Support/Chat thread for Panic Attacks, OCD, Obsessive Thinking, Depression, PND, come one come all!

[ibroughtcake]

Hi Everyone

I have been thinking of starting this thread for a while so here goes. I am hoping that it will turn into an ongoing thing where we can all get to know and support each other through whatever difficulties we are facing.

Firstly about me, I am mummy to DD 2 and DS 7wks. I have suffered with panic attacks and obsessive thinking for about 5 years now. There have been times when I have been free from it and times when it has been easier (ie when I was on fluoxetine!). I have tried CBT and SSRI's both with some success, but I am really in the midst of a bad time with it at the moment and noticed many other posts about similar things so thought we could all meet at the same place IFSWIM!

I finally went back to the GP to ask for some help yesterday and she has referred me to the Mental Health team and given me a script for Fluoxetine (Prozac). I haven't started taking them yet as I am breastfeeding. I know that they are safe to take whilst bfing but I have anxieties about that too!!

So please come and join, share your tale etc and hopefully we will be able to support each other and offer our own experiences to help some others.

Sorry meant to add a message for Sasquatch - What does your doc say about the pressure in the face thing?

Thank you all, everything seems to be under control now so I can chill - looks like the weather is going to be nice for the next few days so I can let the sea breeze blow away a few cobwebs from my worry head. I will be away until next friday so I would like to send you all positive and caring vibes until then take care and hang on in there.

Have a lovely time MA. I think everyone else has gone on holiday too. Been dead quiet tonight - Where is everyone?

Thanks for your welcome everyone,
I've had a tired day today as I forgot to take meds. last night and didnt get much sleep. By the time I realised it was too late to as I knew I woulnt be able to get up for ds. we overslept as it is.
LEM imipramine is an tri-cyclic ad. Its one of the older types. It is sedative so you take it at night, this is my second time on it, I restarted just over a year ago after a break of a few years. I tried prozac but it didnt agree, made me really anxious and paranoid. But I dont know about citalopram.
IBC I got to this group by my present counsellor recommending me. I've been with her for a year but its funding is run out and she wanted me to get more support. I've been to one before but didnt get much out of it, and dropped out. I think this time I'm more aware of myself I'll try to make use of it. I think the point is I cant talk to anyone so go to the group as a safe place to speak,and try out being myself, for me anyway. I'm comfortable with one to one but the real challenge comes in group, fear of being judged, trusting, and making a commitment (or not being able to).

Elliemac - My gp doesnt say anything or says she doesnt know. TBH I havent seen her much recently as I'm seeing counsellor every week and I get my ad's on repeat prescription.

MADSCARY - I didn't find my CBT that bad, but I was very tearful during my first sessions (and disappointed that it all seemed so slow when I was desperate to feel better now!).

MaryAnn - your behaviour therapy sounds pretty hardcore - I never had to do anything as bad as that! I had to touch the soles of shoes, that sort of thing...

Sasquatch - I'm exactly the same. GP says its not sinuses or anything like that. DH says i should go and demand to be reffered to an ENT specialist but everytime i go to the doc i lose my bottle and end up just agreeing with them that its anxiety. I find it hard to explain the symtoms when i do go.

I have been told that it is because I am at the hardest part, which is the core belief stage. The aim is to find out what ultimatly makes me feel like I do. A lot has to do with me projecting the feelings I have of my mothers parenting onto mine. I feel as though I am a terriblw morther when in fact the FACTS are very diferent. But I trust my feelings more than the facts at the moment.

My mum was a hopeless parent. If she had her time again she would not have had be or my broher (her words), also she was offered a termination with me and it was my father who prevented her from this.

I can not ask my brother about these things as he is much yonger and I had left home by this point. I am hyper aware of her failings and as over sensitive as I do not want my boys to feel the way I did as a child.

i am obsessed with switching things off and checking.it does my head in.it has to be done in order,everything 4 times,if i make mistake or interupted i start over.glad theres others on here do things too.

Moljam - My DH is like that. He always has to check taps, switches, plugs etc. He shakes the door handle on the front door about 20 times each night - says it just doesn't register in his head that the door is locked.

i have to do 4 times,but 4 times 4 times if you get it.im same doesnt register its done or i think its not done properly.it really annoys me!

totalchaos - yes, I spoose it was pretty hardcore ! it worked though. I had the therapist and assistant in my house every morning for about a week getting me to face up to leaving without checking - that was quite tough, especially as they were casually leaning on the cooker knobs which sent my anxieties spiralling ! It was all a long time ago now and I do try to conjure up what I learned then to apply to every day life now - working out the likelihood of something bad actually happening etc - and I've also tried to incorporate what I learned in my hypnotherapy sessions earlier this year - whenever the anxious feelings come to mind and I'm getting ahead of myself imagining all kinds of 'what if ? ' scenarios - I say the word 'calm' to myself as a kind of mantra. Doesn't always work mind you, but I think it's a good thing to do.

ARRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH - now i actually think my doctor is mad too i rang her for a repeat of my meds, i said, i had an appointment for later so she siaid, lets do it i later - i said ok, but of course now i realise that she thinks i have an appointment for something else - now ihave to be back by four!! shit shit shit shit shit

can they actually help you for an ocd?

moljam - do you mean CBT for OCD - yes, it can help, because it makes you stop doing the rituals,experience the anxiety and then keep on not doing the rituals so that you learn to deal with the anxiety which in theory gradually subsides as you see that nothing dreadful has happened.
I still check stuff, especially if going away when I find it very stressful, and if I'm leaving the house for a whole day I'll do a check, repetitions and all. For nipping out to shops/school I won't.

moljam - silly question perhaps, but does the checking actually bother you? as many people have sub-clinical OCD - i.e a few traits or behaviours that don't bother them all that much. quirks if you like. CBT and/or meds help OCD> There is some good self-help material for OCD out there - things like checking and handwashing are common, so plenty of practical stuff about reducing those. OCD Workbook by Hyman and Pedrick is good, very hands on. Also a few good books by Lee Baer.

Can i just say that DH constantly checking everything bothers me more than it does him. Is this the case for you moljam?

I am very sorry to interrupt, but, if i am feeling sick, getting slightly constricted feelings in chest, sometimes diarrhoea, sometimes headaches, loss of appetite, sometimes shaking...are these panic attacks?

despite having an anxiety disorder I've never actually had a full on panic attack, so not really an expert - to me it sounds like anxiety symptoms (unless you get all the symptoms in quick succession over a short period iyswim)

I'm the same as totalchaos. Have never had a full blowm panic attack but i have had all of these symptoms at one time or another. Have you been checked out by GP?

I get some of the symptoms each time i can hear my neighbours. Silly really. Haven't spoken to our GP about much actually. I asked him about testing for glucose resistance and he asked me to research what tabs i could take besides metformin as they make me ill Do i bother to ask about anything else?

Hi all, I am so glad i find this thread as i have been wanting to start one up like for ages. I haven't read everyones messages yet as there are so many.

me... 2 DC's (2yo ds and 7 month old DD) Moved 6 months ago to the Caribbean due to DH's job. Was working in the Uk but now can't get a work permit and so am a full time SAHM.

Was diagnosed with PND 3 months ago. Went to a UK doctor who is out here for a short period of time she gave me bible to read and told me be grateful that i have a fantastic daughter. I was told to go and see a phyciatrist (SP) but not sure if i want to. My Mumcame over a month ago and put me back together for a while and since then all has been much better. BUT i can feel myself going down hill again.

I am not taking anything for it but am trying lots of herbal stuff + vits and fish oils etc. I DO feel better and i can get out of bed in the morning but suffer badly with anxiety and feel very frustrated alot of the time. I find it difficult to epress my feelings and i feel very anxious about other peoples feelings and opinions about me and my actions/choices etc etc.

DH is amazing most of the time. i find it difficult to communicate with him about how i feel which isn't great.

everyone thinks i am back to normal and i know i am not. I can feel the dark cloud in my head again and i can't shift it.

anyone else feel like this?

Hi barefeet. ARe you in the UK now? I really think you would benefit from some medication - im not sure what the situation out there would be regarding the availability of drugs etc. Might it be worth a visit back home to see if you can get put on the right track? I feel for you i really do - i bet you ARE grateful to have lovely children etc, but it is hard to be away from home, even somewhere which on the face of it sounds wonderful.

Welcome anyway Can't give too much advise im afraid, but there are lots of lovely ladies on this thread, and we all understand what you are going through, its the same but different, like us all

godzilla ive only read your last post and im pushed for time , i dont know about even what you are asuffering from, but he asked you to research drugs>?? get a new GP!!!

Barefeete, It must be hard being away from home. Mucho respect for doing it. Takes a strong person to do that IMO.
I did lol at the bible bit and very that the doc said you should eb grateful for what you have. Very true but its not as easy as that when you feel low.
I do think that diet plays a great role in how we feel though and I know it made a difference with me, when I actually made the effort!

Godzilla, they do sound like anxiety/panic symptoms but if you think it could be something else, get it checked out

I havent been too bad really but I am worrying slightly about having to go to the hospital for an appt with a consultant about having a home birth.
I really dont like going and its in my notes that I have an issue with this.
I'm hoping that my MW might be able to speak to the consultant and see if there is another way round it. I have all my ante natal appts at home so I'm wondering if the consultant would visit me here too.
Long shot but worth a try. I'm just not ready to "face my demons" just yet. Not in my pregnant state anyway.