Anxiety and parenting

[Anonymous]

I was anxiety free during my pregnancy and at times I feel the rush of anxiousness and doubt thoughts lately

How did you cope if you’ve experienced or exeperincing this

[Anonymous]

Talk to your doctor and get a referral to a psychiatrist. I let my anxiety go on way too long without realizing how bad it was. Get help now.

[Anonymous]

A good therapist is better than a psychiatrist,
unless you want to get drugged.

It may be that you need meds, but that should not be the first thing to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A good therapist is better than a psychiatrist,
unless you want to get drugged.

It may be that you need meds, but that should not be the first thing to do.

I disagree. Anti-anxiety drugs make it possible to hear therapy. I didn’t even realize the extent of my post partum anxiety until I was medicated. To me, at that time, my fear of my baby getting pneumonia was so real that letting no one else ever hold her made sense to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A good therapist is better than a psychiatrist,
unless you want to get drugged.

It may be that you need meds, but that should not be the first thing to do.

I disagree. Anti-anxiety drugs make it possible to hear therapy. I didn’t even realize the extent of my post partum anxiety until I was medicated. To me, at that time, my fear of my baby getting pneumonia was so real that letting no one else ever hold her made sense to me.

What exactly do you disagree with?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A good therapist is better than a psychiatrist,
unless you want to get drugged.

It may be that you need meds, but that should not be the first thing to do.

I disagree. Anti-anxiety drugs make it possible to hear therapy. I didn’t even realize the extent of my post partum anxiety until I was medicated. To me, at that time, my fear of my baby getting pneumonia was so real that letting no one else ever hold her made sense to me.

What exactly do you disagree with?

That OP should go to a psychologist first and wait on the medications. Medication should be the first thing she does.

If you haven’t had post partum anxiety, I can’t explain it to you. OP should absolutely turn to medication first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A good therapist is better than a psychiatrist,
unless you want to get drugged.

It may be that you need meds, but that should not be the first thing to do.

Wanting to get drugged is not a thing. That's like saying don't go to the dr when you have strep throat unless you want to get drugged.

Did you mean "unless you want to be given necessary medication to help address your anxiety?"

Here's an analogy to help you PP:

Getting anxiety meds for life-interupting PPA = Getting antibiotics to treat a strep infection

Talk therapy once you're medicated if that's what the dr feels is the right approach = Washing your hands and keeping good hygiene to help lower, but not eliminate, risk of getting strep in the future.

But in the end, it's medication + therapy that gives you the best shot of treating PPA.

By no means am I saying medication is a silver bullet or is ALWAYS the best treatment, but you are downplaying and it and giving it a negative spin by your comments and I feel the need to address them because it's comments like that which probably prevented me from seeking treatment for my PPA for way to long.

OP, I had PPA but chalked it up to just newborn mom worries/anxiety. When I finally started medication and therapy, I was able to look back and see it for what it was. Life is so much more enjoyable now. I don't necessarily think I will be on meds forever, but they helped me out of the acute phase and to treat my anxiety enough to be open to therapy and learn coping mechanisms for long-term health.

In my case, my meds are prescribed by my general family doc, and then I do therapy with a therapist, not a psychiatrist.

I would suggest seeing a medical dr + therapist to manage both tracks (and have them talk to each other) OR a psychiatrist to manage both together.

It's normal. You're normal. This is treatable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A good therapist is better than a psychiatrist,
unless you want to get drugged.

It may be that you need meds, but that should not be the first thing to do.

I disagree. Anti-anxiety drugs make it possible to hear therapy. I didn’t even realize the extent of my post partum anxiety until I was medicated. To me, at that time, my fear of my baby getting pneumonia was so real that letting no one else ever hold her made sense to me.

What exactly do you disagree with?

That OP should go to a psychologist first and wait on the medications. Medication should be the first thing she does.

If you haven’t had post partum anxiety, I can’t explain it to you. OP should absolutely turn to medication first.

I think she should visit her OB and talk about meds and get a list of therapist recommendations, and start them at the same time. I agree both are necessary to overcome PPA/PPD, but meds can take 6-8 weeks to really start working and talk therapy can immediately help by reassuring OP that this is common, that the meds WILL work, and that she won't feel this way forever.

[Anonymous]

Block and tackle any potential untreated ADHD as a source of anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Can you give examples? It can be normal anxiety or something serious but we can’t help you without examples.

[Anonymous]

Former anxiety sufferer here, and I would recommend a CBT therapist as your first stop.

Any good therapist will recommend meds if they're needed. Mine recommended them for me right away.

And if they're not needed, then you've saved yourself a few hundred bucks. Win win.

[Anonymous]

Everyone on this board is always so quick to rush to therapy for every little thing. Just talk yourself down. Is this actually likely to REALLY happen? How will I handle it if it does? I don't need to worry about this because I have a plan in place. Everyone with a child has gone through this, no need to be embarrassed. I will never see these people again- no need to be embarrassed that my kid is screaming and laying on the floor. And so on.