Intrusive thoughts

[Mumtotwoxo]

I have just had a baby 10 weeks ago. I was doing well apart from small panic attacks from my anxiety that I’ve suffered with for years. The other day out the blue I started having intense panic attacks where I can’t sleep and intrusive thoughts that are extremely scary and real. I feel like a bad mum. Has anyone suffered this too? Reached out to my gp and now referred to a MH nurse.

You are doing so, so well, @Mumtotwoxo .

Don't try for perfection. Continue with what you're doing, you're fantastic.

@BCBG I'm trying so hard. The thoughts are just still so strong. Keeping this thread going is helping massively x

@TheLumpySofaCushion I'm trying and wishing for better days, I just wish it could go away completely x

I wish I could make it go away for you.

But it will. And you'll be even stronger because you've overcome it.

How's your appetite - are you eating ok?

@TheLumpySofaCushion I wasn't eating at first but I'm managing now, writing down everything I eat and able to do during the day. It's nighttime I struggle the most with to be honest - that too I hope gets better as my mother goes back to work next week x

That's great that you're eating.

A big problem with an anxiety spiral is that you can't eat or sleep either, which would make anyone feel terrible.

Nighttime's always feel like a worry in the early days, but you'll be fine. Did you say you've been prescribed more Zopiclone?

@TheLumpySofaCushion yeah it's down to 3.75mg now for a week x

That's good that you've got some, that will help too.

You're doing brilliant, @Mumtotwoxo . You've done so much today, really brilliant,

Have a good sleep and we will see you tomorrow! Xxxx

@TheLumpySofaCushion I fed my son in the car today!! Forgot to mention, tackled a small goal. Panicked but got there x

@TheLumpySofaCushion thank you - goodnight xx

Morning all!!
How is everyone today that is still attending this thread?

Just a question - did any of you take time off social media (Facebook etc) when they were going through this? X

Yes I ditched Facebook and Twitter. I did lose touch with some people but it was well worth it! I suddenly had more time and it helped me de-stress, although I should have gone a step further and really restricted my screen time! My job involves staring at a laptop for a lot of the time, so doing it at home again is a bad idea for me. It’s a hard thing to do, to wean yourself off! It’s like an addiction!

@Blurberoo I just don't want to speak to any of my friends at the minute - is that normal? I feel they just trigger me.
X

I think it’s normal when you’re in a state of anxiety to feel like that- I felt really paranoid and rejected people, thinking the worst of them. It’s really hard to get out of that mindset, I cringe a bit now when I think how suspicious I was about people’s motives when I was in that place, most folk are well meaning. That said, I understand why you would want to push them away, people can be difficult to navigate and when you are fragile it can be far too much to deal with. Have you told any of your friends what you are going through? And have any of them experienced similar?

Morning all, morning @Mumtotwoxo - or afternoon, actually!

I think taking a break from social media is a great thing to do at any time, tbh... and especially when you're feeling ultra anxious,
Wise move to give yourself some space.

Re: friends. Very much down to how you feel and what helps - if you have a really good friend that you trust and makes you feel comfortable, that could be a nice distraction .

If you feel like you have to put on a show, or your friends drain you / dump their own problems on you, then no - that's probably not helpful for you right now.

@Blurberoo are you back on social media now?
No none of my friends have gone through this so I don't feel they would understand. X

@TheLumpySofaCushion how are you today? I feel they would offload their problems to me and I can't be dealing with that right now! I'm sticking with my mum and my partner as supporters x

Hi MumofTwo - I'm good thanks, glad you are feeling a bit better.

Sounds like you're best off keeping to your partner and mum for the time being then. You want to keep the energy you do have for yourself - it can be very waring when friends want to lean on you.

So well done on feeding your baby yesterday - that's fantastic.

@TheLumpySofaCushion trying hard every day!
It's still very real but I'm hoping each day gets better x

It certainly seems to be from what we can see on here... you're doing so well and you e made it happen x

@TheLumpySofaCushion did you notice yourself getting better every day until it disappeared for good? Did you ever relapse? X

I would say fhat i had ups & downs, with some days being better than others for a while. It took a while to feel fully myself again.

I've had the odd stressful anxiety episode over the years with some intrusive throughts, but nothing ever, ever as bad as the acute crisis experience.

@Mumtotwoxo I’ve had to get a FB account as it’s practically the only way people in my local area communicate, unfortunately! I’d much rather not be on it. Never looked back after ditching Twitter. The format isn’t conducive to meaningful debate, put it that way! I’m not very sociable in general so it hasn’t affected me that much.

@TheLumpySofaCushion I'm hoping to start feeling myself again soon.
How has your day been today? X

@Blurberoo I'm not a huge fan of twitter either! Do you still experience any symptoms or is it all completely gone? X