Diagnosed with PND on Friday - anxiety and panic attacks since yesterday. What can I do?

[dontrunwithscissors]

As the title says, I was diagnosed with PND on Friday, and prescribed with AD's. (Long story short - I burst into tears in GP's office at DD2's 6 week check. A HV came to see me on Wed, and she managed to get me seen by the Community Mental Health people on Friday.) On Friday night I had what I assume to be a panic attack when DD2 started crying. (I felt sick, my heart was pounding, I couldn't breath and thought I would pass out.) The same thing happened yesterday when I went for a walk with DD1, and again today when DD2 didn't want to sleep. Other then that episode today I've felt terribly anxious - as if I'm on the verge of one of these attacks - with my heart constantly pounding and feeling sick.

It seems I feel this way when I'm on my own with either of my children - I think it's because I panic I can't look after them. (If that makes sense?) I haven't started the AD's yet as I have to wait for my GP to prepare a prescription. So...

a) Can anyone recommend ways that I can help myself to try to avoid these attacks, or to lessen my anxiety. Not being on my own with DD's is impossible once DH goes off to work tomorrow.
b) Will the AD's help with this. I've been prescribed sertraline.
c) Do I contact the doc I saw on Friday to ask her about this (as it's developed since I spoke to her), or just wait and see what happens with the AD's?

hi there, I had PND which manifested mainly in anxiety after DD2 but because I didn't realise that was a symptom I let it go undiagnosed for a long time (about 6months)

I used to sit in the car outside the house crying as I didn't know which sleeping child to carry in first and would have wild panic attacks thinking I would set of the alarms leaving shops - I'd like to point out I've never stolen anything in my puff!!

I had a very nice, supportive HV who visited with me once a week until she decided I was doing ok and my GP was particularly supportive as well

I would be inclined to go and speak to your GP to make them aware and take a list of questions you might have

I was prescribed citalopram and beleive that it worked, however I also put a lot of faith in the actual act of seeking out help and taking positive steps - the citalopram apparently takes a few weeks to start to help.

can you pinpoint exactly what it is that makes you anxious - I don't beleieve for one second that you can't cope with your girls and I'm sure you are doing a fine job. can you cut out anything unnessecary for a while and just concentrate on spending time with them - can you please just remember that DD2 is VERY young, you have just given birth and will have hormones all over the place as well as sleep deprivation - be kind to yourself, ask for help where you can and realise that this is not a failing on your part at all.

Hiya - sorry to hear you are struggling

Just to slightly corecct dizzy - Citalopram (like other SSRIs) tends to work really quickly for anxiety - a few days -it takes a few weeks for depression. It works in different ways for each.

You have already discovered the trickiest thing about panic attacks: the fear of panic attacks. The most important thing to remember if you can is that panic attacks are harmless. There is nothing wrong with your body, certainly not your heart and most of the symptoms are caused by breathing in too deeply so you have too much oxygen in your blood causing hyperventilation.

Long long ago when I was at uni a psychologist taught me to hold my breath when i had a panic attack. It feels counterintuitive but it still works.

I also find Rescue Remedy helpful. The spray is quickest, but I'm stuck with tablets as I can't have anything sprayed in my mouth

Hope you get help soon. Remember you are doing great as a mum, your body is fine and you are not going loopy.

You sound just like me when I was at the start of PND..would panic totally about coping alone with DS and felt like such a shit parent for feeling like that

I was on 20mg Citalopram for ages and then when I started to feel better, I weaned myself off of them and it was fine for a while until my MIL became seriously ill and I just went downhill again and went back onto 40mg which I've been on for the last year

I mainly have good days now but on the bad days I just try to keep busy. Going out with DS helps as having a focus for the day keeps me busy and stops me panicking so much. I'm still not a fan of coping with DS on my own so much but I tell myself well, what's the worse that can happen?? He's loved, warm, fed, its just that on the odd occaision he may have mummy breathing into a paper bag on the sofa

ooh willsurvivethis - I never knew that - both times I was put on it I was told 6wks, wasn't just my positive steps then

would absolutely concurr regards the Rescue Remedy too, we use it a lot for everything and all my friends are converts too - Tescos/Boots etc all carry it now

dizzy - you can't beat positive steps - they are at least as important as meds

Thanks for the suggestion of Rescue Remedy - I'll try that. It's strange - I've been feeling naff for a while, but the panic attacks are something new. It's good to hear that the AD's should hopefully help with that soon-ish.

dontrun, I promise it will help please take heart in that. I've since had DD3 and not been affected by PND this time at all and considering I lost my mum 2 days before she was born I was expecting the worst

keep talking to your GP and HV, there is a reason for all of this and the more they know the more they can help you

The only thing I remember from Anxiety Management was this:-

Panic is a GOOD thing. If you see someone running towards you with an axe you need to be able to panic (they really said this!). What happens to some people is that the panic rises when it is 'unhelpful' (ie it's 'helpful' when there's a mad axeman around). Try and train yourself to realise this and you'll be able to control the attacks.

And yes, you do need to train yourself to do it. It's hard at first, but it's the one thing that works for me.

Escitalopram helps as well!!!

that's a really good thing to remember TTTT - i'd never thought of it in that way..

i will remind myself of that next time i'm freaking out about everything. i guess if you're not scared of the panic then it will go away.

my friend who has suffered with depression for years and is now finally better says that once she stopped being scared of 'it' then 'it' went away. this was a friend who had tried to kill herself twice and had been depressed for 15 years so i take her advice seriously!