or is there something I can do?

[imbatman]

I'm not coping very well (always tired and getting frustrated with DC) and live in constant fear that something bad is going to happen to my family. I don't want to leave the house, I've put on a lot of weight and I've become a bit of a mess...DH thinks I need to go back to the doctors for "happy pills" but AIBU to want to figure this out in a more natural way?

I think a GP could be a good start. You don't have to take pills as a first course of action. Perhaps your GP will suggest counselling/therapy which could be a great way to discuss and work through your anxieties.

I'm sorry you're feeling so rough OP. I truly sympathise

Thank you for the reply...I hadn't really considered that the doctor might have alternatives to pills. I really appreciate the support x

Feel for you!
I'm not one for 'happy pills' - I would suggest trying to see a counsellor to talk about any feelings you have.
Take care of yourself xx

Tbh 'happy pills' may be what you need to get back on an even keel, enough to summon the energy and clarity needed for other solutions

I’d also get your thyroid and vitamin levels checked. Might actually be a deficiency that makes you feel tired and anxious.

Definitely discuss this with your GP. Could you afford any private talking therapy? If not look at online options e. g . Moodgym.

Good luck op you definitely need help for this.

Discuss it with your GP. Spoken therapies are good but often have a waiting list. There is a good book called Mind Over Mood which will talk you through the beginnings of CBT which you can start yourself.

I dislike the idea of anti-depressants being unnatural. It you were diabetic and your body didn't produce enough insulin I bet you would inject some. If your brain is failing to produce the right chemicals then there is nothing wrong with taking a medication to correct it.

My GP prescribed a low dose anti-depressant to give me a boost so I'd have the mental energy to do all the 'natural' things I knew I should do. In your case, I'd guess it would be making the effort to lose some weight, have a makeover and get out of the house.

As pp says, feeling the way you do can be a chemical deficit. My GP said I was emotionally exhausted (by bereavements) and had used up my serotonin reserves.

I'd try GP first and see if pills make a difference, then take it from there.

Agree with your dh

I went back on ADs when having anxiety like yours. Low dose 50mg sertraline (Which I also had when breastfeeding.) Definitely recommend. Stops the irrational thoughts and gets your mental strength up to learn better coping mechanisms.

I took anti depressants for PND. It was a low dose but it really helped me because it stopped the merry go round of negative thoughts so I had the strength to do all the self care things that made the difference.
Don't dismiss medication completely. It isn't a failure and doesn't mean you will be a zombie doped to the eyeballs.
I made a full recovery and I know the pills were a tool to put me in the right place to get myself together.

The thing about 'happy pills' is that they work by correcting something which isn't quite working properly on its own. It's no different to medicating any other physical imbalance, diabetes for example, and we don't think twice about taking meds for that. Sometimes your body needs that help to get back on an even keel and that's nothing to be ashamed or afraid of.

Definitely see your GP, talk through the options and see what they suggest but try not to dismiss the idea of medication. I suffer with depression and anxiety and often go long stretches managing it without pills but I don't hesitate to take them when things are really bad. I know when it's so bad that I wont be able to get on top of it alone and that the meds will level me out enough that I can start to help myself again and I feel no shame or sense of failure if I need that help

Thanks for your replies. I'm not against medication it's just that I've used them previously with some pretty nasty side effects...I'm surprised at all the comments encouraging me to seek advice from the GP as I wasn't even sure if there was anything really wrong. I suppose now I just need to make an appointment. Thank you all x

Good luck OP, medication wise it can be a case of trying a few till you find one that doesn't affect you too much side effect wise. Also with some of them the side effects settle down after a few weeks so you have to persevere. You also need the dosage monitoring. If you are prescribed medication it should be done under supervision by your gp. Keep going back and telling them if it's not the right fit.
Anyway, it might not be necessary, just keep an open mind and take that first step of asking for help.
Things can and do get better, it won't always be like this.
My mantra is "this too shall pass" reminds you the worst times don't go on forever.