Post partum anxiety and paranoia getting worse

[fashionlover]

My DD is 8 months old and I have been suffering with PP anxiety and paranoia. I continually have bad thoughts about something horrible happening to my baby. It is getting so bad I am literally making myself sick over it. I was seeing a counselor before baby as it was pretty bad during pregnancy as well, but stopped as my insurance was not covering much and it was getting really expensive. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Popples1]

Are there any support groups you can attend? I went to a breastfeeding g one recently and it was really helpful to swap stories with other mums. I'm a natural worrier too but am trying to push them out of my head so I don't go nuts checking his breathing etc every 5 minutes!

 

[fashionlover]

Are there any support groups you can attend? I went to a breastfeeding g one recently and it was really helpful to swap stories with other mums. I'm a natural worrier too but am trying to push them out of my head so I don't go nuts checking his breathing etc every 5 minutes!

I am looking into a group, I wish things like this were more accessible. I am the same way. 9 months in and still checking her breathing

 

[katy1985]

I had really bad pp anxiety. Had a few counselling sessions. They taught me a few techniques, like allowing myself 10 minutes worry time every evening, where I just sat on my own and let all the thoughts come, then pushed them away. Also to try and rationalise my fears, like how many people does this thing I'm worrying about happen to and try and put it in perspective. Getting out and about really helped me as well.

 

[OnyxSnowfall]

I suffer from anxiety attacks --- (altho' I have since I was little). I've gone for stretches of a couple of years without one though --- really stressful times seem to trigger their return.

I just had my third child on the 9th and I was having major ones over and over (after being consumed by thoughts of something horrible happening to any of my children or to me where they'd be left all alone etc). I'd venture to guess that a lot of it can be credited to hormones (example: oxytocin has a dark side --- it promotes bonding but also may cause one to be over-protective and suffer from high alert signals).

What has helped me manage them greatly are:

a calcium, vitamin d3, magnesium, k2 supplement.
a whole food vitamin high in vitamin b's.
omega 3's/fish oil pills.
herbal supplements (https://www.hylands.com/products/hylands-calms --- these have actually helped me greatly).
sunlight.
reducing caffeine and processed sugars.

In the past I've tried meditation, relaxation techniques etc --- I've been through mounds of therapy and counseling --- I am certainly glad such things work for some and they're definitely worth exploring --- but my diet and nutrition are what have personally helped me the most.

Exercise can help (or increase) anxiety too. For me it doesn't really seem to do much for them either way.

Really hope you find respite from your fears soon.

Take care!

 

[birdlee337]

So sorry to hear that. I am suffering from post partum anxiety and separation anxiety. It sucks! She isonly 12 days old! I saw a therapist the other day cost me a fortune. She put me on Zoloft. Has helped alot! Still having some issues. ..but seems to be getting better.