Anxiety

[Hcisab]

I'm certain it's pregnancy related which is why I posted in this section. Hoping to get some advice, ways to help or just some solidarity.

I'm 28weeks with my second. I've always suffered with anxiety/depression. I was on sertraline before I got pregnant with my first but came off and would never want to go back on anti-depressants.

The last few weeks I have had horrendous anxiety about everything and anything. I keep having really intrusive thoughts too. Like bad things happening to me, my dp or ds. It's constant with ds at the moment. Like even just going to the park I will keep thinking of awful things that could happen to him. I don't think it's ever been this bad actually and now I'm writing it down I'm realising it even more. I'm not usually someone who worries a lot so it's really unsettling. I just always feel on edge. It's annoying too as, I know nothing bad will actually happen. It's like I can almost rationalise with myself but can't stop the thoughts.

I'll stop rambling now. Has anyone found anything that helps deal with it? I think I will talk to my midwife about some kind of therapy as it helped when I had PND.

You do need to talk to your midwife. Why wouldn’t you take anti depressants if you needed them?

@Wolfiefan Yes, I will when I next see her. The going on and coming off the anti depressants was a really horrible experience which I don't want to go through again. I also know that I am fine without them. It has only been in the last few weeks of this pregnancy that it's got this bad.

Sorry you are getting intrusive thoughts - they are horrible. I didn't realise until it became full blown PND last time that I've always had intrusive thoughts/anxiety and OCD as a result. After my DD was born the intrusive thoughts took over my life and then the depression kicked in as a result. With hindsight, this was all building up during my pregnancy. I'm pregnant again (3rd trimester) and they are creeping back in, mostly at night stopping me getting to sleep at the moment.
In the end, counselling, the headspace app and writing down any thoughts and talking them through with DH helped but the only thing that properly worked was sertaline which I know you don't want to go back on :/
Currently preparing myself for the fact that my mental health is heading the same way again and accepting that I'll probs be back on the sertraline. Hope you find some alternatives that help

@Lovethewinter thanks for your reply and sorry to hear you have been through/are going through similar. I have never had the intrusive thoughts before, they are really horrible. I will try the things you have mentioned, my dp is amazingly supportive which is great. I will also be talking to midwife next week when I see her. I would really rather not go back on sertraline but of course if it came down to it, I'm sure I would. I just feel like it being this severe is pregnancy related and so would rather try get through without and see how I'm doing once baby is here.

Everything is harder this time anyway because of having ds. I had PND after his birth and as much as I don't want to go through that again myself, I really really don't want him to have to go through that. It's strange and scary having someone so precious that you love this much. I hope you don't struggle too much this time too

@Hcisab the coming off anti depressants isn’t a problem IF you do it VERY slowly and under medical supervision. I’ve done it and switched pills too. You can’t just stop. My GP advised cutting by the smallest amount and only reducing more when I’d felt fine for a few weeks. It took months but no side effects.

@Wolfiefan Yeah I did wean very slowly but still really struggled with it. I would just like to look at different options rather than going straight to antidepressants.

@Hcisab thank you. I was a bit dismissive when they suggested the Headspace app but it is really good and tailors courses to your needs. It's given me some good techniques for dealing with thoughts when they come along so I'd def recommend it and it's the only app I've ever actually paid for (there is a free version but you don't get access to everything). Also lots of things on there to help you get to sleep if that's a problem too.

It’s fine to look at different options OP. But would you refuse meds if it was a physical issue? I can’t do without meds for my asthma either. I just wouldn’t refuse them. TBH I think my brain chemistry is such that I will always need them. Can’t see an issue with that.