Pregnancy identity crisis anxiety!

[Plateofcrumbs]

OK I don't really know how to explain this but pregnancy is totally weirding me out.

I'm worrying about stuff in a 'normal' way but I'm also getting patches of more profound freaking out like I've lost a grip on who I am and what it is to be "me".

I used to have panic attacks when I was a teenager, and although this is much less acute, the feeling of overwhelming 'oddness' is similar.

I dunno if the link between teen years and pregnancy is hormonal or it's about big life transitions or what.

Anyway, anyone got any idea what I'm prattling on about?

It happened to me too. It is probably anxiety due to the massive upheaval on the horizon. Your focus will be totally shifted to another life you're completely responsible for. I got anxious and angsty as a teen too, knowing I would have to fend for myself soon...kind of similar life events really. The dread and strangeness went by third trimester when I had resigned myself to my fate

Thanks vichill glad I'm not the only one!

I don't mind the regular worrying so much ('is this pain normal?' 'Will I miscarry?') - I can rationalise and manage that. It's the feeling of being totally 'outside of myself' that is hard.

So far it's only been a few waves and I've been able to get a grip on myself but I really don't want to end up having full-blown anxiety attacks again.

Just keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't develop into antenatal depression, mine started with raised anxiety levels.

That said, I'm pretty certain anxiety during pregnancy is completely normal, and if your body's way of dealing with it is to react like this, then it's possibly just normal for you. How far along are you? Maybe try some meditation in the early stages of pregnancy, or hypno birthing further along.

Yep - to the point where I wake up hyperventilating. The doctor told me yesterday I can't take my anti-anxiety meds (beta blockers) anymore either.

It's been 7 years since I had a baby and I had PND both times. I thought I was "over it" before we started TTC but now it feels like the fear has come back.

Definitely mention it to your midwife so she can keep an eye on it

It doesn't help that you cease to become anything other than a baby carrier in other peoples' eyes.

People don't ask you how you are any more. It's "how's the baby?'

I hurt myself quite badly yesterday and ended up in Guy's A&E. All family and friends asked was "is the baby ok?"

So it's definitely understandable. Yy keep an eye on it, especially if you already struggle with anxiety. But to a certain extent, it's normal and inevitable.

#op - yeah, anxiety. Google depersonalisation and derealisation if you don't already know what they are.
I have anxiety disorders and they've gone crazy at points during pregnancy - definitely the hormones combined with worries.

Personally, I feel like I'm walking up the the edge of a cliff and I can't see what's on the other side! It's an enormous change and it's normal to freak out about it.

Oh wow thanks julietee just googled those terms and that is exactly what I experience! After all these years is quite a relief to have a name for it!

It has been mild so far compared to my teenage anxiety but I will definitely keep an eye on it.

Very glad I started this thread, it makes me feel a lot better to know this is 'a thing' and that other people have gone through it in pregnancy too