Anxiety is back - can barely eat!

[immie]

Had to go and get put back on my citalopram yesterday as my anxiety is coming back real fast all of a sudden. Over the last few days it's really affected my appetite and citalopram won't kick in until between 3 and 6 weeks! Atm i'm forcing myself to eat 2 small meals a day but I just don't feel that's any good for me or baby. And like I say, I have to wait 3-6 weeks for things to improve. What do I do? I'm so weak I can't stand up straight and feel shakey and nauseous all the time due to my anxiety

 

[Yo_Yo]

I too gave been suffering anxiety. I can relate to how horrible it is lovely mines due to a stressful pregnancy.
I've been trying to keep busy, keep my mind active and distracted. Get friends or family over, watch a comedy, do crosswords, talk out any fears you have with people close to you.
Is it anything in particular causibg anxiety?
Hope you get feeling better soon

 

[tryfor2]

Oh immie, sorry to hear this. I remember what this felt like my last pregnancy. So hard. I'm glad to hear you're back on meds. Some of us can't make it through without them and that's okay. You do what you have to do to help yourself and therefore your baby.

Have you tried drinking smoothies? They were a godsend to me last time when it was hard to choke down anything. And if you're shaky it sounds like your blood sugar may be quite low. Try multiple small meals throughout the day. A few bites here, a few there. My OB even recommended those meal replacement drinks the other day, emphasizing that in addition to nutrition your baby needs CALORIES to grow and develop properly. Fresh air also is good for the appetite, psyche and even helps with sleep (not so easy to get for those of us prone to anxiety). Get out in the sun when at all possible. It sounds so simplistic but being out in the fresh air, feeling warm sun on my face was very comforting last time I was pregnant. I found I really craved sunlight like I never had before ( perhaps I was vitamin D deficient!). Also try writing down your fears/anxieties just to get it out. I often find the act of writing things down allows me to release things even just a little. The drug will likely do the rest. Hang in there. It may be a tough slog, but you WILL get through it.

 

[immie]

Thanks so much girls, it's nice to know I'm not alone in this. No one will understand anxiety unless they've had it themselves so it's nice to get perspective. Tryfor2 - you're so right, i'm having a much better day today and I really believe that's largely because the sun is shining and it's nice and warm outside today. Smoothies are a good idea too, I love them so maybe I should start drinking more of those! xxx

 

[Jinga]

This pregnancy has brought out my anxiety in a bad way too. It seems like everything was triggering it. Several weeks ago, I woke up in the middle of the night having an anxiety attack (aka feeling like I was going to die). I've had to go on meds, too and they seem to be helping. Being able to finally go outside and enjoy the beautiful weather doesn't hurt either

I hope you are feeling better soon!

 

[tryfor2]

I'm glad to hear you're having a better day! Sometimes it's the "little" things that tip the balance (both good and bad). There's a reason many doctors wait till summer to wean their patients off antidepressants!

Do try the smoothies again. They can be quite yummy yet healthy and really cut down on all the bulk of non-pulverized food and make it easier to get down.

I'm sorry to hear you're dealing with this too Jinga. I'd say the hormonal shitstorm that is pregnancy is what's triggering it! Not fun though. I had a lot of insomnia last pregnancy and I'd end up pacing at 3 a.m., hyperventilating and feeling as though the walls were closing in. I can't emphasize enough how much hormones can mess with your head! Especially if you have a history of anxiety/depression etc. I hope you feel better soon. Summer IS coming...

 

[MgreenM]

I agree with the meal supplement drinks if nutrition/blood sugar levels are an issue for you!

I too, have been suffering from terrible anxiety during pregnancy. I went off my meds in November (had been weaning for a couple of years) and actually was doing really well. I have been talking with my psychiatrist and therapist a lot to figure out if I need to go back on the meds. I will talk to my OB about it as well when I go on Tuesday. I think as of right now, the plan is to start the meds a couple of weeks before the EDD to give the meds a chance to get to a therapeutic level. Hopefully I won't need to start them sooner than that, but we will see what happens. It's hard because the anxiety will hit really badly for a solid 2 weeks and then ease up a bit for a little while and then hit hard for 2 weeks again...and during those times, I feel so out of control. I am managing, but it isn't easy. Luckily, I have a great therapist and psychiatrist who are always available and supportive and don't force me into any decisions, but rather collaborate with me to come up with a good plan. It's helpful to hear others are going through something similar (although I wouldn't want ANYONE to go through this, it's awful!).

If anyone wants some suggestions for sleep related issues, I have found a few things that have worked well for me. Just let me know and I am happy to share.