Ahh...Anxiety strikes again :(

[goodygumdrops]

I know, I know.

It's going to take a while to start feeling better but it's so hard with this anxiety. I have been feeling a lot better. I increased my dose of Celexa on Monday to 20mg. I have been taking Ambien at night to help sleep and I've been sleeping ok. So, anyway tonight I'm just sitting here looking online and I have this sudden wave of anxiety and then fear. Ugh. I guess I'm so freaked from having that panic attack that if I feel an physical symptoms of anxiety it just sends my mind into overdrive. Then I start worrying that the meds aren't working and what if I can function...blah,blah,blah. I am going to try and talk myself down....but I could use some support. Any mamas up still?

[michellebelle]

I'm up.

Panic attacks are no fun...but don't focus on them right now. I know you know this, but worry about having a panic attack is pretty much a guarantee of having one

Take some deep breaths...get off the computer after you've found the support here you need. Sometimes I find that TV, computer, newspaper...anything with all the bad news of the outside world triggers my anxiety big time...esp. at night.

You are doing the best you can do with the meds...just know that there will be hard(er) times than others. You will get through this!!! (I don't know what the hug smiley is here, but s)

[goodygumdrops]

Thanks so much for responding. I just hate when the anxiety comes out of no where. I am feeling a bit better. I'm going to go read in bed and hopefully go to sleep.

[goodygumdrops]

warning..tmi

Well, I finally fell asleep after taking an Ambien. I couldn't decide if I should take a Xanax or Ambien to help with the anxiety.

This morning I feel bad still. I had a bad reaction to the Zoloft, one thing being that it made me have a really upset stomach, vomiting and loose stools. Well, my tummy is so twisted this morning and I've gone three times since yesterday. Errr.

I am hoping that this is just a super temporary reaction to the increase in my dose. I have been having headaches everyday since Tuesday and then yesterday I didn't have a headache. I just didn't feel right and then had the breakthrough anxiety last night.

I'm wondering what other mamas take when this happens? Do you just go ahead and take a benzo or do you try and ride it out? That's what I've been doing but I'm wondering if I'm making suffer unneccesarily.

[goodygumdrops]

Well, here comes the depression. Now, I'm paranoid that I'm going to feel anxiety and deeply sad that I am experiencing anxiety. I am on a roller coaster of emotions....

[witt]

Hi Amy
I have been to the edge and back in terms of experiencing anxiety, I had so much anxiety it was difficult to function. But I can happily say that I've come through and out the other side. But it was hard, so hard, I had to fight all the way to control my anxiety. But it can be done.

My advice for what it's worth:
- get yourself a decent therapist/counsellor
- seek out natural or conventional anxiety treatment
- read read read, search the net, see what others have found useful
- learn breathing techniques to get through
- buy books and read read read some more

And above all try and put it in persective - it is your mind's perception that is causing the anxiety and you have the power to take charge again. Just because you are feeling anxious doesn't mean you need to give in to it.

It takes time, be gentle with yourself, practice mindfulness, try meditation, hot showers, rescue remedy.

You can do it, Good luck

[finn74]

just popped in to see how gavinsmom is doing. yeah, ive got a history with anxiety & being a recovering alcoholic/addict i have had to find other alternatives to deal with it. and this may sound silly but breathing exercises really calm me and clear my mind. first its bringing oxygen to my brain and also cause i'm focused on the breaths i'm not thinking TOO much else. also ive called folks to connect with the outside ause i was feeling so scard of my own company, being on this website might help too. actually youre utilizing it great. i'm proud youre reaching out, you are doing better than you might think. keep talking!

[goodygumdrops]

Hi mamas,

Well, the last two days have been somewhat bearable. I am praying that the meds are finally kicking in. I have been able to talk myself down a little, which I haven't been able to do for the last week. When I increased the meds it just messes me up so bad, and I've become totally paranoid and just having major physical anxiety. I bought Brooke Sheilds book about ppd and an Anxiety and Phobia workbook that I'm too freaked to look at I also have three books on ppd from Amazon on the way. I am trying to only come online a few times a day because I think I can work myself up scrolling and scrolling.

It is so good to hear from mamas that have made it through this. I know it's going to take time. It's just so hard when your in the grip of panic.

[mom0810]

Gavin's mom,

Hang in there!

Try to stay off the internet. That is one of the things my ppd books mention as being really bad for anxiety. I know it's hard and of course come here for support if you need to, but once you are here, give yourself 5 minutes and then walk away.