Could this be PPA?

jenn11178

Hi Ladies...

I believe what I am experiencing right now is PPA...  Since having LO, I worry about everything.  Before having my baby, I considered myself such a happy and carefree person.  Now my anxiety is getting the best of me..

I constantly worry about something happening to LO - I check on him all the time when he is sleeping, I jump the minute he cries for fear something is wrong, my stomach turns when he starts to cry and I cannot console him and I often get panic attacks when I am alone with him.

I also get scary irrational thoughts about harm coming to my baby.

I just started back to work full time and find the stress of balancing work, baby, and the household very difficult.  I have spoken to a therapist, and have opted not to to take any drugs since I am BF.

My question is.. For those of you diagnosed with PPA - How did they know? What symptoms were you having? 

And if you are in treatment..can this be helped with therapy alone or do you think that drugs are necessary?

Thank you! 

 

SnoopyLuv

I had problems leaving the house for fear of car accidents, people stealing her, me dropping her on the way to the car etc.

I also had trouble just leaving her alone with H, not even a stranger or DCP.

I would get mini panic attacks just thinking about going to work or leaving her.

I am on wellbutrin and that helps control my anxiety. I have xanax in case I start having a panic attack or get really crazy and then I will pump and dump and feed from my freezer stash. There are many safe medications to take (contrary to popular belief).

jenn11178

Thank you for sharing... I have set up an appt. to see a therapist to discuss some options for help. 

I am experiencing a lot of this also - While it helps to learn that I am not "alone" in this battle, it saddens me to think of another mother who hurts like I do.

Wishing you the best! 

SnoopyLuv

Thank you, you too.

It's very hard and I feel very alone most of the time but the boards here have been a big help. Don't hesitate to reach out to your "month" boards, there are so many women there dealing with the same.

I've been trying to get out of the house more and more and that has helped lessen my anxiety each time. My H has also been really encouraging with it, we never are home on the weekends because he's trying to get me acclimated to different situations. It's helped a lot and now I take her to the grocery store every week without panic attacks.

MrsBraun

You have classic symptoms of PPA - I have all of the same, including thoughts of terrible things happening to DD, like dropping her down the stairs, her drowning in the bathtub, etc.

 IMO, a therapist alone will not help everything, I think meds are essential - but that's just me. You have a chemical unbalance that has to be rectified somehow...therapy alone can't do that for you. And like I just wrote in another post, going on meds doesn't necessarily mean you'll feel better - different meds work for different people and it may take some time (or not) before you find something that works. It took me 10 months.

I have a PPD/PPA blog if you are interested in following. My email is amanda_braun1@yahoo.ca - email me there if you are interested in being invited - I have a lot of stuff regarding these bad thoughts, etc, etc. GL to you.

homebird

I had panic attacks for no reason. I mean, there was absolutely nothing I had to feel anxious about. It was just an uncontrollable feeling of dread, anxiety, panic. I wanted to hide or run away. Most of the time I couldn't function. I laid on the couch and couldn't speak or think. My husband tried to get me out of the house to walk or go shopping and I just wanted to die. I know it sounds dramatic, but it really was that bad.

It started in the morning (gradually) and would be worst around lunchtime, then gradually fade away as the afternoon wore on. In the evenings I felt fine. When I woke up it started all over again.

It seems like it was a hormonal thing. My psychologist diagnosed me with "PPA, adjustment disorder with anxiety" and put me on lexapro (I was BFing and it was safe). I was only on it for 4 months and then I was gradually weaned off. I was completely fine after that.