Anxiety over children's health = .. (warning, sensitive topic)

[babytimeee]

I have always had extreme anxiety regarding health/death and my family members. Until now I couldn't even think these thoughts about my daughter but a friend of mine's son is terminally ill with leukemia and I am just completely going out of my mind thinking about the possibility that it could be me .. it could be us. I am too worried about the health of my daughter and this future child to even sleep at night since they had gotten news of his relapse. I obviously keep this to myself but I just am so so so afraid. I have panic attacks all the time lately... how do I cope? I am not the "worry later" type of person.. I'm the "constantly worry" type of person.... I don't even know what I'm asking for for help right now.. I just want to know if I'm insane? How would you handle this?

 

[cckarting]

You could always harvest baby cord blood if that would make you feel better, you can't predict what life has in store for you, you jump in with both feet and take the bad as it comes. I hope you get to feelin better.

 

[Luvspnk31]

You're not crazy. I myself struggle with extreme anxiety at times. Many people do, it just manifests itself in different ways. That being said , its not healthy either physically, mentally or emotionally. I'm sure you know that.
Learning to overcome anxiety is a process, and it doesn't happen easily. I would encourage you to do several things. First, get your thyroid tested. Many people are diagnosed with anxiety/ depression when in fact, their thyroid is off. Do a little research on it, could be helpful. 2, find a good therapist who will be able to help u with coping skills. I WOULD NOT let them push meds on u. It might seem appealing at first, but the effects on unborn babies are not clear.

I know its frustrating and consuming, and I understand not talking about it because no one understands. The best advise I can give u is that when u start obsessively thinking, find something to distract yourself. A warm bath while watching something calming usually helps me.
DONT watch the news
Stay away from Google!! Its the devil for those of us with anxiety.
Don't watch shows that are anxiety inducing. If it makes u anxious, don't watch it.

Practice deep breathing, stay away from caffeine and drink LOTS of water.

Good luck! Don't ever feel like ur alone. I promise , you're not!!

 

[Angelbaby_01]

I would say to start a hobby or to do something something that will distract you.

Regarding cord blood banking - do some research. I did and asked a few professionals specialists. They believe we are still in the beginning of the process and if you don't have the money then don't go for it because it's not proven yet that it will help. They said so far chances are still better that children will heal better with normal treatments for cancer than trying to create something in a lab that actually still need to be tested. Just a thought?

 

[babytimeee]

Thank you for all the input ladies.
I was on medications for anxiety/depression/severe ADHD (seriously, 3 different types of stimulants a day) and it's been tough. I am a worrier and feel like if I don't worry then things will go wrong (seriously, I think like this.) I'm just so upset and know it could be me and fear that it may... freaks me out to think of it as an option. I was seeing a therapist but they booted me out for canceling too many times (babysitters falling through, 2 year old distracted me from talking so I didn't want to bring her). It's been tough as all hell. =/. My thyroid has been tested so many times. Looks like I'll just have to deal. I just worry because I personally believe maternal mind state carries over to the baby. I was very stressed with my daughter and she has always been high needs and anxious. Ugh

 

[AMAS86]

I'm the same as you. Since my oldest daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at 3 (nearly took her life), I constantly find myself worrying about everything and everyone. This pregnancy I worry every single day that will this one also end in m/c. I hate worrying. I keep myself busy but even when I'm working on my hobbies or studying for college I still get off track and start worrying. I've never been on meds for it. My stress levels are extremely high with this pregnancy :/ I know how you feel.

 

[babytimeee]

hang in there Mama

 

[Linnypops]

Anxiety is normal during pregnancy as i'm sure you know, but this is obviously having a detrimental effect. Firstly - stress is not going to harm your baby. Think about it this way - There are so many serious stresses in the developing world, from poverty, malnutrition, being without a home etc - and yet they still give birth to healthy children and these children are not all stressed out....Things which have helped me in the past with anxiety:

Do some research into statistics on the whatever it is you're worrying about. If there's a 1:1,000,000 chance of the thing you're worrying about happening to your family then keep on reiterating it to yourself. Imagine a room/stadium filled with that many people and the chances of you personally being picked to have that problem.

Set aside times in the day when worry is allowed. You can do it for half an hour in the morning and evening. If you worry at any other time then you say to yourself 'Ok, i'll remember that and worry about it at X time'. This is a good trick because it allows you the worry time which you feel you need to have but it's not seeping into every aspect of your life.

Write down what you're worrying about and write down all your thoughts about it. Including the thoughts about why it's unlikely to happen. I found the longer thoughts are allowed to carry on washing about in my head the less likely I am to come to some kind of resolve. Once they're on paper they look a lot less consuming.

X

 

[Surprised26]

I stopped my depression and anxiety medication the moment I found out I was pregnant. The risks of the medication, no matter how safe doctors seem to think they are, just didn't seem worth it to me. That being said, around week 7 my depression and anxiety reached a ridiculous level, and I was so upset that I wasn't even excited about my pregnancy anymore. But that was just the illness talking, once my hormones leveled out a little (at least that's what I'm guessing happened, lol) I was able to see things a little clearer. Sure bad things might happen, but worrying never solves anything...and logically we know this. Try to channel your energy into making sure you have the healthiest pregnancy you can. Anything from selecting the right vitamins and supplements, to making sure you're getting enough water and sunlight. Being outside and soaking up some vitamin D has helped me more than I can even express. If anything, you'd be distracted from your worries and know that you're doing the best you can.

Anxiety is a pain in the ass, and a lot of the time it feels like that knot in your chest is controlling your whole life. Forums like this one can actually be very therapeutic also, I find that coming on here to vent, just having someone say "That's normal, I've been there" does wonders to ease some of my worries.

I hope you get to feeling better, if you ever need to get anything off your chest we're all here for you.

 

[TryinFor1]

I just spoke to my doctor about this. Like you, I have serious health anxiety problems. When ds was learning to walk, I was hysterical almost everyday when he was falling all over the place, convinced he had a brain tumor. My grandfather died of one, and I follow a baby on facebook who died of one, so I just was awful about it.

This pregnancy, I have been certain I have had trichinella, rocky mountain fever, Lyme disease, salmonella, or that taxo disease (quite a bad hypochondriac). I haven't had any of those and luckily my doctor is so understanding. He said I could go on Zoloft as it is safe in pregnancy, but honestly, after a Google search I just can't justify it.

I am constantly thinking ds swallowed a penny (even took him to get xrays the other day, no swallowed penny), constantly worried he stopped breathing, constantly worried for myself now since there is a baby inside me, its exhausting. It keeps me up at night and I am also having a hard time eating. I was ok for a while at the beginning but I am a train wreck 95% of the time now. My doctor told me if I ever feel anxious to call their office and he will talk me through it. He also used the analogy like pp, who said imagine your in a room with 330,000,000 people and only twenty people in the room get picked (stats for Trichinella), there is such a small chance it would be you. Like... A very very tiny chance.

I don't have any advice. I am usually on medication to help but I have stopped taking it since getting pregnant. I hope you get through it, and I am always here if you wanna talk.

 

[babytimeee]

Thank you ladies. I'm happy to hear all of your responses (not HAPPY but I'm glad I'm not alone if that makes any sense). I am just so tired of worrying constantly. Especially since I'm not feeling movement and also don't get my downs and tris 18 screening results back until 17 WEEKS. It's really too stressful right now

 

[dovkav123]

I am 14 weeks too and I don't have any movement too. I think only positive. My growing bump shows that my baby is healthy.
We have to wait till 20 weeks to feel the kicks.
My huby has anxiety. He quit caffeine. It depletes his inositol from his brain and causes emotional problems. My hubby is taking inositol powder. He started spoon a day and increased up to 10 spoons. It is made of rice and it's a vitamin B family. It also good for diabetics. It tastes sweet! He noticed a relief but the resluts will come in a few months. I am not sure about inositol safety in high doses during pregnancy. Vit B is a urine soluable so the access gets secreted in the urine.
Also I give him Lecitin granules. the dose is 4 spoonfulls a day. It is super healthy for a growing baby brain too. You should try this today!
I wish you all the best, and I hope we can keep in touch cos we are both 14 weeks!

 

[Genevevex]

I have an anxiety disorder and have some of the same problems. PLEASE go talk to a doctor about this. Don't let it get out of hand like I did. It can and will rule your entire life if you let it, and that's not really living. It will make you crazy. They have medication you can take during pregnancy that is safe for the baby. Please take it if they offer it.