Anxiety

[2much2luv]

My baby is almost 6 weeks old and I am starting to feel a lot of anxiety and paranoia. It isn't too bad yet but I'd like to catch it early, of course. What natural methods, herbs, homeopathics, etc. have you found helpful in dealing with anxiety?

[happyhippimama]

Haven't found anything myself. I'm on prozac. Just wanted to offer some support and a .

[naturalmomma1]

I started having big anxiety and panic attacks around 6 weeks postpartum too. A couple of my friends who had problems with ppd started having them around 6 weeks as well...must be some hormonal things going on around that time. I didn't know what to do and felt so bad that I went on zoloft, which i'm still on. But recently I've been going to a Wellness Kinesiologist (muscle testing) and the last few days I've finally been able to start weaning off and feeling better! So checking that out would be an option. Exercise helps as well.

[2much2luv]

Thank you, naturalmomma. I will look into WK to see if it something I can get done. In the meantime I think you hit on a good idea with the excercise. It is probably about time for me to get more physically active again and maybe my body is trying to tell me that.

[dany]

I started having anxiety attacks around the same time. DS is six months old now and, while I still get little tickles of fear here and there, I'm not living with that constant rock in my stomach and hand around my throat anymore.

Aside from therapy, the immediate thing that helped me was: a B-complex and Omega 3-6-9 supplements - they helped me calm down enough to get good sleep, and getting good sleep is the first thing my therapist told me to do. BIG, DEEP stretches outside with the morning sun helped, too, as did really deep breathing when it all started getting to that "ohgodhavetohavetohideinthesink" point.

Hope this helps a bit.

[2much2luv]

Thank you dany. that does help. I'm definately NOT getting enough sleep, so that is something I should work on.

[lilysmama1124]

Just wanted to offer my support. I was hit with some pretty bad ppd, ocd and anxiety and started zoloft around 6 weeks pp. It just escalted too fast for me to really try natural methods-I was too anxious to sleep, too tired to exercise or make nutiritious food and was becoming pretty paralyzed.

Meditation has helped me in the past, long baths(maybe with a sleeping or nursing baby),Omega's, magnesium(natural calm is the brand I used). I am hoping to wean off of the zoloft when dd is a year so I will be watching this thread for more info!

[2much2luv]

Thanks for the support ladies. I've been doing better. I haven't actually tried anything suggested here because I've felt better. My OP was after a long stressful day out, so I've been keeping at home a bit more. I just don't think I'm up for entire days out with my four kids yet. I've also been getting more sleep, which is always a good thing. I do have a script for Zoloft and some on hand, so if things escalate I am prepared to do that.

[Gale Force]

Definitely work on the sleep and on eating well. These make such a huge difference.

Consider:

A ferritin test for iron if you are feeling run down.
A thyroid panel.

Both problems are really common in PPD.

ITA with Dany on the B vitamins and depression. But I would stick with an Omega 3 supplement, not an Omega 3 6 9.

Amanda

[kimmom]

I just wanted to say I know how it is!! The anxiety and also the trying to get 4 kids out of the house! My 4th baby is 4 mons old and I am battling Postpartum Anxiety for the 4th time. I have these beautiful babies, great births then at 3 mons PP get hit hard with anxiety. I went on Meds the first time (they didn't work for me), then the next two times I 'battled' it on my own with homeopathics etc then got pregnant each time again and the hormone shift kicked it out of me. This time I am thinking I may need meds may be needed.. Let me know if sleep helps! I can't figure out how to get some!! Hugs to you, glad to hear you are doing better!