Anxiety issues.

nikkiuk · February 2014

Wondering if anyone here has anxiety issues which have got worse? I've struggled on and off with anxiety for years and the suspicion has always been it could be crazy-hormone related mixed with general anxiety. This was about to be investigated by the Gyne but then I unexpectedly fell pregnant so that's all on hold now.

I'm currently 16 weeks and over the past week or so I keep getting huge waves of emotion - fear and absolute terror come over me that will only last around a minute, maybe three minutes at the most but the feelings are seriously overwhelming. It's not a terror or fear about anything specific, it's just this overwhelming wave mixed with mild dizziness that makes me want to cry immediately. This only happens in the afternoon and evening - nothing in the morning or after I go to bed and no bad dreams so I've no idea what could be going on. I take my blood pressure when it happens - it's fine and doesn't go up. My pulse does go up a little and I sometimes get palpitations but that's normal during anxiety attacks.

It's kind of hard to explain properly but I'm wondering if anyone else has had something similar, maybe?

dragonfly711 · February 2014

I dont have a history of anxiety but do depression, so far my depression has been ok.

Lately however thought I drive 1 hr to work on a bad parkway, people drive like crazy speed limit is 55 but everyone does over 70 and some of the road is very narrow. Accidents all the time.

The other day I noticed that the left side of my jaw the TMJ joint was really bothering me. I have realized that when I am driving I am chewing the right side of my cheek. I dont always know that I am doing it and when I notice I stop but end up doing it again and again. I think I am going to try gum or something while driving.

This is not as bad as you are but I think since now that I am pregnant I am over worried about accidents on my way to work. You should chat with your Dr to see what they say, they might be able to give you something to take the edge off. does not hurt to ask. I know with my depression I have been on and off meds for years. Mine usually rears its ugly head when something serious happens ( dad passed).

Some of this could just be your hormones going crazy but talk to your Dr to make sure. Especially if this is something that you were going to get checked out before you became pregnant, now that you are and all the changes to your body, hormones everything is at high levels so I would not wait to chat with your Dr I would talk to him or her now.

If for anything to help you with peace of mind.

Sorry not sure if this helps you or not. So hope you feel better!!!

nikkiuk · February 2014

Just in case this information may be useful to anyone else with anxiety, I found the following website on anxiety and depression during pregnancy (and after). It looks likely that my issues are anxiety related and not 'true' physical issues, which is what concerned me most. Anxiety has a cruel way of changing the physical symptoms every now and then so it's not something you immediately recognize, which in turn increases the anxiety.

Anxiety:

https://www.postpartum.net/Get-the-Facts/Anxiety-During-Pregnancy-Postpartum.aspx

Depression:

https://www.postpartum.net/Get-the-Facts/Depression-During-Pregnancy-Postpartum.aspx

I'm not depressed but I think I need to talk to my OB if things don't improve by my next appointment, which they do sometimes after I recognize the issue. It's interesting that women who have had PMDD or PMS are more likely to get hit with anxiety or depression during pregnancy.

nikkiuk · February 2014

@dragonfly711 I think we cross posted there

Thanks for your input. Just wanted to say I totally get your TMJ thing. I'm a clencher/grinder and driving is a big culprit and like you, I don't know I'm doing it. I'm about to have a back tooth removed because I clench hard on the back and I have ground it loose, having already done the same to the other side. It's worse when I'm asleep though so I am getting a mouth guard sorted before I lose any more!

dragonfly711 · February 2014

nikkiuk said:

@dragonfly711 I think we cross posted there

Thanks for your input. Just wanted to say I totally get your TMJ thing. I'm a clencher/grinder and driving is a big culprit and like you, I don't know I'm doing it. I'm about to have a back tooth removed because I clench hard on the back and I have ground it loose, having already done the same to the other side. It's worse when I'm asleep though so I am getting a mouth guard sorted before I lose any more!

@nikkiuk

Oh I am so sorry about your TMJ. I am guessing that is what it was since it is in that joint. Now that I am becoming more aware of it, it feels so much better. I have heard the mouth guards help by some friends, that might be a good thing for you to get.

Feel better

desertmouse39 · February 2014

I have had anxiety/depression for years and thought it was finally conquered for good prior to my first pregnancy, but about 2 or 3 months after delivery, I had significan post-partum anxiety. i waited until we finished BFing to go back on any meds, but I have had pretty bad insomnia for the past year and in my 2nd pregnancy now, I have had to take a low dose of Lexapro off and on throughout. It sucks, and I think the hormones play a huge role. If you find yourself feeling pretty bad most of the time, talk to your OB about medication. Usually once you are into the 2nd trimester the risks for several of the SSRIs go down.

Good luck, I'm sorry you have to deal with this!

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