Hello mommies!
I think I may have a bit of a problem with depression/anxiety, maybe not postpartum - my little girl is 7 months old and things have only been getting really difficult for a month or two. I didn't even have baby blues! I was just elated about my new little person! Now I am totally preoccupied with the fear that my dd will die, or that I will die and won't be able to take care of her, or that her daddy will die. I think about it pretty consistently, but in the past few weeks it's turned into brief panic kind of events - for example, I was in a reading workshop (I'm a teacher) and suddenly wanted to rush home to check on her. My heart was pounding and I was sweating, and I hid in the bathroom. I have no reason to worry - my husband is a SAHD, and dd is in the best possible hands. There have been other things too - insomnia, crying, generally grouchy, no motivation, unusual forgetfulness. the anxiety is the biggest problem.
I've had some other stressors - my dad spent 3 weeks in the hospital and then died when dd was 11 weeks old, I traded 3 part-time jobs for 1 full-time job, we have major financial issues since dh lost his job a few weeks before dd was born, we will move this winter... you get the idea.
I really don't want to take meds. My half-sister has been on prozac, paxil, etc for depression for 13 years off and on. I think I just need to get through this ton of transitions and I'll be fine (I was ok before!)
my midwife ruled out thyroid a while back (3 mos. pp I think) - blood tests were ok.
some literature recommends St John's Wort - is that ok with bf? And is it effective? also, exercise - any advice? or diet change ideas? I'm open to suggestions!
I think I may have a bit of a problem with depression/anxiety, maybe not postpartum - my little girl is 7 months old and things have only been getting really difficult for a month or two. I didn't even have baby blues! I was just elated about my new little person! Now I am totally preoccupied with the fear that my dd will die, or that I will die and won't be able to take care of her, or that her daddy will die. I think about it pretty consistently, but in the past few weeks it's turned into brief panic kind of events - for example, I was in a reading workshop (I'm a teacher) and suddenly wanted to rush home to check on her. My heart was pounding and I was sweating, and I hid in the bathroom. I have no reason to worry - my husband is a SAHD, and dd is in the best possible hands. There have been other things too - insomnia, crying, generally grouchy, no motivation, unusual forgetfulness. the anxiety is the biggest problem.
I've had some other stressors - my dad spent 3 weeks in the hospital and then died when dd was 11 weeks old, I traded 3 part-time jobs for 1 full-time job, we have major financial issues since dh lost his job a few weeks before dd was born, we will move this winter... you get the idea.
I really don't want to take meds. My half-sister has been on prozac, paxil, etc for depression for 13 years off and on. I think I just need to get through this ton of transitions and I'll be fine (I was ok before!)
my midwife ruled out thyroid a while back (3 mos. pp I think) - blood tests were ok.
some literature recommends St John's Wort - is that ok with bf? And is it effective? also, exercise - any advice? or diet change ideas? I'm open to suggestions!
