TTM about anxiety and how you cope?

No longer the best

So after 10 months of talking to other Mom's, researching and of course Dr. Google I'm pretty sure I am struggling with anxiety.  I think I have for some time but since having Malcolm it has gotten way worse.  And now that it is seriously affecting my sleep (worst insomnia of my life) and I'm returning to work in 5 weeks something has to give!! 

What do you do to cope? I think I need to ask some local Mama's to find someone to talk to but in the meantime what can you suggest so that I can do? 

tttwalters

Running really helps me, I always feel so much better afterwards. I did go and speak with someone and I found that it really helped and I was glad I did it!

As far as the insomnia, I make myself some lavender tea and usually end up watching shows on my laptop until I fall asleep. 

No longer the best

Bleachy14 said:

I def suggest talking to someone if you can... I have anxiety issues as well, and saw someone a number of years ago and it really helped me out a lot. Are you able to kind of pin point what is making you anxious? Is there anything specific that makes it worse (or better?)? 

Edited afterwards... You don't have to answer that last question if you don't want to... just realized that may have gotten a little too personal - sorry! The point I was trying to get it, is maybe if you can figure out what is triggering the anxiety, maybe you can focus on relieving some of those issues if you can (in general terms!).

I second exercising.... while it doesn't specifically help me, most people it does so that could be a good route too!

Well it just kind of hit me on the weekend that I was having an 'anxiety attack' over going back to work.  But last night at 1am it was about our monitor getting fried (because this would be the third time it has happened). 

And while I think it is totally legitimate for me to be stressed out about these things (especially returning to work) I feel like it is so intense and I have a hard time concentrating or thinking about anything else and it is so not productive. 

Cricket81

It's kind of random, but i listen to familiar audiobooks on my phone when I get anxious. Particularly at night. It distracts me enough to calm me down, but is boring/familiar enough that I can fall asleep during it. And it doesn't affect DH so I can do it while laying in bed.

No longer the best

Cricket81 said:

It's kind of random, but i listen to familiar audiobooks on my phone when I get anxious. Particularly at night. It distracts me enough to calm me down, but is boring/familiar enough that I can fall asleep during it. And it doesn't affect DH so I can do it while laying in bed.

I remember you saying this before my phone is way to crappy for that.  Can I get an audiobook on my Kobo?? 

Cricket81

No longer the best said:

Cricket81 said:

It's kind of random, but i listen to familiar audiobooks on my phone when I get anxious. Particularly at night. It distracts me enough to calm me down, but is boring/familiar enough that I can fall asleep during it. And it doesn't affect DH so I can do it while laying in bed.

I remember you saying this before my phone is way to crappy for that.  Can I get an audiobook on my Kobo?? 

Unfortunately, I don't really know anything about Kobos, but lots of libraries have them on tapes or CDs.

nikel13

I could have written this.  I haven't been doing anything about it until it got to where no one wanted to be around me.  I was doing what I normally do, which is crocheting or reading or anything to just relax a little, but it wasn't working.  I went the to my OB/GYN yesterday.  She gave me meds and a card for a counselor with a follow up with her.  My anxiety level definitely feels less with the meds and I am really looking forward to the counseling. 

Good luck!  Living with a constant feeling of panic really sucks!  Know that you have lots of support!

No longer the best

Well it turns out there is an anxiety Treatment Research Centre which would be totally covered for me to go to with a bit of a wait time but the Patient Coordinator is the mother of a man I used to be involved with ... and now I am getting anxiety over this!! 

So back to find a new place to go for help!