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Original poster

Intrusive thoughts

560 replies

Mumtotwoxo · 03/03/2021 12:43

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.

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Serena1977 · 03/03/2021 19:55

Yes, I have had many times for different reasons. 2mg is a starter dose. It helped me relax and calm down and drift off to sleep but I was still alert enough to care for my baby. It also stopped me from having bad dreams too so my sleep was good quality. I have been up to 5mg in the past too but that's a more stronger response. I think it is a great medicine to use short term to help calm you down and hopefully when rested and able to think clearer, the gaps between thoughts will lengthen.

NEE1302 · 03/03/2021 20:03

I experienced intrusive thoughts which were linked to PTSD which were incredibly vivid and usually linked to something horrendous happening to my baby. I spent a lot of time feeling utterly horrified and just scared and couldn't sleep for running the horrible things through my mind.

It can be treated with CBT or EMDR therapy. In my case, EMDR was the right treatment as my thoughts were linked to a traumatic event. I'm in a much better place now. Please seek support as you don't have to live with this.

HaHaVeryBunny · 03/03/2021 20:20

@Mumoftwoxo , yes l have taken diazipam in the past and it helped a lot. No adverse reactions and definitely no panic attacks.
Hope it helps you too.x

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Original poster
Mumtotwoxo · 04/03/2021 16:14

Hello ladies, an update. Talking with the emergency MH team helped a little but the diazepam did not help me sleep. I still woke with multiple panic attacks. I’ve now been prescribed Zopiclone has anyone tried this whilst suffering panic attacks and it worked?

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HaHaVeryBunny · 04/03/2021 17:03

@Mumtotwoxo

Hello ladies, an update. Talking with the emergency MH team helped a little but the diazepam did not help me sleep. I still woke with multiple panic attacks. I’ve now been prescribed Zopiclone has anyone tried this whilst suffering panic attacks and it worked?
Hi Mumtotwoxo, glad you got a little help today. I have taken Zoplicone short term, when l was being treated for insomnia and related panic attacks and l can honestly say it was a massive help, it helped me relax before l went to sleep and kept me asleep till the morning. They also wear off quickly so you don't have a foggy head the next day.

Having a sleep is absolutely vital when you're going through this. Insomnia makes any MH issue really difficult to deal with.

So this will help you relax (it acts very quickly) and get you to sleep, with no waking with panic attacks.
I found my OCD easier to deal with when l had a good night's sleep.

You're doing all the right things at the moment to deal with your OCD.
I have been where you are now and l promise you, it will get easier and you will get better.

Remember the mantra when one of your intrusive thoughts pops into your head "it's not me, its my OCD."

Take care X Flowers

HaHaVeryBunny · 04/03/2021 17:22

*Should just add to my last post about Zoplicone when l said "they wear off quickly", l meant in comparison to old fashioned sleeping tablets which would leave people feeling groggy and tried the next day.
You will get a good night's sleep on Zoplicone, without that issue.

Original poster
Mumtotwoxo · 04/03/2021 17:24

@HaHaVeryBunny thank you for sharing. I am terrified to take this sleeping tablet tonight incase I go into a deep Panic attack and have to attend hospital to control the side effects - what is the likelihood this would happen? X

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Gilead · 04/03/2021 17:47

@Mumtotwoxo pretty much nil. x

HaHaVeryBunny · 04/03/2021 17:58

[quote Mumtotwoxo]@HaHaVeryBunny thank you for sharing. I am terrified to take this sleeping tablet tonight incase I go into a deep Panic attack and have to attend hospital to control the side effects - what is the likelihood this would happen? X[/quote]
Oh, l was nervous too when l was prescribed them I had never taken a sleeping pill in my life and didn't know what to expect. But l was actually starting to dread going to bed due to night time panic attacks so l know were you're coming from worrying about that.

I'm being completely honest with you when l say they were great, absolutely no deep panic attacks, you have nothing to worry about.

They relax your body a little bit to get ready for sleep and you naturally drift off, it's not some really deep induced sleep that you go into instantly (its takes about 1/2 after you take them that you start to feel a bit relaxed) It's just like a normal nights sleep, that you would have had in the past.

Honestly it's not a heavy sleep that could turn into a deep panic attack unable to control. In fact the active ingredient helps slightly with panic attacks so you are getting that benefit too.
I would describe it as a restful, gentle relaxed sleep.X

Fatarseflanagan09 · 04/03/2021 18:00

I'm currently having treatment with a mental health nurse, I have treatment prescribed by a psychiatrist and I'm on medication.
I have Quetiapine and Sertraline, I hope you feel better soon, it is horrible but you're not alone, take care and go easy on yourself.

HaHaVeryBunny · 04/03/2021 18:15

I think @Gilead put it in a much better more succinct way than me. You will be fine. Oh and the advice on this thread from pervious posters has been fantastic too.
We've all been there @Mumoftwoxo
You will get better. X

Original poster
Mumtotwoxo · 04/03/2021 18:28

@HaHaVeryBunny did you suffer quite bad headaches from the panic attacks and thoughts?

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Original poster
Mumtotwoxo · 04/03/2021 18:29

@Fatarseflanagan09 how long did you have to wait to be seen? I was told I’m on a waiting list to see the psychiatrist x

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HaHaVeryBunny · 04/03/2021 18:40

[quote Mumtotwoxo]@HaHaVeryBunny did you suffer quite bad headaches from the panic attacks and thoughts?[/quote]
I've had migraines since l was a teen and was on a low dose of meds for them when they struck. The tabs you dissolve under your tongue. But l grew out of it by my 20s

I remember when l was going through a particularly bad phase of OCD and they seemed to appear again, l think it was all the draining energy that goes into dealing with panic attacks and OCD.
You know you're fighting this silent battle in your head all day with little let up, it definitely has an effect on your physical health. X

Cinderellashoes · 04/03/2021 18:44

First: intrusive thoughts are ego dystonic (the opposite of what you would want to happen)
Label it: ‘This is an intrusive thought’
Remind yourself: this cannot hurt me. I am not going to act on something just because I am having this thought. Don’t panic. Lie down, take some deep breaths and remind yourself there is no danger. Relax your body as much as possible.
Also: my therapist reminded me that the brain doesn’t distinguish between real and imaginary scenarios so your body reacts as if it’s REALLY happening which is why intrusive thoughts cause you to feel so bad. You need to tell your brain there is no danger by being as relaxed as possible. Imagine the thought as a train, passing through your brain. Don’t fight against it, think it, face up to it, let it pass. They can’t hurt you. I know how bad they are, I really do.

HaHaVeryBunny · 04/03/2021 19:03

@Cinderllashoes great advice.

pinkpetal2 · 04/03/2021 19:05

Hi Op I was the same.
It was really really bad at one point I ended up having CBT therapy it was okay but not great upon googling one night desperate I found a website it's free called CBT4PANIC just type that in, and it walks you through all scary situations you fear etc and explains about unwanted thoughts. It sounds cheesy but it changed my whole outlook on life and I'm so glad I found it.
Good luck OP. And congratulations on the new baby Smile.

imsoinmyhead · 04/03/2021 19:16

Yes I had this after having my son, very frightening. It was a combination of PND, sleep deprivation, anxiety, stress and not tolerating the noise of a screaming baby day in/day out. My brain just imploded!

I had CBT for a few months but to be honest it was just the passage of time, I slowly got better and I haven't had it since.

I swore I'd have no more children though. Couldn't risk it.

Original poster
Mumtotwoxo · 04/03/2021 19:49

@HaHaVeryBunny thank you for your great advice and support x

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Original poster
Mumtotwoxo · 04/03/2021 19:51

@Cinderellashoes that’s fantastic help. I feel worse lying down so I prefer to sit up but I try breath as best as I can. X

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Original poster
Mumtotwoxo · 04/03/2021 19:52

@pinkpetal2 I’ve just started reading through the books on the page and wow it’s an eye opener. Thank you so much x

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Original poster
Mumtotwoxo · 04/03/2021 19:52

@imsoinmyhead thanks for sharing! What did you do to help you sleep? Did you ever supper panic attacks during this or just thoughts? X

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pinkpetal2 · 04/03/2021 22:07

@Mumtotwoxo Honestly it's so good I didn't really get it before the CBT was good but reading this in my own time with the in depth captions really helped and it does get so much easier, I still struggle sometimes but not as bad. I read before something like 97% of the world get these thoughts it's just some people struggle with getting over them and others brush them off x

Gilead · 05/03/2021 22:01

@Mumtotwoxo how are you doing?

Original poster
Mumtotwoxo · 05/03/2021 22:27

@Gilead not great. Zopiclone worked for 3 hours last night then I was up again in a panic. Received better support today from the team leader MH nurse and she advised me to try the 2mg diazepam during the day but I took one and it made me worse. My head is aching and still having persistent severe panic attacks. Going to try another Zopiclone tonight but I just feel I'm going crazy and not going to get better x

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