Strong anxiety - not baby or parenting related - but Ive never suffered before. Is this normal?

[jaykay987]

Since getting my BFP, I have been feeling increasingly anxious.

By anxious I mean - spinning head, tight chest, holding my breath, instant dry throat, feeling of panic.

This is not something Ive experienced before.

I have tried googling and see some people have increased worry about damaging the baby by doing something wrong or falling whilst pregnant, or anxiety around the reality of having a baby or being a parent.

However, the things that are triggering this behaviour for me do not seem to be at all baby related.

For example, DH was driving us home earlier tonight and I started to feel anxious. Every time we passed another car, my anxiety level rose. We then progressed to a part of the road with no lighting and I felt worse. Then the rain got really heavy and I could not stop crying. I felt so out of control. It was really scary. All I wanted was to get out of the car immediately.
DH didn't really understand - not surprising as neither do I.

Has anyone experienced anything similar? After tonight's episode, I think I need to mention it to my midwife at my next appointment (16w) but that'll be mid January.

Any experiences? Advice? I feel so irrational and really out of control.

Hi jaykay - I can't really offer any advice as I'm not experiencing it in relation to pregnancy but I thought I'd try offering some reassurance instead.

Many, many years ago I had what I suppose might be called panic attacks, where for no logical reason. I would suddenly feel engulfed with irrationality and fear. My pulse would shoot up, my throat would feel tight, I'd feel scared and nervous, my palms would be sweating, I'd start feeling dizzy etc - it was just awful so I know how daunting it can seem. It really is a horrible feeling of dread and vulnerability that is hard to explain to people.

I agree that you need to speak to a health professional about but I would advise you do it sooner rather than later. Not because I think you are crazy or watching, lol, but just because the sooner it is addressed, the better. It is obviously really worrying you and although January isn't too far away, a lot can happen in that time and things may worsen. See if you can get an earlier midwife appointment, but if not them go and speak to your GP. It might help to take your DH if possible as he can give his 'eye witness account' of how your mood went etc

Taken are of yourself xx

I had a few panic attacks in my first trimester (not something I've previously experienced either), and mine weren't particularly baby related. They tended to happen when I was stressed + forgot to take my antenatal vitamins - my conclusion was that it was hormone related and vit B6 helped immeasurably to keep me on an even keel mood-wise.

I didn't bother telling my midwife or GP btw - they seemed manageable and it didn't escalate at all. You just have to assess your own situation and coping ability I think.

Hey Hun,

Iv been feeling like someone's been sat on my chest and I can't breath!

I'm happy, so don't know what it's down to but it feels like I struggle to breathe and I feel very panicky!

Nothing seems to set it off, I was in my partners van just sat there and it started!

Another time I was reading in bed and I cudnt relax felt really on edge so came downstairs and sat on the sofa for half an hour on the phone too the mother in law. I can't describe how I felt really apart from panicky anxious felt like someone was sat on my chest and I felt very strange xxxx

Thanks for the replies.

writer - I might be crazy! FX I'm not!

I think I'll monitor it. Most of the time I am fine, but it happens so quickly, I was a little worried.

I did miss my prenatal vit yesterday - so maybe it is related to b6, though yesterday wasn't the first time. But perhaps I can deal better with it when I have taken my vitamins.

Thanks FX the same won't happen today, as I'm driving!

Yes I suffered with similar in both my pregnancies. My anxiety seems to be related to feeling physically threatened or in danger but it's totally irrational.

For instance I feel very anxious in crowded places like a busy shop. Also around people moving irratically (like small children or drunk people do). If anyone invades my personal space I get really anxious and feel like punching them! I've been known to cry in a busy shop (ikea) because I felt so threatened!

These things aren't a problem when I'm not pregnant so I assume it's hormone related in some way. Weird though.

I had a lot of panic attacks early on this pregnancy, triggered by random things like people turning up at the
House unexpectedly, news stories, or sometimes late at night in bed

I think hormones are a lit to do with it, but I also worked out that I was getting them on days when I'd been particularly tired and had allowed my caffeine intake to creep up, since I cut it down to almost nothing I haven't had any so that might be worth looking at too.

First of all, your symptoms are very normal for anxiety, not that that makes them any easier :)
Yes, anxiety seems to happen for some people - probably the hormones. My anxiety got lot worse for the first 20 weeks or so, then started to calm down. It's miserable, but it's not going to hurt the baby.
There are loads of good books on amazon that should start you dealing with anxiety. Not to mention forums hosted by mental health charities.

Of course, you can ask to be referred to mental health services by your GP (They'll end up getting you CBT), or alternatively find a CBT practitioner and pay privately. It doesn't have to cost the earth.

Meanwhile, distraction is your friend when anxiety strikes, as is exercise. Breathing exercises - it's hard to remain anxious physiologically when your exhale is longer than your inhale. Start by breathing in for 2 and out for 3, then make them longer (end up on 4, 6).

My heart goes out to you because I know how utterly miserable and frightening anxiety can be, but there are loads of ways to deal with it.
One VERY important thing to remember when in the middle is not to catastrophise - this means don't fall into the mental trap of starting to fear that the way you feel now is the way you will feel forever. The anxious episode WILL pass and you WILL feel normal again. It's not forever.

When i came off the pill a few years back i had terrible anxiety. It literally came from no-where and it was very frightening!! The main thing you have to realise is lots of people suffer it, just no-one really talks about it
I was just like you, head spinning where i felt drunk or woozy and just very nervous and uneasy in certain situations. I remember one time getting home from work and breaking down in tears and phoning my parents as i just couldnt bear to be ithe house alone until my fiance came home, seems silly now but at the time i was genuinely a mess!!

It took me a while and lots of doctor visits to actually believe it was anxiety, i was convinced i had some dreadful illness as i wasn't an anxious person usually. But once i realised what it was i went on some low dose anxiety meds for a short while and have been fine ever since. i do sometimes get the occasional panic but i just learn to deal with it now and i know it will pass.

im now 36 weeks preg and have been fine in my preg but please don't suffer this in silence, speak with your midwife, thats what shes there for and hormones definately do play a big part in it i think but you will get thru it and like i say its very common but people never discuss it xx

Yup, sounds like me - so far anxiety symptoms have been fairly mild/controllable but unpleasant. I started a thread about it a few days ago and someone helpfully explained my symptoms are derealisation/depersonalisation - that the world around me isn't real and I'm not really 'me'. It IS still mild - it's just an odd feeling which makes me feel unsettled and anxious, and it just comes on for no apparent reason (ironically normally when I'm fairly quiet/calm).

Plan to mention it the midwife at booking in - don't feel I need any help with it at the moment but just in case...