6 weeks pregnant and anxiety

[Ellie1311]

I’ve had anxiety since my mid teens but have always managed it without medication/therapy.
Last year I had a few miscarriages and my anxiety got so bad, I think I’ve been in denial about how anxious I actually am, but I did go to the doctor after several panic attacks.
She referred me to the IAPT service which I am using but not finding much help yet.
I’m now 6 weeks pregnant with my third baby and I’m absolutely struggling. Constant panic attacks , constant racing heart and feeling faint and breathless. I have social anxiety and going anywhere on my own fills me with dread, it’s getting to the point I don’t want to leave the house because I’m so scared of having a panic attack in public (which has happened several times)

Basically, I think it’s time to start some anxiety medication. Obviously this isn’t ideal but I think at this point I’m not living a normal life.
Obviously I will discuss this with my doctor but I just wanted to know if anyone has started anxiety meds during pregnancy? Or if there’s an alternative natural option that may help?

Thank you

Hi Ellie, I'm feeling very similar to you and also 6 weeks pregnant with my 3rd child.

I had 2 miscarriages last year too which is causing me a lot of anxiety in this pregnancy. I have suffered from anxiety for many years and take sertaline.

Today my anxiety has suddenly got really bad to the point I feel terrified about the whole situation and wish I hadn't got pregnant and put myself through this again even though its what I wanted and tried so hard for. Anxiety is horrible and takes over your life. I'm scared that the anxiety won't go away and I will get really bad like I have in the past and not want to continue with the pregnancy so that the anxiety goes away. I was initially anxious about having another miscarriage but now that anxiety has spiralled and I'm telling myself I won't be able to cope with another baby and have made a mistake.

My doctor increased my sertraline dose a few days ago when I could feel the anxiety creeping up but I feel worse not better. I'm really hoping it gets my anxiety back under control. Increasing the dose in the past has always helped so really hoping it helps me deal with this situation.

In answer to your question the only thing that has helped me with anxiety over the years is the sertraline. I would definitely recommend speaking to your doctor about how you are feeling and get the help you need. Whilst starting to take anti depressants in pregnancy can seem worrying, they are relatively safe to take and many women take them whilst pregnant. It's better for the baby that you are well. The doctor told me that if you suffer from anxiety you are likely to have problems with it in pregnancy as the hormones etc make it worse.

Hope you start to feel better soon x

@KatG01 Wow we sound so similar. I’ve had the same EXACT thoughts. I had 4 early miscarriages last year from July-November. I also had an ectopic back in 2016 (since went on to have my second son in 2018 so I know I can have a normal healthy pregnancy again)
We gave TTC a miss over Christmas as my mental health was awful and I just wanted to concentrate on my boys, tried again end of Jan and got pregnant again straight away. I was so sure I wanted this baby but now I’m pregnant again I’m terrified if I’ve done the right thing given my mental health.

I have a 6 week scan booked for tomorrow and I’m terrified.

Do you worry about going places or is it more general anxiety with you?

I’m definitely going to mention it all to the doctor, if everything is ok with the scan I’m going to book in with the midwife next week so will also mention it to them too.

So will you be due mid October? Xx

@Ellie1311 it's nice to talk to someone in a similar situation. People who haven't suffered from anxiety have no idea how horrible and terrifying it is.

I also had an ectopic pregnancy years ago, its no wonder we feel anxious after everything we have been through. I just wish I was stronger and could deal with things without falling apart.

I really wanted this pregnancy but the anxiety now makes it feel like its the biggest mistake of my life because it has triggered my anxiety and I don't know how to make the thoughts and worries go away. It's weird how my anxiety has flipped from being worried about another miscarriage to now being terrified about things going well!

Are you worried about your scan because you are worried something is wrong? That was my original fear but now I'm panicking that if everything is OK it will suddenly become real and make my anxiety even worse. I can't win!

My anxiety is about the situation but when I feel like this I get more anxious being around other people.

Yes due 21st Oct but feel like I can't look that far ahead. Only reported my pregnancy a few days ago as I was convinced it would just go wrong again! x

Can’t believe how similar we are. Did you lose your tube with your ectopic? Mine ended up being an emergency so lost my tube but it’s never hindered me getting pregnant easily.

Exactly the same here, I’m half worried they’ll find something wrong like no heartbeat or something and then another worry is that everything is perfect and it’s been the wrong decision. I feel like I can’t win either, I’m terrified either way!

You’ll get an early scan too won’t you with having an ectopic before? This one tomorrow is actually a private scan as the NHS can’t get me in til 7 + 3 - my ectopic had already been an emergency by this point last time so I just can’t wait til then.

Exactly why I haven’t even called the doctors yet - I didn’t believe I’d get this far and was waiting for something to go wrong. I feel so shit!

Do you have many symptoms??
I had awful cramps and painful boobs then a few days ago it completely vanished, had about 3-4 days of nothing at all and convinced I was about to miscarry - then since yesterday I’ve had awful nausea at night and the cramps are back. I have a fear of being sick too so I just wonder why I’ve done this to myself again!

Yes I lost my tube too, went to a&e a few times in agony and kept getting sent home as they said it was normal to have pains! By the time I finally got admitted my tube had started to rupture. Such a traumatic experience and had no kids then so was terrified I wouldn't be able to have any but thankfully have my 2 daughters.

Am now remarried and my husband and I would like a child together so we started trying after we got married 2 years ago. It's not that I desperately want another child I would just like to share a child with my new husband if that makes sense as we both have kids from previous relationships. I was so upset about the miscarriages which is why I can't understand why I am now regretting getting pregnant again. I should be happy but instead I am filled with dread. Like you I feel terrified about either outcome.

I know if I could get the anxiety under control I wouldn't feel so scared about it all. I would still have the same worries but those worries wouldn't lead to panic attacks/extreme fear. I've found myself thinking today that it might be easier if I just have another miscarriage so that the decision is taken out of my hands but I feel awful for thinking that.

I will get an early scan too, should hear something next week. Hopefully I get my anxiety under control by then so don't have a melt down in the hospital haha. Hate that place, so many bad memories.

I started to feel really sick at the start of the week which is usual for me. That made me think things were going well so far but I think that's what triggered the anxiety. I feel I can cope with another miscarriage as I am expecting it and prepared for it but will find it harder to cope with everything being OK which sounds strange as I am not prepared for that outcome as I haven't allowed myself to think that far ahead. I have also been getting a lot of cramps/pains the last few days and thought I might be about to have a miscarriage. Just feel like I don't know where I stand! Also feeling so sick all week has made me feel down as I know if things work out I will feel like this for weeks and weeks.

Why is all this so difficult! I just want to be happy that I am pregnant not filled with dread over something I really wanted.

Feel a bit calmer tonight as I am exhausted but I know I will have to go through it all again tomorrow. Just praying I don't feel as anxious when I wake up but can't see it happening.

Let me know how you get on tomorrow. Its nice to talk to someone who understands how I feel x

God such a horrid experience- it’s awful when they don’t listen to you! I had zero pain at all- just some on and off bleeding. I basically got told I was having a chemical and to wait it out but I booked myself in with EPU. Good job I’d trusted my instinct because my tube had just started to rupture on the day of my scan- they told me it would have been a matter of hours before my life would have been in serious danger.

I’m quite confident it’s not ectopic this time as haven’t had any bleeding or pain but then you just don’t know for sure I guess! I hate hospitals too the lights, smells etc really set my anxiety off!

Are you hoping for a boy this time around? I’d love a little girl but accepting it’ll probably be another boy 🤣 my two are so rough with Eachother I don’t know if a girl would fit in anyway 🤣 how old are your girls? My boys are 7 and almost 4.

I think after what we’ve been through we’re bound to dread everything because we automatically think the worst. I actually think once we have our scans it might give us some sort of relief? The not knowing is a huge part of the anxiety for me. It’ll only last a day though then I’ll be back to worrying again!

It's definitely the not knowing that is making me more anxious too. I was holding it together until today and telling myself I'll just have to wait and see but woke up feeling so anxious and it all spiralled out of control. I'm now dreading the scan (if I get that far) as I don't know how I will react. The way I feel today everything being OK on the scan would probably send my anxiety through the roof rather than make me happy as reality will set in. I think fearing the worst has took its toll on me and not allowed me to accept that things might actually work out.

A few days ago I would have given anything for everything to work out but the anxiety gets in the way and makes me doubt myself and makes me feel like I'm not strong enough to do it again and that I have made a huge mistake.

My girls are 15 and 11 which makes all this more scary as I'm starting all over again! x

Hey! Had my scan - so it’s definitely not ectopic but I don’t think it’s good news although she didn’t say it meant a none viable pregnancy but basically there is a yolk sac there but no fetal pole. - she said it might be that I’m just on the cusp as there was a thickening at the bottom which could be the start of the fetal pole and everything looks healthy. And she said that it could be that I’m early but I’m sure on my ovulation day and know for a fact I’m 6 weeks. So it seems a bit odd to me! Just another 9 days to wait until my NHS one. Hate being in limbo! Literally don’t know what to think or feel. Taking myself off for a bath. How are you feeling today ?

@Ellie1311 how did you get on today? x

Sorry didn't see you had already posted. It's torture having to wait for another scan. At 6 weeks though it is still early so hopefully things are OK when you go back. Bet it's not helping your anxiety.

I've had another bad day. Just had a complete melt down and ended up phoning mental health team. I increased my antidepressant dose a few days ago which can increase anxiety at first. Keep telling myself I'm feeling more anxious because of the medication but when the anxiety hits it takes over and I feel like I'm spiralling out of control and feel like I can't deal with this pregnancy! x

How are you doing? Have you had any scans yet? Weirdly my anxiety has improved last couple of days but I think it’s because I’m constantly nauseous and can’t think of anything else!

@Ellie1311 hi Ellie, I was wondering how you’re doing with the anxiety? Did you get any treatment xx