Anxiety and OCD after reoccurring Miscarriages

[Sazla83]

Sorry for the long post

In Aug 2020 I found out I was pregnant with our first baby everything was going really well then at 15 weeks I miscarried our little girl. I was heartbroken and started trying straight away. In July 2021 I finally found out I was pregnant again only to find out at the 12 week scan the baby’s heart has stopped at 10 weeks. I got pregnant again in Feb this year but at 7 weeks they confirmed no heartbeat. I am now suffering with severe health anxiety and OCD I constantly check for lumps and symptoms. There is a 10 month waitlist for CBT therapy and was hoping I’m not the only one who has gone through this anxiety. Has anyone else had this and come out the other side feeling themselves again?

I'm so sorry for your losses xx

This is a lovely book for OCD
www.amazon.co.uk/ACT-Workbook-Ocd-Mindfulness-Obsessive-Compulsive/dp/168403289X/ref=asc_df_168403289X/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=500798696358&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1038687832897782745&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=20497&hvtargid=pla-921812827372&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

So sorry for your loss x

Could you pay for a private therapist? Either CBT or Id recommend EMDR.

Thank you for your support my DH has suggested paying for therapy so I think I may have to try that. I will take a look at that book I’m going to try everything I can to fight this

Hi OP
So sorry for the devastating losses
Does the service you have referred to know that you have been pregnant in the last 12 months? If its an IAPT service they should be prioritising you. All women who are pregnant, have been pregnant in the last 12 months or have a child under 1 are prioritised.. Some services are also prioritising partners if the problem is linked.

Try calling a few therapists. See who you would like to work with.

Aak if they have worked with similar issue clients

OP if you are experiencing any flashbacks or nightmares about any of the losses (any PTSD symptoms) then mindfulness can make symptoms worse, im a CBT therapist and i would really recommend ringing the service you have referred to and tell them you have been pregnant in the last year and the reason for referral is connected. They should prioritise you. Here if you need to ask any questions.

You need CBT with ERP (exposure and response prevention) - it's the good standard for OCD and has good outcomes. You can get through this. Wood you consider medication to reduce your anxiety?

• gold standard.

Does either of you have an Employee Assistance Programme through your work as they may be able to provide you with counselling.

Sorry to ask on someone else’s thread,@blibbyblobb i hope you don’t mind me asking, but is there a type of therapy you would recommend for someone who went through multiple miscarriages and is still incredibly anxious and hyper vigilant.

The Local NHS CBT counselling service have been in contact and they know everything that has happened. They offered me an online CBT course to take whilst I’m on the waiting list, which I have already completed. I have found a local charity that specialises in baby loss which have a smaller waiting list fingers crossed.

My husband has an employee Assistance programme but we didn’t find them very helpful.

Im going back to the GP today for medication.

Im very suprised they are not prioritising you, this is the policy throughout UK... Could you call and ask why you aren't prioritised? I dont know the ins and out of your situation but if there has been multiple losess, health anxiety and OCD mostly likely the most effective therapy would be CBT which some local charities are unable to offer.

Sorry to hear about your losses. Its difficult to say until you have had a thorough assessment. There are lots of evidence based Therapies that can help woth different disorders and situations and not all will work for everyone too. I would suggest speaking to your GP about what support is offered in your area and if any of those losses were in the last 12 months look into thats services priority policy. All the best