Infantreflux.org | Anxiety Medication for Mom?

This topic has 13 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 19 years, 2 months ago by Anonymous.

Viewing 14 posts - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)

Author

Posts
July 27, 2007 at 12:49 pm #39960

Anonymous
Inactive

Hi-

I’m not sure if this is the right forum to post this but it is a medication question. Ever since Brian was born and we’ve been dealing with different issues (birth trauma, severe jaundice, lots of breastfeeding problems…gave up at 6 weeks, and of course the reflux), I feel like I’ve had this overwhelming sense of anxiety that I can’t shake. Every day I have a knot in my stomach and I’m not eating well, not sleeping well, crying frequently. It’s not really depression as much as it is anxiety. I feel like I’m constantly in stress mode even when things are okay and every time Brian has a crying jag or doesn’t sleep well, I get really panicky and start to feel overwhelmed. Brian is 11 weeks old and I know it will get better as he gets older and we get his meds worked out but I feel like I need help until then. My husband thinks I should ask the dr about going on a medication for the short-term but I don’t know anything about medications to treat anxiety. I have always been a worrywart but nothing to this extreme. I know there are moms dealing with much tougher situations than mine and I tell myself all the time that I need to toughen up but I can’t shake these feelings and sometimes I feel like such a failure as a mom. Has anyone else dealt with feelings like this and did anyone find some relief with medication? Thanks for any advice.

July 27, 2007 at 12:55 pm #39961

Anonymous
Inactive

I recently started a med called Efexor. No matter who’s situation is better or worse, everyone deals differently with all types of situations. I went on this med because waiting for test results and just all the unknowns right now were heightening my anxiety and stress levels to the point that I thought the children could feel my stress.

My doctor and I both discussed it and felt this was the best medication to try first. I am taking a fairly low dose and am anticipating it for the short term only. I never feel any different than myself, but I am calmer and able to handle the stresses with more of a level head.

I’m sure others will chime in, but I think that it is perfectly normal to have heightened anxiety level with the things you have been through, and it is fine to take something to make it better until things are going more smoothly for you.

Hang in there!!!

Ann Marie

July 27, 2007 at 1:17 pm #39965

Anonymous
Inactive

I would not feel bad at all! there are so many moms i know that take meds for anxiety/depression, and thank God they did! ;), it has made a huge difference. If you feel like you can’t control it on your own, i think its fine taking something for short term. You can than get in the right frame of mind, try and look at the situations that are going on in your life clearer, and deal with them easier. Then you can try and wean yourself off when you feel better. Its worth it for you and your boys. I also am a worrywart, and when Shane was born, and actually when i was carrying him, i worried/had anxiety ALL the time. Luckily as Shane got older it did pass, but looking back i wish i took something the 1st few months of his life, because i didnt get to enjoy it as much, ya know?

I hope you feel better soon! and let us know what you decide, and how it turns out!

July 27, 2007 at 1:40 pm #39967

Anonymous
Inactive

I was given Zoloft after Cooper was born b/c of all of my crying etc. I couldn’t take it b/c it always upset my stomach after 3-4 days. I do take Xanax for anxiety when I fly it is very fast acting and works immediately. You could also use Ativan (used allot for people in hospitals who are detoxing, but it works really well) and Klonipin as well works good. It does get better and even if you don’t feel like you are depressed, you may be to some extent and who could blame you, you have been dealing with allot at a time when you thought would be the happiest of your life. Whatever you do I think meds are probably a good option until you are better able to get a handle on things. Good Luck.

July 27, 2007 at 5:10 pm #39987

Anonymous
Inactive

Gosh, don’t feel like you have to suck it up. Anxiety sucks!! I know. I’ve suffered with it all of my life, and the post partum period with all three of my children was horrendous. I’ve always had anxiety, but childbirth took it to a new and extreme level. Even with my first who was perfectly healthy. It’s not your fault at all. It’s totally biological. I truly believe that something about childbirth and the hormone changes during the post partum period do something to trigger or exacerbate anxiety in women who are prone to it. It was so bad when my first baby was born that I would plead with my dh to stay home with me even though he did nothing to help me with the baby. I was freaked out about staying home alone with the baby, even though I’d never been afraid of being home alone before, and I was perfectly competent in taking care of her. With the other two it was even worse. I wanted to jump out of my own skin because I was so anxious. A few times I even told my dh I was sick so he’d stay home with me. It was ludicrous. Now I can’t wait for him to go to work and leave me alone.

Some women get Post Partum Anxiety instead of Post Partum Depression. It’s probably far more common than we know. Who wants to go and tell their doc that they are a nervous wreck about taking care of their baby? I’m sure your doctor would understand though. I did talk to my doctor about it many times and she was very sympthetic. Probably the first 4-6 months after my babies were born I did nothing but cry in her office or on the phone.

Hopefully this will pass for you in a few months like it did for me. With my first it lasted 4 months. With the second two it lasted 5-6 months. If your anxiety has always been manageable and mild, I think it’s very possible that what you are experiencing now is what I had; a post partum exacerbation of my typical anxiety.

Anyway, I can’t answer your medicaiton question because I don’t know much about it except that my doc said Paxil was fine while nursing. I don’t respond well to SSRI drugs so I didn’t take anything and I suffered with sickening anxiety for months after each baby. I hope you can find some relief. I sure know how hard it is and how miserable it feels. Hang in there and don’t be afraid to talk to someone about it. It helps to not keep it bottled up.

July 27, 2007 at 8:09 pm #39994

Anonymous
Inactive

Kelly,
Do not feel like a failure! Before Chloe was properly medicated she did not sleep well at all. I remember when I would finally get her to sleep at night I would not be able to sleep (even though I was exhausted). I would get chest pains and feel as though I was going to throw up just waiting for her to wake up again screaming. I called my ob and talked (well maybe, cried)to an incredible nurse she just reassured me and made an appointment to see the NP. When I saw the NP they prescribed I believe it was ativan (I am 99% sure) and you know what just having that bottle in the house made it so much better for me. I actually never took any because I was never willing to pump and dump.
So what I am trying to say is you are not alone and don’t be hesitant to call the doctor they can help you. And also it does get better, and it does fade away (although, it does make me remember the chest pains, etc. like it was yesterday responding to this post, but my 1 year old is now a happy baby and has been off meds for 1 month and I would go through it all again)

July 27, 2007 at 9:28 pm #39997

Anonymous
Inactive

kelly, i have been taking antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds for most of the lasts 18 years. i have had problems with this for most of my life, but it got really bad after my 3rd baby—–i had a complete breakdown. i called my doc because i knew i was having some trouble, but i had no idea how bad it could get——-you don’t want to go there if you can help it.

i almost always have xanax on hand, but i have been through more antidepressants than i can remember.

July 28, 2007 at 3:24 am #40001

Anonymous
Inactive

Kelly,

You sound like me! I’ve dealt with anxiety ALL my lfe but when I hit 21, for me, in my head that was the magic number where I thought I should have my life figured out(CRAZY!!)and I sort of had a nervous breakdown. Not fun and very scary. Skip a few years and I go to therapy every so often just to help talk it out with someone who isn’t directly involved in my life and that has been awesome. I’ve been on meds for anxiety for almost five years. While I was pregnant I weaned and went off and was fine but after she was born, holy hannah, things were terrible. We had SO much trouble bf and I cried constantly. I had postpartum depression and anxiety on top of that, A MESS!!! If you feel overwhelmed, I would not feel the slightest hesitation to go on meds if you feel for you that would help you cope. Don’t feel like you’re a failure or defeated! It takes a strong mommy to recognize when you need a little extra help, at least that’s what I think. I’m on a generic(cheaper)form of Zoloft right now. I’m on a pretty low dose and it’s funny you posted this b/c I’m actually thinking of stopping bf b/c my anxiety is still so high everytime I feed Kate(I know she can feel it)that I wonder if it would just be best to bottle feed so she won’t have to feel what I feel which is panic,panic,panic. Anyway, enough about me, for you, do whatever you think is best but I tried a drug b/f I was pregnant called Clomipramine which helped me cope with stuff sooo much better and like I said now I’m on generic Zoloft. I hope I didn’t ramble too much and that some of ths helps. Bottom line, you are not alone and COMPLETEY normal for feeling overwhelmed and anxious. Motherhood is wonderful and beautiful but also really tough so if you need some extra help dealing with that, I say go for it because you want to be the best mom possible for your babies and for me, I feel like Kate senses what’s going on behind the smile pasted on my face when I’m freaking out everytime I feed her. Here’s a big hug!

July 28, 2007 at 5:53 am #40002

Anonymous
Inactive

Kelly, it is really couragous of you to bring this out into the open and seek help. As well as ditto (ing) everything that has been said, I would add that most Drs in Aus prescribe anti-depressants for anxiety in the first instance (because often they help with anxiety). I would go for a SSRI (antidepressant) because they are not addicitive at all and are good in low doses for the short term. There is no weakness in using the meds, its likely that the anxiety is a hormonal/biological response that will improve once your body gets back to its normal state. Good luck.

July 28, 2007 at 12:11 pm #40017

Anonymous
Inactive

Don’t feel bad! It’s normal for most moms to feel this way, and don’t underestimate how you are feeling either!

I’m on Paxil, and have been on Prozac in the past. If I don’t have my meds I’m a nervous wreck…and not about anything specific, but just about everything in general. I get super OCD about stuff (counting steps, obsessing about clothes to buy for my kids, school supplies, etc) just riduculous stuff…and for me the tell tale sign that I need my meds adjusted is that I can’t sleep and my mind just RACES at night.

Don’t feel bad about broaching the subject with either your OB or your PCP either one should be willing to help you out in this area.

July 28, 2007 at 2:34 pm #40022

Anonymous
Inactive

Thank you everyone for your encouraging words and for sharing your stories! It does help to talk about it and to know that other moms are dealing with it too. I feel like I go out and take Brian for a walk and the neighbors ask how we’re doing and they ask things like “Is he a good baby?” and I know they don’t really want to hear the whole saga and they won’t understand the whole reflux thing so I just force a smile and say “yeah, he’s fine” and I keep going. It’s nice to have somewhere like this to go to talk about how hard things really are sometimes.

Christine, your post made me laugh so thanks for that, I needed it. I printed it out and showed it to my dh becuase I am the exact same way right now! I am always begging dh to stay home with me and I don’t even want him to do anything but just not leave me alone with the kids. I do so much better when someone is here with me. I feel like if everything suddenly falls apart, at least I won’t be here alone dealing with it.

Claire, I also can relate to going into panic mode at each feeding. That happened to me when I was b/f and I think I probably didn’t let down like I should have because I would get so tense. I’m still like that sometimes with bottle feeding, worrying that Brian will refuse the bottle as he has done in the past. And then I get into this whole “what if” scenario in my head culminating in the worst possible outcome in my mind. I think I worry as much or more about things that haven’t actually happened but could as I do about things that are actually happening.

I am so inspired too by those of you who have gone through this more than once and continued on having more kids. There is a big part of me that would like to have another child but right now the thought of going through this again is too overwhelming. Maybe in six months I will feel differently.

I am going to ask my OB about medication too. There were many different ones mentioned in the posts so I will take that as a starting point and see which ones she recommends. My dad is a recovered alcoholic and I have been thinking alot about the serenity prayer used in AA and trying to accept the things I cannot change and changing the things that I can. I will keep you all posted! One day at a time…

July 28, 2007 at 9:28 pm #40051

Anonymous
Inactive

I’m glad to hear you’re feeling supported and validated. I thought I must be some kind of looney toon when I was going thought it. Here I was a grown woman telling my husband I was sick so he’d stay home from work just so I wouldn’t have to be alone with my babies. I have to say that it makes me feel better too….to know that I’m not the only mom who’s ever felt that way, and I know you will help other moms out there too. So thanks for being so brave and sharing your struggle. I hope you find relief very soon.

The Serenity Prayer must be God’s gift to the anxious. It helps me alot too. Another thing that helps (that I learned from my therapist) is to have a mantra, a comforting message that you tell yourself when you feel yourself going into panic mode. My mantra is “Be still and know that I am God.” Also, there are relaxation and deep breathing exercises that you can do. You can probably find them online or ask your doctor about them.

Hang in there.

July 31, 2007 at 3:46 pm #40232

Anonymous
Inactive

I spoke with my OB today and she is putting me on Lexipro antidepressant. She said it is easier to wean from than Paxil and easier to tolerate. Anyone familiar with it?

July 31, 2007 at 6:26 pm #40242

Anonymous
Inactive

Kelly,

I admire you for bringing this out in the open too as others have said. I felt the EXACT same way you do when Caden was tiny and in the midst of his reflux. I would cringe everytime he would start crying and feel extremely anxious about it.

When Caden was only about a month old, my husband decided he would take the other kids and go to his parents’ house for Thanksgiving to “give me a break”. I panicked. When he was an hour into the road trip, I called him and told him I didn’t think I could take care of Caden by myself and I was afraid I would just cry the whole time he was gone. He turned around and came right back!

Needless to say, he was worried about me as were my mom, aunt, and several other relatives. They all told me to ask my OB about anxiety meds. I weathered the storm, and now that Caden is over the colic and reflux for the most part, I am fine.

I think it’s normal ESPECIALLY after just having had a baby (with the crazy hormones) to get depressed or have anxiety. I was like you and didn’t have the depression as much as the anxiety. I would just worry SICK about every little thing with Caden.

You will get through this, and you have the support of all of us here if you need it! Don’t let other family members push you into taking medication UNLESS you are comfortable with it. I know my family thought I needed it, but I knew deep down I really didn’t – I just needed to know why my baby cried all the time and how to help him. And, of course I was anxious about having a newborn who couldn’t be consoled no matter what I did!

However, I do know people who do go on the meds even temporarily and are happy that they did. It may be just the thing you need at this time in your life. I just know that other people tried to tell me to take them, and I think you know yourself best.

Good luck!
Author

Posts