Anxiety bought in from motherhood

[Star39]

Hello
I am after some advice please.
I had my first child nearly 2 years ago and ever since I became pregnant my anxiety has gone through the roof. I’m sure my midwife was glad to see the back of me after all my stupid questions - had I caused my unborn baby any damage from doing a tiny touch up with eggshell paint, have I deathened my baby from going to the theatre... I was constantly worried during my pregnancy.
Now my baby is a toddler I am still no better. I worry about crazy things - a bang to the head I think it will results in a haemorrhage, as a baby was prescribed ranitidine so have been worried about that since it’s been recalled last year amongst many other things...
The issue is I don’t think short term I think longer term, convinced something will have a long term ill effect. I worry about it for days. Get wound up, cry, all I can think about...... is this normal, has anyone else experienced this??
I just want to protect my child and give the best start in life. I think it just making me a nervous wreck at the same time! X

Sorry you are feeling like this! Have you heard of Anna Mathur? She has written a book called ‘mind over mother’ which I think would really help you

I'm a little bit the same, I worry a lot and my brain always goes to worse case scenarios.

I mostly use a mindfulness approach (focus on this second rather than the worry of the future)

I was really struggling around the start of the pandemic so I know what it's like when it's crushingly exhausting. Honestly I would ask your GP for help- either medication or therapy or both. Life is hard when anxiety is that high but it can get better.

I was exactly the same. Went on for years, but when my eldest was 7 and youngest had 2 year check I had a bit of a breakdown in front of the health visitor. She gave me the number for a self referral mental health service and they were really helpful. Ask your health visitor or GP if there is a similar service in your area. Anxiety is exhausting, please get some help.

Thankyou all for your replies. Yes it is completely exhausting and time consuming. I seem to spend most of my time reading up on stuff. At my child’s 12 month review I did break down to the health visitor. She was asking kits of probing questions and I was holding it together but then I burst into tears. She said she would get someone to call me, someone did eventually but nothing came if it. I have been thinking about going to the drs but I don’t want them thinking I’m a bad mum or I can’t cope. It’s completely the opposite, I feel like I care too much. My husband is so laid back and chilled about things. Wish I could be like him x

Your GP will be fine, they'll have seen it before lots of times

My friend was the same, went to GP and got medication and that alone stopped it for her

If the GP doesn't help (and any good one will) you can probably self refer to your local IAPT service for therapy on NHS

Ps. I also heard taking magnesium supplements can help. To be honest I started them and they seemed to help but I keep forgetting to take them!

Hi I tried to PM you but it doesn't seem to be working. You have described exactly how I feel everyday. My LO is 15 months and also given ranitidine. But it's not just this that affects me, it's everything. I get to a point where I breakdown in tears and screams about decisions I made that led me to things, eg giving my baby this medication, or brought him to this horrible house, or gave him milk in plastic bottles which now makes me fill sick. And lots more. You are not alone feeling like this xx

That was in reply to star39 message x

@Timeforchange30 is that you Anna? 🤣

Anna mathur is the biggest fraud as she has a live in nanny, a cleaner, lives a very privileged life etc but pretends to struggle like the rest of us

My health anxiety definitely started when I had my kids. I think I have always had a bit of anxiety but since having my first baby almost 8 years ago it made me get this awful health anxiety. I worry constantly about the kids and them getting sick and also about myself though aswell and me getting sick. Its very draining. I have been on medication from the doctor before about 2 years ago and it really helped and have just started again because the worry was taking over my life again xx

@Star39 I’ve just stumbled across this and have been amazed to read something that matches how I am! I have this huge anxiety that I have caused future health problems for my LOs because of choices I’ve made about literally anything. Things that seem totally normal at the time (like you say, plastic bottles), I look back on with absolute fear and wonder how I could have chosen that without realising. How’re you feeling now? I don’t even know where to begin in asking for help, it’s just so interesting to hear from someone else with these feelings.