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Pregnant with anxiety

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Posted 5/5/2015 10:03 PM (GMT 0)
Anyone else pregnant with anxiety? I've been trying to find some friends no luck :(
I am 23 weeks pregnant and have been trying to stay med-free with counseling and natural remedies but starting to lose hope. I've been having anxiety attacks almost everyday and i'm just soo tired of it. I feel like it is time for me to start meds but worried about so many things. I feel like it is maybe the right thing for me but worried about what my family or husband might think. He is not supportive of me taking meds, he wasn't before I was pregnant so I'm more than sure he won't be now. He doesn't know how bad it really is, nobody does. I'm really good at hiding it but I don't think I can do that anymore. I feel so alone in this and i'm sick and tired of having anxiety :(
Posted 5/5/2015 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
We are here for you.

Do not feel bad if you feel ready to take meds. Pregnancy is a very emotional time and hormones play a big role.

You're past 20 weeks and meds such as zoloft have been deemed very safe during pregnancy. Enjoy this time as much as you can. Maybe have your therapist help explain to your husband why you have hit the point where meds are necessary.

Good luck and post with us whenever you need to!

Congrats on your pregnancy!
Posted 5/5/2015 10:30 PM (GMT 0)
Pcat9

My eldest Daughter was very high anxiety with her first child, the last three months she was allowed to have
a tiny amount of xanax, but please check with an expert first, "mother and child are still fine". Peace

Larry ***
Posted 5/5/2015 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome purple_cat9, I'm happy you found us but sorry you are going thru anxiety. This is an awesome forum full of caring people that above all else understand so stick with us and we will help you along this journey of becoming anxiety free. :)

I understand you not wanting to take medication while pregnant, but there are some that are safe to take, prozac, paxil and zoloft to name a couple. I understand your husband not wanting you to take them, but this is your life and you must do what you need to do to take care of you, I'm sure he will come around and support you in what ever decision you make. A good talk with your doctor is needed, and I hope you can come up with a plan.

Are you in therapy, or have you been in therapy? I highly recommend CBT and Mindfulness therapy for people with anxiety, both have high success rates if you work with the therapist, do the homework and have a open mind.

Check out the top thread on the forum, there is alot of good information there, including self help guides and mindfulness videos.

Again, Welcome. Keep posting ask any questions or concerns you have and we will do our best to help.
Posted 5/6/2015 3:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hi PC and welcome!

You have received some great input so far...so I will just add my welcome, and the link to our Resources...filled with great info and self-help.:)

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=104206


Post with us anytime, and we will be here to understand and support!

Scaredy Cat

Posted 5/6/2015 3:17 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you guys so much. I am not seeing a therapist, just a counselor.. I've been interested in CBT therapy but unfortunately the counselor I am currently seeing does not do that. I'm thinking about making the switch , just unsure if I should.. I've only been there a couple of months. Now i'm looking into trying meds, just trying to build the courage to do so :(
Posted 5/6/2015 3:37 AM (GMT 0)
There are some good CBT based practices in the Resource link above!

The therapy worksheet downloads help to challenge anxious thoughts

The Moodgym is an online CBT based therapy program...

...as are the Mood Juice links!

Take a look around and see what looks helpful to you.:)

S.C.
Posted 5/6/2015 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
Purple cat, you have some good advice here. Try your best to enjoy this time, when you have the baby there will be challenges and yes you might be tired, but it will be really wonderful and fill your life in a great way. It's hard to explain, I didn't "get it" until my wife had our baby.

In fact, my anxiety went down after she was born because I stopped thinking about myself and was so happy about our baby. Hang in there.

Mike
Posted 5/6/2015 5:22 AM (GMT 0)
Ryder and I have similar circumstances, i didnt particularity want kids my wife did however, i would equate
it to being hit by a runaway train. "I fell hopelessly in Love when the nurse came into the waiting room
and said, mr. Mandrell you have a beautiful baby girl". I got it, my life has never been the same, Peace

Larry ***
Posted 5/7/2015 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys. I do know what you mean, I already have a son who I love dearly. I had some pretty terrible anxiety with that pregnancy as well but it was more manageable. Not this time around though. I know it will get better once the baby is here (or so I hope) but for now I am really struggling.
Posted 5/7/2015 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hey purple- I think pregnancy and anxiety go hand in hand. Our bodies being a vessel for a new human being...that's such an important job! We're afraid we won't make the grade. I started to write down the what ifs I had during my pregnancies but I erased them....why introduce things into your mind that you may not already be thinking about :)
Of course there is always anxiety about giving birth and what it might be like...I swear I held my first child in for 2 weeks because I was too scared to give birth.
Hang in there- deep breaths
Wishing you all the best!
Posted 5/8/2015 6:52 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you. I appreciate the encourage words. I do have many "what ifs" throughout the day .. in fact that is probably what my life revolves around the most., not just with the pregnancy but life in general. Generalized anxiety is a beast, along with pregnancy it does not make a very good combo.
Posted 5/8/2015 8:46 PM (GMT 0)
A good "What If" to remember...

"What if everything turns out better than I could have hoped for!"

There is actually a better chance of that happening, than of anything negative occuring!

Keep up the good work...you and baby are going to be fine.:)

S.C.
Posted 5/9/2015 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
Purple cat

I suffer with anxiety /panics and with both my pregnancies I was on celexa and clonasapam and breastfeed both on medications. My boys are now 7 and 2 and they are healthy smart monkeys :). I was afraid of taking the Ned's too but it was either take them or stress myself which is not good for you and the baby. Everything will be ok
Posted 5/16/2015 5:40 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you. It helps hearing positive stories about healthy pregnancy and meds. My midwife gave the ok if I really need to take meds they will support it. That helped hearing that. I still haven't scheduled an appointment with a psychiatrist, I guess I'm scared to. I can't be the only pregnant person here!?
Posted 5/16/2015 8:42 AM (GMT 0)
Here's another positive one...I was on meds with all three of my children, breastfed all three, and they are now three healthy, happy adults. :)
Posted 5/16/2015 1:25 PM (GMT 0)
Purple, I was pregnant and that did not work out, but I did have the ok to be on meds while pregnant. It was a maternal fetal medicine doc who gave me the ok and was really not concerned and it was my first trimester.

I'm also on zoloft right now and xanax as needed, with the intention of trying to become pregnant in the next 9 months or so. If zoloft helps me, I have every intention of staying on it.
Posted 5/16/2015 5:29 PM (GMT 0)
P.C.

I believe we have one other mom to be right now...

...so maybe you will be hearing from her soon, and you guys can connect.:)

...but even still, there are a lot of us here who have been through it all previously, and are glad to support you through your time, so keep posting!

S.C.
Posted 5/20/2015 6:02 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks all! Here's the thing, I really hate meds. I know, I know.. Who doesn't? But I guess you can say the anxiety causes even more anxiety about the side effects, what if it will make things worse .. Etc.? I took Zoloft for a week and had really weird chest pains that made me stop it completely. I know it takes up to 6 weeks to work but I was worried. I've only had success with one med and that was klonopin years ago, unfortunately I can't take it while pregnant. I figure I can't feel worse than I do now though..
Posted 5/20/2015 8:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hi to everyone!..firsty i thank the admin for accepting my forum account..
Posted 5/20/2015 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
P.C.

Keep practicing the self-help coping skills! They really can have a calmimg effect that you will want when managing anxiety without medication...should you choose the non Rx route.

I have had really good results with them.;)

How are you feeling overall? Do you have any details yet? Boy/girl...names, ect? :)

S.C.
Posted 5/20/2015 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
Sanjiro Keon,

Welcome!

I have moved your post to its own thread, so that more members can recognize you as new and welcome you as well!

Look for your screen name in the post.

Scaredy Cat
Posted 5/23/2015 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
If I had to be brutally honest I would say I haven't been doing so well. I feel like I am just getting by.. I have anxiety all day and it is worse at night. I feel like I am so close to calling a psychiatrist to put me on meds but fear of being judged by dh and fear of feeling guilty about taking meds. I keep telling myself this week I will call, or this week I will switch counselors but then that week is down and I never do it. I guess it is the anxiety telling me not to call, as ironic as it is.
Posted 5/23/2015 3:02 AM (GMT 0)
P.C.

I am really sorry to hear that you are not feeling well...

However, if you have done everything that you can in therapy and self help techniques...and still are suffering, then, calling your P-doc/OBGYN for an Rx recommendation could be the right move.

If you were diabetic, would you not take insulin? Why is this different? Many people who suffer with A/D have true physical needs for chemical balancing in the brain...they can not change things by sheer will!

With all due respect to your dh...he is not the one suffering with anxiety...or carrying a baby and dealing with the hormonal difficulties that this poses...

...and until he is doing either of these things...perhaps he should just concentrate on supporting you, and not passing on judgements on things he can't fully understand.

Ultimately the decision is yours, and I encourage you to do what you need to in order to feel your best.

A happy healthy mom will naturally help ensure a happy and healthy baby.:)

With support!

S.C.
Posted 5/23/2015 2:03 PM (GMT 0)
I would just like to echo everything that S.C. said.

To take care of a baby, there needs to be a happy and healthy mommy!
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