Stress and anxiety since becoming a SAHM?

boysx2 · February 2012

I was never a huge worrier. I would get nervous about little things at times but nothing that even gave a second thought. After my first son was born I worried more, of course, but nothing out of the ordinary for a first time mom. Since having #2 things just seem to be all out of whack. Looking back, I think I was fine for the first few months after DS #2 was born but somewhere things seemed to have gone all wrong.

I started having these anxious jittery feelings a lot. Talking to my Dr we realized I had elevated heart rate so I was put on meds for that, but that still didnt get rid of all the jitters. She thought it was a caffeine allergy (which made no sense cause I was never allergic to it before). I think I may have a sensitivity to it but not an allergy. So she tried putting me on zoloft and that was just horrible! Got off it asap! On my own, after doing some research, I decided to stop my BCP and that seems to have taken care of most of it but its still not gone completely. I still get jittery feelings and I hate it. I have no reason to be anxious/have anxiety unless its stress induced anxiety. Even then though, there are times I'm not stressed but I am feeling jittery. Also, I used to LOVE having a glass or two of wine on occasion. I have found I cant do that anymore because it makes me jittery. (didn't notice this till DS #2 was about 6-8 months old)

I'm gonna talk to my Dr but this all just seems odd to me. I have NO desire take anxiety meds on a regular basis.

Oh and I'm not sure what this is related to (meds or otherwise) but I almost feel menopausal at times (I'm only 31). I dont really get hot flashes but I'm either really hot or cold or at times I feel flush/feverish and chills. Or if I get warm, like after a shower, it takes FOREVER to cool down. I think it may be hormonal related because I notice it the most during my period and ovulation. I have had my thyroid tested a few times and it comes back fine.

jetskreemr · February 2012

The symptoms definitely sound like something physical, but what do you mean it could be stress related? are you under a lot of stress? Either with DH, the kids, or something else? I had anxiety so I can say it doesn't necessarily sound like what I had, but you never know.

boysx2 · February 2012

jetskreemr:
The symptoms definitely sound like something physical, but what do you mean it could be stress related? are you under a lot of stress? Either with DH, the kids, or something else? I had anxiety so I can say it doesn't necessarily sound like what I had, but you never know.

I stress about everything in general. The house not being clean enough, picked up enough, organized enough, it being a mess not long after cleaning. Money . Two dogs that shed a lot, can't ever keep things clean enough because of it. The yard being a mess and not having the money to do what needs to be done to get the dogs to stay out of the wet/mud. Cosmetic things needing to be done to the house and not having the money to get them all done (I know my issues with the house stem back to my mom always keeping our house spotless growing up). DH having a weird work schedule and never really knowing when he will be home (which makes it almost impossible to plan anything) He does help when he is home though! Would love to get away, even for a weekend, with DH but really have no one to watch the boys for that long. I had my mom watch them once for a full day and she was pretty much fried by the end of the day. I dont stress about anything major, just a lot of little things.

mrsrobinsontobe · February 2012

you keep coming back to $...is it impossible for you to work with your husband's schedule? maybe that's the root of all this?

boysx2 · February 2012

mrsrobinsontobe:
you keep coming back to $...is it impossible for you to work with your husband's schedule? maybe that's the root of all this?

Money is ok, we are just trying to get out of our house, into something bigger so there just never seems to be enough.

his schedule is tough. he's in sales and can travel the entire state. he can have meetings run long or get scheduled at the last min, so me trying to plan anything (dinner, appts etc) is a challenge. It probably isn't that big of a challenge to some people but i'm a big planner

Tarta · February 2012

When DD was 7 months old I had a huge anxiety/depression breakdown. I don't know if it was post-partum depression (which you are still at risk for up to a year or more after birth) or hormones or a combination of the two. I started seeing a psychiatric nurse practitioner and started on some meds. Took me a few months to start to pull out of it. Then I started seeing a naturopath and we discovered I had some serious hormonal imbalances as well as low thyroid. After awhile of ironing things out with the NP I felt confident enough to wean off my psych meds. Felt great! At one point though I lost track of my progesterone supplements and got off schedule. I seriously thought I was going to go insane with anxiety again! For me, it seems, hormones are a huge factor to anxiety and depression.

What you're feeling right now is likely not going to get better on its own. And your general MD is not going to be the best help. I'd suggest seeing a mental health practitioner and or a naturopath to really address this. And don't sit around waiting for it to go away. Fight for your mental health! For your sake and for your kiddos. I got so debilitated that we had to bring someone in to babysit both me and DD for awhile because I was incapable of caring for her. I wish I would have recognized the symptoms earlier and been more proactive.

Listen to you body. Something's not right. Don't ignore it.

Tarta · February 2012

BTW, I also recommend having your thyroid retested with a natural doc. I had mine tested multiple times with my General Practitioner. Was always told it was normal. My NP tested it and explained that while my levels technically fell in the "normal" range, they were at the very dead bottom of that range and likely weren't adequate. I take a very tiny dose of a natural thyroid supplement daily. Definitely helps.

jetskreemr · February 2012

boysx2:
jetskreemr:
The symptoms definitely sound like something physical, but what do you mean it could be stress related? are you under a lot of stress? Either with DH, the kids, or something else? I had anxiety so I can say it doesn't necessarily sound like what I had, but you never know.
I stress about everything in general. The house not being clean enough, picked up enough, organized enough, it being a mess not long after cleaning. Money . Two dogs that shed a lot, can't ever keep things clean enough because of it. The yard being a mess and not having the money to do what needs to be done to get the dogs to stay out of the wet/mud. Cosmetic things needing to be done to the house and not having the money to get them all done (I know my issues with the house stem back to my mom always keeping our house spotless growing up). DH having a weird work schedule and never really knowing when he will be home (which makes it almost impossible to plan anything) He does help when he is home though! Would love to get away, even for a weekend, with DH but really have no one to watch the boys for that long. I had my mom watch them once for a full day and she was pretty much fried by the end of the day. I dont stress about anything major, just a lot of little things.

Sounds like you are suffering from racing thoughts, which is a symptom of anxiety. I would have to agree with the PP who recommended you try a naturopath and a therapist/mental health practitioner. A western doc will just put you on drugs like he already did, that's what they are best at doing. I was seeing someone for racing thoughts, and was diagnosed with anxiety. It definitely sounds like something hormonal is going on with you too, and the naturopath would be great for that. I went through many years of therapy, and was on meds just for a few months too, but then a naturopathic therapist transferred me over to certain items (like vitamins, 5-HTP, fish oil, etc) which were better so I didn't have to be on drugs. But in order to truly cure me, the therapy for anxiety was most helpful of all. It was several years of work, but now I feel great, and don't have to be on any meds or anything ever again.

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