NBR - Anxiety

[smilingeyes]

I know this might be a weird post for a baby board. 

I was just wondering if anyone here suffers from anxiety and/or panic disorder?

I've always had anxiety (specifically health anxiety) but in August, after we moved to our new place, I started getting really bad (and frequent) panic attacks. It has been completely debilitating. 

My mom has suffered from the same thing for as long as I can remember - I always brushed off panic attacks, thinking they were all in someone's head. MAN, was I wrong. 

If anyone here has anxiety or panic - are you on any medications? It has taken me forever to decide to try an antidepressant (I guess that's how they treat anxiety). I tried my first one a few weeks ago and had a horrible experience - now I have Zoloft that my Dr would like me to try. It's still sitting in my cupboard, lol. 

I definitely know my anxiety became way worse after having my daughter. Not only do I worry about my own health, I worry about hers too. Every bump or mark, I worry. Every fall or scrape, I worry. That could just be a Mom thing though, lol.

Sorry for the long post - just thought I'd reach out to see if any of my S13 mama's have any experience with this as well. 

*Edit* - Just realized I made the title NBR - can we still do that since it's not TB? lol

[happymama]

I haven't had to deal with anxiety attacks, but just wanted to say we are here for you and I hope you are able to work with your doctor to find some relief.

I would say some of the additional worry IS just a mom thing.

Becoming a mom brought me happiness beyond anything I could have imagined, but it also brought to life fears I never knew existed. Some worry is normal and will always be there simply because of how much you love them, but debilitating fear isn't healthy for any of you and that's when you have to find a way to get on top of it.

After DD was born, I couldn't sleep. I was literally, and irrationally, convinced that if I closed my eyes she would die. I slept maybe an hour a day total for 3 days. It didn't get much better when I got home. I barely slept between feedings because I was so scared of SIDS. I finally had to get a little monitor that clipped on her diaper and monitored her breathing. It had a little light that blinked each time she breathed so I could glance over and see that she was breathing and fall back asleep. Now that she's a toddler, there are different worries, and there always will be. It's a battle for me every day to stay on top of my fear when it comes to her. I don't really have a good solution for the worry. I take every precaution to keep her safe, and then I do my best to trust God with what I can't control. I can't keep her in a bubble and always protect her from everything, and it wouldn't be healthy for either of us if I tried to.

I can only imagine how tough it would be to have to deal with panic/anxiety attacks on top of that. Hang in there, I hope that you are able to find a solution. If you are trying hard to avoid meds, have you tried seeing a therapist? Every person is different, but sometimes there is an underlying cause they can help you to recognize and process and there may be alternatives.