Anxiety attacks third trimester

erickandelena

Hello!! This is my first pregnancy and of course I'm nervous and I have to question every little thing that happens to my body.. But I'm curious if anyone else gets anxiety/panic attacks randomly?

I get them at work or just driving around my heart beat jumps I start to sweat and my muscles tingle or hurt all over. I've never had this before I was pregnant and I feel as I get closer to my due date they are becoming more frequent. I have a doctors appointment in a few days and I'll run it by doc. But you get like this? And what do you do to calm down?

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jeanzcarol

I get panicky about things as well.

I'm not discounting genuine panic and anxiety disorders at all, they're very serious and your doctor will be able to help you figure out if you're suffering from something along those lines.

With that said, I notice I get a more panicked feeling than usual because my heart rate is just elevated being pregnant. And being short of breath makes it worse. So for me, the physical stuff starts and I start to get an anxious feeling. When I remind myself that I'm just having physical responses to being pregnant, I feel much better.

But absolutely speak to your doctor who can help discern what's going on.

Smyers2girls

I would talk to your doctor about this. Anxiety disorders run in my family, and mine wasn't triggered until I was pregnant with my first, and that was what set it off with all the women in my family. There is a difference between having normal anxiety and the disorder. For me, I was having panic attacks over things that shouldn't cause panic and could not calm myself. Medication is the only thing that helps for me as it truly is a chemical deficiency in my brain. From what you are describing, it sounds like you are having true panic attacks. I hope it gets better for you, and know many women out there suffer from this!

JessicaH1020

I didn't have this issue, but my friend did, especially during the second trimester.  And once the anxiety attacks started, she would get even more upset about the fact that she was having issues breathing and just make freak out completely.  She went to a therapist to talk out her anxiety issues and the anxiety attacks gradually slowed down and stopped all together by the third trimester.  I know therapy isn't for everyone, but do you have a close friend or relative (someone outside of your s/o) that you can talk freely with?  I know it's cheesy, but sometimes talking out your anxiety really is the best solution. 

loriann091

Like @Smyers2girls, anxiety disorders run in my family. My panic attacks were always subtle in my late teens until I experienced a significant trauma in my early 20s that brought them on full force. I have them a few times a week, and depending on what's going on, sometimes daily. It feels just like you said - my adrenaline starts pumping, I sweat, I feel like I can't control my muscles... the whole deal. I tried medication pre-pregnancy but hated how it made me feel (I slept, a LOT). So I decided, with the help of my family physician and my husband, to try and control them on my own. 

For the most part, I acknowledge that they are happening and remove myself from the situation as quickly as I can. Generally, being alone and giving myself time to breathe/calm down works. Then again, sometimes it takes my husband wrapping his arms around me in a very tight hug to stop them. For some reason that makes me physically calm down, which helps me mentally relax. 

It's been a long road and there are times when they really make life difficult, but I feel like I've got a good system for myself. I also have a very patient husband so that makes life a lot easier. With all that being said, everyone and every treatment plan is different. Definitely talk to your doctor and find out what's best for you. Sometimes the first and second steps don't always help - but if you're patient and really work to find the most beneficial treatment plan, then you can definitely find relief. Good luck, I know how tough it can be but you can do it!

EDIT: Original post was confusing.. sorry!

Kelsatron

I am experiencing this terribly. I did however used to be on anxiety medication, after finding out I was pregnant I stopped taking them and felt way better than when I was taking them. Now in the last few days after not being able to sleep at night these issues have come back. I had to abruptly leave work today due to a paranoia anxiety attack. I truly believe the reason this is coming on is lack of good sleep. I'm 32 weeks and haven't slept much in a few days. I don't know the answer to relieving the anxiety but I can relate!

Smyers2girls

For the women who have had problems with medication, I will say it took me about 4 years trial and error to find the right medication for me. If it's not working for you or you do not like the side effects of a certain kind, tell your doctor. I also highly recommend seeing a psychiatrist, they are different from a therapist as they specialize in medication. It seemed for me, when I just went to my general practitioner, they wouldn't really listen to my symptoms and would just throw some antidepressant at me. Psychiatrists listen to your symptoms and evaluate you, so they will be able to point you in the right direction as to a medication that may help.

SquirrelsRWatching

jeanzcarol said:

I get panicky about things as well. I'm not discounting genuine panic and anxiety disorders at all, they're very serious and your doctor will be able to help you figure out if you're suffering from something along those lines. With that said, I notice I get a more panicked feeling than usual because my heart rate is just elevated being pregnant. And being short of breath makes it worse. So for me, the physical stuff starts and I start to get an anxious feeling. When I remind myself that I'm just having physical responses to being pregnant, I feel much better. But absolutely speak to your doctor who can help discern what's going on.

*Stuck in the box*

This. I've struggled with panic disorder since I was 16 (almost 28 now). Usually they would come out of nowhere or be triggered by logically stupid things. The last few years they shifted into nocturnal panic attacks (i.e. 1 hour almost exactly after I fall asleep, I would wake up with a racing heart and swear I was going to die). Needless to say, I would put off sleeping or nap more during the day to avoid them. I've gone through several different medications until I found one that worked w/o massive side effects. I've been on Celexa this entire pregnancy. I can't be without it. 

When the elevated heart rate and trouble breathing started with this pregnancy (my first), I really had to talk myself down from panic attacks and reason them out. I'm much better at it now. My only fear now is that I will have a panic attack when I start going into labor, even though (when I'm not in panic mode) I'm not all that freaked out by L&D. 

Definitely talk to a doctor about your panic attacks and maybe get some cognitive therapy with a counselor. You don't have to live with them! 

anxiousmommy85

As an anxiety sufferer, the best advice I can give you, aside from talk to your OB, is trust yourself. Look for what things seem to trigger your panic. What things make you feel better. You can try breathing exercises, affirmations, and aromatherapy to help manage some of the jitters. Lavender, peppermint, grapefruit, and/or chamomile are all excellent scents for soothing stirred up minds. Hot herbal teas, particularly peppermint or chamomile, can also help.

kcwnc

I haven't directly experienced this but a close friend of mine who gave birth in November had the symptoms you're describing without any event to trigger them. She could be sitting on the couch, out in a restaurant or even sleeping. They started early on in her 2nd trimester but she thought it was normal for pregnancy and didn't say anything to anyone for several weeks. Finally it happened when her H and I were there and once she told us what was going on we told her to speak with her Dr. After some monitoring they wound up putting her on beta blockers for the remainder of her pregnancy which significantly decreased these events. She started weaning off the meds before her c section but has had no issues since her son was born.

RMSteele

Stephanie2378 said:

I didn't get them with my first child nor during my pregnancies but they started after my second son was born. They were both very young. My first a year old when my second was newborn and I was overwhelmed.

I use to panic about rediculous random things (like what would happen if the bridge I was going over collapsed and I couldn't save them or if the wiring started a house fire) crazy stuff that I couldn't control. I didn't take meds I just told myself that I was being irrational and that I was over tired. I would breath slowly through my nose, out through my mouth and count to ten. Sounds simple but really does work.

Being a parent is scary but the rewards make all the worry worth it. Don't worry- most everyone goes through some form of this. You'll be okay.

This is exactly the type of things that caused my panic attacks. Only mine started when I was 10. I didn't tell my parents about them until I was 13 and they didn't really understand what I was going through so I didn't get help until they got really bad at 17. Seeing a therapist really helped and after about a year I went from 1+hour attacks to being able to talk myself down in a matter of minutes. I was against medication because I was a teenager and didn't understand how I could have benefited sooner.

I suggest talking to a therapist/psychiatrist if you are having a hard time. If anything they will be able to give you the best coping strategies based on your triggers.

Grapes13

Anxiety and depression run in my family and I have dealt with anxiety and panic attacks pretty much all my life. Of course it took until I was an early teen to really figure out what was happening. I have had phases of life where they have been frequent and severe and times when they are not often or more "mild". I have always worked with my doctors on not taking medicine. Personal choice- my mom, sisters and brothers take meds for it but I just wanted to try changing other things to cope. I first made sure I exercised more (yoga or meditation actually helps the most since it's calming). Eating the best you can makes a huge difference, writing in a journal your worries, or seeing a therapist for a while. But the biggest thing that helps me is knowing my triggers. What sets the anxiety attack into motion? Is there a pattern or time of day? Mine happen a lot when I am calm taking a shower or walking around not worried about a thing!! I learn to recognize my body's symptoms when one is coming on. I usually get warm, start to feel a little claustrophobic, weight on my chest, maybe a cold sweat, then lightheaded and I will within a minute or so faint or pass out. I wake up jittery and tight in the chest, sometimes feeling like I will throw up. Everyone's attacks are different. But because I know my symptoms I can I identify them as they start. I usually drop what I am doing sit or lay down and get somewhere cool/cold. I concentrate on my breathing and try to calm my heart rate. Knowing that it will soon be over is a huge help! If I concentrate on that then it lessens the feeling of panic. I know this was a huge message but until you see your doctor hopefully this will help for things you can do immediately! I'm sorry you are going through this. It really stinks, but if you can feel like you can gain some control it really makes you feel better and not so helpless!

SquirrelsRWatching

I think one of the biggest things to keep in mind when you are having a panic attack is that you are not going crazy and you are not going to die from it. I try to take a stance of "I've had these before. This will also pass just like the previous ones." It's not necessarily easy to talk yourself out of nor does it make it any less scary; however, it can help you cope. I also find distraction helpful. I have a mind-numbing game on my phone that I pull up during attacks. It gets me focused on something else than my heart beat. My husband also knows to leave the TV remote between our pillows at night, just in case, though I think actively doing something like playing a game is more effective than watching TV.