Panic attacks prompted by pregnancy

[Anonymous]

Asks diff should have been asked for

[Anonymous]

PP from below -- apologies I gave the wrong website. The website is http://www.vivapartnership.com/.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a new to this thread but I am dealing with similar issues (panic attacks, pregnancy) and seeking recommendations for a counselor or psychiatrist in DC or VA experienced with these issues. I realize these posts are over a year old, but any recommendations would be appreciated.

I suffered from panic attacks during pregnancy and had one in the hospital the night before I left. I would recommend Julie Lopez at the Viva Center, www.vivacenter.com, in DuPont Circle. She specializes in anxiety and trauma, and I don't think I would have survived my pregnancy without her. She was really good at giving me non-pharmaceutical skills to deal with them, and she worked closely with my psychiatrist to coordinate meds. Ultimately, my midwife and psychiatrist agreed that taking Xanax was better than the flood of hormones that came with a panic attack, so I took Xanax as necessary--but Julie was fantastic at helping me deal with the attacks.

Julie is the Director of the Viva Center and has a bunch of people who work with her with a similar style/philosophy, so even if she doesn't have room, she can find someone in her practice to help.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I am about to start TTC and I have always had a phobia of pregnancy because of the difficulty breathing aspect. As a teenager I had a traumatic medical experience that left me emotionally and physically scarred, involving a severe lung infection. I now panic if I get short of breath (which is why I don't exercise). I have seen pulmonologists and had lung function tests which were all fine, but it's the subjective feeling of not being able to breathe normally that sets off my panic attacks I have been putting off pregnancy for almost 10 years because of this phobia, and am not sure what to do.

Can anyone recommend a therapist in NoVA to help with this? The idea of being pregnant practically gives me a panic attack.

[Anonymous]

I started too take Xanax an lusteral in 3d trimester and very warried about it. Please, if anyone took these drugs, would you write here how is your baby now?