how long does this last?

[frenchfry]

My daughter is 15 mths old now. I honestly feel like I'm never going to be normal again. I mean, Its not so much anger/overwhelmed/depressed anymore... its more like a constant state of anxiety. I just want to feel like me again. I felt good for so long, now this ball of anxiety in my chest just won't go away.

[Alair]

My youngest is 3 and I still suffer from anxiety and depression. I've been battling with it since I had my first 10 years ago. Every woman is different, but with my first, it was worst through the first 2 years. I remember it beginning to get better right around 16 months.

I've been on a variety of meds in the last 10 years but it doesn't really touch the anxiety. It's a daily struggle, but I honestly believe we're not educated by our family doctors on how to manage our hormones properly with diet and nutrition.

I've tried everything for my anxiety and I think I've found what works for me. I cut out all processed foods, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, and started filling my diet with essential fatty acids. You can find a wealth of information on foods high in fatty acids on the web. I eat spinach, avocados, flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil, nuts, fish, fruit, leafy greens, limited dairy and whole grains. I've only been doing this for the past 2 months but I feel 95% better with my anxiety.

Our brains, glands, hormones...everything...need these fats to function. I also take an herbal tincture for women from a homeopathic store with the following: Dong Quai Root, Black Cohosh Root, Chaste Tree Berry, False Unicorn Root, Raspberry Leaf, Saw Palmetto Berry, Squaw Vine Herb, Sarsaparilla Root, Damiana Leaf, and Blessed Thistle Herb. If you're interested in these herbs and are breastfeeding, check to see if any of them are contraindicated.

If you want to talk or need any information, feel free to email me.

Best of luck to you. Hang in there, anxiety sucks. You need to be able to function normally and do the things you want and need to do.

[TBJT]

OK I will be the first to say! Diet/nutrition/supplements..waste of time for extreme, prolonged cases of anxiety and imbalance. They can help things along perhaps, but when it comes to the ball in the chest, you need the right prescription. Anxiety that has been built up and built up over a long period of time becomes a cement mixer. Therapists can talk to you all they like and it might make you feel better temporarily, but you must reset that part of your brain. You can chose to wait it out on your own and eventually it will taper off, but who has time for that when youre a mother. See doctors until they give you the right pills which is most likely clonopin. Its not the only way, but it sure makes it a lot easier. You wont have to use it forever either.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I agree it is important to get on the right meds.

[LynnS6]

Originally Posted by TBJT

OK I will be the first to say! Diet/nutrition/supplements..waste of time for extreme, prolonged cases of anxiety and imbalance. They can help things along perhaps, but when it comes to the ball in the chest, you need the right prescription. Anxiety that has been built up and built up over a long period of time becomes a cement mixer. Therapists can talk to you all they like and it might make you feel better temporarily, but you must reset that part of your brain. You can chose to wait it out on your own and eventually it will taper off, but who has time for that when youre a mother. See doctors until they give you the right pills which is most likely clonopin. Its not the only way, but it sure makes it a lot easier. You wont have to use it forever either.

I like to make the analogy to cholesterol meds. You can change a lot of things with diet, exercise and stress reduction. But some people, even if they do all the diet, exercise and stress parts right still have high cholesterol and risks for heart disease. Usually, there's a strong genetic component there.

Same for PPD - there's a strong component that comes from your genes, your early emotional development and some that comes from your current experiences. There's sometimes nothing more you can do.

Meds helped me find me again. Diet and exercise changes have helped me reduce the meds and learn new skills. But if it's been 15 months, please see your doctor. It's time for some help. Not just for you, but for your growing child.