a dr. Nobody should have to feel that way if they don't have to.

[jesster88]

graybaby I was similar with resisting counseling. I would have a good day and be like "I don't need it"

Something else I have read along the way is that DHA can help your brain make its own serotonin. I have taken it alone and then as prenatal + DHA for maybe 2 years now. My anxiety has been more manageable in that time but not sure if it is causation or correlation.

I hope you and your H are able to work together to get help for him. I know its not easy.

[gradschoolmama]

These are all excellent suggestions so far. Another option to consider- if he's motivated but doesn't want to see a counselor is CBT. (Cognitive behavior therapy) it's the go to theory for anxiety disorders. Although it's most effective with a counselor, it can be practiced on your own if you're good at closely following directions and stick with it. There are many CBT work books out there but my favorite is www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0898621283/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?qid=1430244837&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&keywords=cbt+workbook&dpPl=1&dpID=51zVSmuel-L&ref=plSrch

[gradschoolmama]

mgk207 I think we're in the same field ?

[gradschoolmama]

I wanna be you when I grow up! I completed my masters and am supposed to be completing my doctorate in psych but I kinda want to get a license and quit the dissertation .....,
How long have you been licensed? (And if this is too much I can PM you.)

[bdk0186]

I have really bad anxiety, including ppa. I don't know specific things that trigger it, but I know afterwards. For instance after I had dd I Googled everything...from sleep to bathing to diapering. My mind went a million miles a min and I just couldn't relax. It helped when I talked to dh and eventually saw someone for a few weeks. I ended up going on some meds which I'm still on (was waiting until I went back to work and everything seemed normal to get off). Talking about what bothers him with someone impartial would help him a lot. Most companies should pay for a few sessions. Good luck

[amyface813]

I suffer from anxiety it's usually more mild but sometimes gets really bad. The only "medicine" that works for me is exercise. My worst period was ended by training for a half marathon. It was really hard to get myself moving at first but every time I made it out it was like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders and I could relax again. Pretty soon I would crave that post workout feeling and it was motivation enough. I also had it bad for the first four weeks or so after LO was born but I couldn't workout. That passed on it's own mostly.