Can I have some advice on anxiety please?

[muddylettuce]

I had my second child last May, shortly after this I was diagnosed with post natal anxiety. Symptoms; acute stomach pain which was initially followed by a panic attack (because I didn't know what the excruciating pain was). I received absolutely no follow up from health visitors or GP. They were unable to prescribe anything as I was breastfeeding. Anyway, a year on after eventually subsiding I have found that recently I am getting more of these 'attacks' and for the most banal of reasons, packing for holiday, baby crying for no reason, too much to do, all fairly regular events. I know anxiety doesn't necessarily 'make sense' and I also know that if you are stressed, the smallest thing can set you off. I am back at work so sleep and time are limited and of course life is more stressful so probably why they are coming back. Long story short (sorry) I am finding the 'attacks' harder to cope with, they are painful and last all day, I end each day exhausted and have had to leave work because of them. I have downloaded a relaxation app to try and made an appointment to discuss with a different GP (more understanding). Is there any point in this? What can a GP do? X

[HmmmHashtag]

Your GP will probably only be able to offer medication and CBT. The waiting list for CBT in the UK is quite long, if you can afford it is would recommend private counselling or hypnotherapy.
Medication will prob be anti depressants and/or a beta blocker. Be wary if they offer you diazepam or similar, great for anxiety but highly addictive and they can't prescribe many.
Counselling or hypno are your best bets here

[Absolutelynothingelse]

A GP can prescribe you anti anxiety pills such as citalopram. They work really well but it does take some a few weeks to adjust to them.
Have a look at some threads on here to read up about it, just type citalopram in the search box at the top of the page.
Good luck with it and you are not alone

[sillibillie]

You need to see GP again. I suffer with severe anxiety and depression with panic attacks. Am also breastfeeding the littlest. Been taking Citalopram since baby was a few weeks old

[muddylettuce]

Oh wow. Thank you. I was totally not expecting such quick responses, am in tears! OK so it's good to know the GP might be able to help, my appointment isn't until late September (price you pay for wanting to see the GP who actually cares) so gives me a chance to try some relaxation/ mindfulness as per the nhs website to see if that helps. I will look up Citalopram aswell. I am still angry I had no follow up last year when I sought help. I meant to complain but, well, life with young kids got in the way.

[OnTheRise]

Search for "self compassion mediation" online, and see if you can find anything. I downloaded a few several months ago and try to do one or two a day (the ones I have only take between five and twenty minutes each) and they've been really helpful.

CBT was also very helpful, as it pretty much stopped me ruminating excessively, which I think was at the root of my anxiety.

I hope you find something which helps.