Is anxiety correlated with motherhood?

[*bejeweled*]

I developed anxiety approximately three years ago.

This was after a cross country move, a new stressful internship, problems with a copper IUD, and juggling the responsibilites of being a caregiver to my DH who is disabled and Mommy to my 7 yo DD.

I guess it was all just too much. Prior to this, I hardly knew what anxiety was. I would get tired, rest, and be fine.

Now I struggle with it. And I can't shake it.

I was thinking of how carefree life used to be. And I feel like I've failed myself somehow because I no longer am able to just be carefree.

There is always something to plan, something to take care of, something to say no or yes to.

I'm just wondering how much of this has to do with being a mother and wife about to turn 40. Is it hormonal? Will this pass?

So many of us women struggle with anxiety and depression. Has it always been like this? Is this a symptom of being a Mom, being a wife, getting older?

[goodygumdrops]

Hi, it looks like your other thread got closed. I had some anxiety but nothing that was unmanageable. Once my son was born though, it got pretty bad. Part of it was likely related to my thyroid though because I had postpartum thyroiditis and my doc over medicated me. I ended up going hyper and had a horrible panic attack in response. Then my anxiety was just through the roof. Anyways, don't feel bad about taking meds...that's what their there for.

[*bejeweled*]

Thank you so much for your words. They mean so much.

Originally Posted by goodygumdrops

Hi, it looks like your other thread got closed. I had some anxiety but nothing that was unmanageable. Once my son was born though, it got pretty bad. Part of it was likely related to my thyroid though because I had postpartum thyroiditis and my doc over medicated me. I ended up going hyper and had a horrible panic attack in response. Then my anxiety was just through the roof. Anyways, don't feel bad about taking meds...that's what their there for.

[BellinghamCrunchie]

I don't have any answers, I can only support your hypothesis that motherhood causes anxiety.

I've never been so anxious in my life. I had my first panic attack about a year ago (DD is 5.5). Before that, I thought people with anxiety just needed to do some meditation or breathwork or something. Boy, do I know a lot differently now. Anxiety feels like something taking over my body; it does not respond to my thoughts or my breathing or my yoga or anything...

Its gotta be hormonal. Or maybe something with the thyroid, as a PP mentioned. Maybe perimenopause.

[*bejeweled*]

Yes! I keep telling myself, "This is hormonal. This will pass." But when?! Oh my, it's not easy being a woman.

Originally Posted by BellinghamCrunchie

Its gotta be hormonal. Or maybe something with the thyroid, as a PP mentioned. Maybe perimenopause.

[Caneel]

Originally Posted by goodygumdrops

Hi, it looks like your other thread got closed. I had some anxiety but nothing that was unmanageable. Once my son was born though, it got pretty bad. Part of it was likely related to my thyroid though because I had postpartum thyroiditis and my doc over medicated me. I ended up going hyper and had a horrible panic attack in response. Then my anxiety was just through the roof. Anyways, don't feel bad about taking meds...that's what their there for.

My anxiety started while pregnant with DS. It was directly linked to all my mcs. I got it under control by talking with a therapist that my ob sent me to.

Then after DS was born, it came roaring back. I have read it is common for new mothers to develop anxiety and that is generally fades after the infant period but it didn't for me.

I went to talk to my family doc and what a relief! He gave me some reference material to read and a Rx for a mild anti-anxiety drug that works like a charm. It is very rare that I need to take it, maybe once a month.

One of the things I said to my doc was that I felt stupid for not being able to control it, that I am a rational person and why couldn't I just shut it down? He said almost every patient says the same thing to him.

A few months back, the New York Times Magazine had a cover story about anxiety and studies by Harvard (I think it was Havard) that followed infants into adulthood. If you can get a copy from the library, I would recommend reading it.

Adding - I eat right, get plenty of sleep, have a relatively low-stress life so I knew it wasn't my lifestyle that was causing it. I would have anxiety over the strangest things. Like going on vacation. For two weeks prior to vacation, I was anxious that DS would (insert any of a hundred scenarios) and get hurt. So for me, the anxiety wasn't always linked to doomsday issues.