Terrible anxiety - is this PND?

[bornpessimist]

Ever since birth of dd2 in December I have been consumed by never ending list of anxieties about her - accidents on stairs (I fell down the very steep stairs of our 16th C cottage when pregnant), cot death, avian flu pandemic etc etc. Noone takes how I feel seriously - dh, mum and friends laugh and say this is just my personality - I am aborn worrier and always worry about extreme things that may or may not happen. DH says he will do childproofing soon and silly to panic in advance. Don't really know who to turn to. Could anyone help or do I just need to try to put these worries from my mind?

Did you have the same with dd1? Seems that you are relating to actual events.. eg you fell down the stairs. Are these worries stopping you from enjoying dd2? Are you not sleeping for worrying? sorry lots of questions. THing is i had pnd and i had 'irrational' fears for ds's safety. I would hear a news story and worry that someone would hurt my ds.. got to point of being able to see it all like a film (very distressing). Just trying to guage the degree to which it impacts on you. Think all mums worry to an extent but i think that when it is out of hand it can be syptomatic of being poorly iyswim.

I had terrible anxiety w/my PND. Talk to your HV or GP. I had a course of anti-anxiety drugs that made the world of difference! I'm so, so glad I got help!

avian flu worry sounds similar to a friend of mine who convinced herself she was going to hell (depsite not actually beleiving in it - even she thought it was odd). she is now on ad and feeling much better. you clearly have some real worries (like stairs) and some that are a bit extreme. i had pnd but wasnt at all like this (not saying it couldnt be tho). i would go see your hv or doctor, and try to identify the 'real' worries you can do something about like fitting stair gates. dont think it will hurt to put them up now if it makes you feel you are doing something positive

Awen, what you said about seeing it like a film really clicks with what I am feeling. Can see a news story on avian flu and I am imagining dd ill and not able to get help from gp or a &e as whole country in chaos. Imagine really awful things like if she diedhaving to choose clothes for her. Don't really have anyone to talk to. DH and mum etc. say things like not to be silly, these things don't happen to most families etc.
Didn't feel same way with dd1. Wonder if underneath all is connected to guilt as she was 'accident' and didn't have instant bond of complete love. Gap of 14 years between two dds - 2nd one much longed for and did have tremendous burst of love at first sight etc. Also two very different births.

14 years is a long time and your views of the world and experiences would have changed from when you had dd1. Also with such an age gap it may almost be like being a first time mum again iyswim. I think it would prpbably help if you speak to gp, or call someone like parentline. To actually talk about your worries might help this link might help too.

It does get better tho. Have you tried 'grounding' techiniques? This is were you remind yourself verbally and physically of where you are. This includes holding onto something solid like a chair and rewminding yourself of basics like date, place etc. hth

sorry forgot to add hugs () I noticed on another thread you ar worried about going back to work in September. Has this triggered these fears for you or were they there before? If the trigger delay returning and give you and new dd time together. Explian to dh that you know you are being irrational but you love him and need his support, same goes for mum to

I had major anxiety and irrational fears (did the far fetched scenario in my head thing too!) when I had PND with ds1. I would see your GP about it - I think counselling would be very helpful for you and your GP should be able to sort that out for you.

I have received counselling through my GP for these kind of negative thoughts. The medical term for them is "catastrophising". Maybe your GP could help you? HTH - love Greyhound x