Postnatal anxiety.. What can be done about it?

[SaraEmily]

I'm 5 weeks postpartum and my anxiety is starting to feel out of control. I've always had anxiety my whole life but it's getting worse. I don't think I have depression but the constant anxiety definitely affects my mood.

My postpartum checkup isn't for another month but I'm thinking of asking for a sooner appointment so I can talk to my doctor about it. I'm just wondering what could be done about it? Would an antidepressant really help anxiety?

 

[birdlee337]

Definitely call your dr to see them sooner. I git diagnosed with post partum anxiety disorder and getting put on meds helped alot! Don't wait to call! Hope u feel better!

 

[sept2010]

Also ask fr a thyroid check. Anxiety is a symptom of hyperthyroid

 

[Krissykat1006]

I have dealt with anxiety quite a bit over the last 16 years I was no longer on medication and was able to deal with it through breathing for the last 3 years. On about my 6th day post partum I had a massive anxiety attack that crept up out of nowhere and hit full on before I could counter act it. It left me disassociated and terrified. I kept trying to tell myself I could get out of the anxiety bubble on my own but by the 3rd day of being terrified to even leave the bedroom I knew I was going to need help. I talked to my Doctor and got on Wellbutrin (which I had used in the past and it helped me out a lot.) and I will stay on it as long as I need to. It is a sucky feeling having anxiety rule you like that so I would call in and try to get in sooner, cause the longer you let it go unmanaged the worse it can get over time. I never dealt with mine properly after my first was born and it took 3 months for me to finally get help and I was in pretty bad shape by then. I wish you luck, and I want you to know you will start feeling better and this will not last forever

 

[prettyflower7]

Definitely make an appointment, there are specific medications and antidepressants that can help anxiety. I have suffered with anxiety for a long time, and through my pregnancy which i assumed would get better after birth...it did the opposite...it was horrendous and i sat in tears ALOT out of pure fear and anxiousness. I wont go into detail as would not want to trigger anything for anyone. My health visitor and doctor were fantastic, i got put on an anti depressant and beta blocker to calm me. they worked brilliantly. few months on and I dont need the anti depressant but still take the other when I need it. The medication can really help, and I think health care workers need to recognise that sometimes new mums actually suffer anxiety when it can be misdiagnosed as depression. The anxiety itself caused me to be down but anxiety was definitely the main issue.

I hope you get something to help soon, It is a very horrible feeling.

P.S. Great name choice my oldest is called Aria, one of the most beautiful names in my opinion

 

[Starry Night]

Thanks for starting this thread. Anxiety is a HUGE issue for me too. I was not expecting it so when I got my first attack I mistook it for a health crisis. I did end up needing a blood transfusion but I was diagnosed with post partum anxiety. I do have a bit of depression which I am used to dealing with but it's the anxiety that is really tough. I am getting regular visits from the public health nurse AND the doctor. I was starting to do better so the visits have gotten further apart but it's coming back again.

I still can, and desire, to leave the house but I don't have the opportunity due to lack of vehicle (no buses or taxis here) and I feel that lack of opportunity to get out is feeding some of my desire to stay inside. I hate feeling this intense paranoia all the time. I'm thinking of starting meds but the side effects sound awful and we don't have benefits and DH doesn't want me spending the money.

 

[Pink Petals]

I too have dealt with reallybad anxiety since LO was born. It's awful. No suggestions, as I have mostly just lived with it. Afraid to go on meds, because of breastfeeding. It's tough.

 

[Melly Belly]

I had super bad anxiety after our baby was born...at first i thought it was just the normal hormones, etc. but i wasnt getting any better with it, and i couldnt handle normal day to day things that i would have done before...so when i went in for an incision check (i had a few as it got a tiny little bit infected) she asked me how i was doing and i couldnt stop crying...she said it was normal, but that she was concerned, so she prescribed me Lexapro and it seems to be helping a tremendous amount...im still taking it, three months later..she wants me to take it for 9 mo. and then if i feel im doing better, to taper it down slowly...the only side effect i would say to watch out for is dizziness...i was on day three of taking it when i ventured out to a thrift store by myself...of course it decided to be super warm that day, so im sure that added to it all, but when i was in line to check out, i started feeling light headed...i got some water and felt better, but then after i paid, boom, right to the floor... i sat for a while and the employees all checked on me several times....scary stuff though...ive never passed out before that time!

 

[Krissykat1006]

I too have dealt with reallybad anxiety since LO was born. It's awful. No suggestions, as I have mostly just lived with it. Afraid to go on meds, because of breastfeeding. It's tough.

Yeah that was a difficult decision for me, I really wanted to breastfeed. I followed studies on wellbutrin in breastmilk and the % wasn't that much that actually passes through the milk, but at the end of the day I knew I had to get better to be better for my family...and I just couldn't risk the % whatever it was going through my milk so we went formula and I got on wellbutrin. I am 3 weeks on it and I am so much better.