PPD vs. Anxiety or Motivation Issues...

leneae10

I've always been this way, so I don't think I have PPD.  Perhaps I have a mild form of depression always?

I can't get anything done.  I always walk around in a state of anxiety.  I talk myself out of things before I even get started. Small things, tiny things.  I get overwhelmed very easily, and sometimes flustered by being overwhelmed.  Some days the thought of getting dressed is just too much.

Other days, I'm a ball of energy and can tear through the house, run errands, climb Mt. Everest, etc.  I'm super Type A but sometimes don't have the drive to "do" the stuff.

Would anti-anxiety meds make me so chilll that I can't accomplish anything?  I feel like overall I suffer from a lack of energy and focus, and I would hate to relax so much that I become apathetic.

vlewis515

It could. I usually take Xanax for anxiety attacks or when I fly (but I'm out right now) and it does take the edge off. I take a very low dose...like half of the smallest dose they give you. The first time I took it before a flight and while we were running through the airport, DH asked how I felt and I said it was weird because I know I'm afraid to fly and I know I should feel anxious and have a pit in my stomach but I don't care. That's it. I knew all of that as a fact but it didn't phase me. That's the only way I can describe it, my other emotions were fine just not the anxiety.

PrincessDi80

**Disclaimer- my opinion on the matter is biased based upon my profession**

I would seek out a therapist, even if it someone you just see once a month.  Medication very well may help you, but so could counseling/therapy, or a combination of both.  Taking a pill, in my opinion, is only part of the solution.  While it may make you function more effectively it does not address the emotionality behind your symptoms, which will remain present with or without the medication.  ((HUGS))

rabstbmom

You sound a lot like me right now. I've dealt with similar issues on and off over the years, and the last several weeks, some job stresses have kind of caused them to resurface. I'd have to echo the pp who suggested talking to a counselor. I've gone in the past. It has helped, and in fact, I've been wondering if it's not time for me to see one again.

FWIW, I've never taken meds. Part of that is my concern that the symptoms will be masked without the underlying issues actually being dealt with, but part of it is that a few weeks or months of counseling has usually been sufficient to get me back on track, so to speak.

Hang in there. I know firsthand how tough it can be.

vlewis515

PrincessDi80:

**Disclaimer- my opinion on the matter is biased based upon my profession**

I would seek out a therapist, even if it someone you just see once a month.  Medication very well may help you, but so could counseling/therapy, or a combination of both.  Taking a pill, in my opinion, is only part of the solution.  While it may make you function more effectively it does not address the emotionality behind your symptoms, which will remain present with or without the medication.  ((HUGS))

I agree with this also, I'm between therapist right now but it always helped!

elisbu

I could have written this post.

Hope you gert helpful answers. Do you think any of it could be because it's too hot to do anything outside. No real fresh air, no exposure to sunshine for long periods of time. I wondered about that for me.

Shemico

I'm there with you & have been contiplating meds a lot latly. I also find it gets worse with lack of sleep. After DD1 I saw a counsellor for a bit and that helped somewhat. *hugs*

 

[email protected]

elisbu:

I could have written this post.

Hope you gert helpful answers. Do you think any of it could be because it's too hot to do anything outside. No real fresh air, no exposure to sunshine for long periods of time. I wondered about that for me.

Me too,  I could have written this.

I do feel trapped in the house this heat is brutal. Everything you said I can relate to. One day I am super mom/housewife. The next I get just the minimum done. If you need to talk to someone I say go for it. I

ashleyrsotomayor

I have had generalized anxiety disorder since jr. high I believe...but wasn't diagnosed until my early 20's. My dad has horrible anxiety but refuses to seek help for it and I am convinced he is now also depressed on top of it. I was on Lexapro for a couple of years early in our marriage and then decided I didn't want to be dependent on medication to cope with my anxiety. I started doing yoga and exercising to help me deal and it worked really well. Once we started TTC the anxiety came back, and I couldn't take anything, and then when I got pregnant it got pretty bad. I am still dealing with it...and it seems worse now that I am a mom. I worry about everything to the point that I am afraid of being home alone with DS and I am afraid of taking him out of the house alone (even with DH I still get nervous). I am so terrified something is going to happen to him. I worry about SIDS, his reflux and him aspirating his spit up, you name it I worry about it. I am also very type A and I can't sit still because I feel like I always have so much I "have" to do. But I am afraid to do housework because I want to keep my eye on DS every second. I don't like walking away from him even for a second. I also get so many things going that I can't finish anything or focus on any task. I am getting terrified of going back to work. I have little panic attacks when my family members hold him. Right now my SIL has him sleeping on her chest and I just want to go grab him. I am making her come with me to my doctor's appointment today so I can bring him along. I don't want to leave him with her. I am going to mention this to the doctor today. I really don't want to go on meds again, even though they really did help. 

magdalina.h

I need to make the call to my OB to discuss my PPA. It's not an all consuming thing, but I expect the worst to happen. Not with Lucas, that was awful in the beginning,but as I've become more confident in being a mom, it's gotten so much better. I drove over a pot hole and thought about how that would suck if it was a bomb and I took it all the way to the funeral in my head. That's not normal. I want to try to avoid medication, but I'm not against it. I just don't know when I would have time to go talk to someone though as all of my personal time is gone.

vlewis515

magdalina.h:

I need to make the call to my OB to discuss my PPA. It's not an all consuming thing, but I expect the worst to happen. Not with Lucas, that was awful in the beginning,but as I've become more confident in being a mom, it's gotten so much better. I drove over a pot hole and thought about how that would suck if it was a bomb and I took it all the way to the funeral in my head. That's not normal. I want to try to avoid medication, but I'm not against it. I just don't know when I would have time to go talk to someone though as all of my personal time is gone.

This is more what I tend to do. Not really the bomb thing, but like "What if that 18 wheeler tipped over and I was crushed." And I will play it in my head that way. I think it all stems from my fear of death. Some days are good, some are bad. Today is going to be bad if I get bumped from a flight again. Anxiety on high alert. Did I mention I'm OUT of Xanax?

leneae10

vlewis515:

magdalina.h:

I need to make the call to my OB to discuss my PPA. It's not an all consuming thing, but I expect the worst to happen. Not with Lucas, that was awful in the beginning,but as I've become more confident in being a mom, it's gotten so much better. I drove over a pot hole and thought about how that would suck if it was a bomb and I took it all the way to the funeral in my head. That's not normal. I want to try to avoid medication, but I'm not against it. I just don't know when I would have time to go talk to someone though as all of my personal time is gone.

This is more what I tend to do. Not really the bomb thing, but like "What if that 18 wheeler tipped over and I was crushed." And I will play it in my head that way. I think it all stems from my fear of death. Some days are good, some are bad. Today is going to be bad if I get bumped from a flight again. Anxiety on high alert. Did I mention I'm OUT of Xanax?

Yeah. I totally do this too. I Play out scenarios that are SO ridiculous and I know how preposterous it is, yet I can't help it.  I think with my past couple of years it's definitely gotten worse.  I think I'm going to take your advice and maybe see a therapist and try to talk it out before thinking of meds.