Could bfing cause anxiety? Has anyone stopped bfing and had success? - Page 2

[asoulunbound]

I am not familiar with dmer, but it seems like something worth checking out as pp have mentioned. I just wanted to tell you that it's ok to not be perfect and feeling anxiety is not helpful to anyone, so please get help., I didn't want to for a long time and I feel like i missed out on a lot of time. I am taking meds now for depression and am feeling like I can enjoy my family again. I still have bad days, but that's normal, and they make me appreciate the good days more. I know i sound like pollyanna, but I'd hate for you to wean and then the feelings not go away, so a whole new crop of bad feelings come up.
I think you're a good mom for asking for help when you need it.

[Litcrit]

Originally Posted by dot1

I too am curious about this. I found that when dd started eating more solids and my cycle returned at 9-10 months, I felt more level for longer periods (instead having increased anxiety just before period - PMS). After nursing for just over 2 years, nightweaning and reducing nursing to 3-4x/day, periods are lighter, anxiety is less, sleep is better. Not perfect but much better. And I often wonder if a total weaning would make me feel totally myself again?

However, I do get a relaxing feeling when the milk starts flowing and it feels great to connect with my sweet dd. So it seems that in the moment, I feel good when nursing....but the less often we nurse, the better I feel

I have had EXACTLY the same experience! Identical - except I was/am depressed, not anxious. Cycle returened at 9mo, got much better, depressed before periods; the less nursing there is, the better I feel, dd is just over 2 now. I also wonder if I'll be able to count on my old self again once dd weans?

Am also soothed by the let-down hormones.

Breastfeeding hormones impact women's moods differently - just like pregnancy does.

[ChristSavesAll]

You want to stop your anxiety you need to treat the underlying cause, Iodine deficiency.

Supplement, and really your problems will vanish.

[JessicaS]

I have generalized anxiety disorder, I have been this way since I was a little girl.

I tried several different things, diet, allergy testing, supplements, counseling, meds, exercise and those things did help.

I tend to go for the least invasive treatments with the least side effects first. I do include the benefits of breastfeeding when considering "side effects"

I had my allergies tested, I am allergic to dairy. Avoiding dairy does help me as do the other things.

Another factor is sleep. How are you sleeping?

FWIW I cannot take SSRIs at all. I have bad side effects to them. I took Wellbutrin (which isn't really supposed to be great for anxiety but it works well for me )

If you are having side effects to the zoloft tell your Dr and they will try something else.

[JR'smama777]

I enjoyed nursing but I would not say it relaxed me in any way and did often make me feel more anxious. I had to really control my surroundings (not answer the phone, have everything I needed within my reach...including a hairbrush to scratch my back which tickled a lot in the middle when we nursed).

It really can feel like a pressure situation for some mamas and not for others...so to me anxiety while nursing is just a part of being different humans.

That said, you may want to look into some meds, nutrition info, or other types of care if you're feeling you may have something a bit more serious.

Many hugs to you!