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Panic /Anxiety Attacks
Feel alone, embarassed and rather stupid!
I used to suffer panic attacks as a child. However after a few years of suffering them and some sessions of counselling, I managed to gain control and be able to manage the attacks and eventually the attacks disappeared. However after at least 10 years without having one, all of a sudden at 7 weeks pregnant I was driving along and had been overcome with sheer panic and didn't even make it to my destination. I had to pull over, gain composure, turn round and go straight back home. I felt such a failure. I have also had a couple more since then and I am scared to go out driving on my own.
Hubby is such a great support and told me that it's all my hormones going haywire whilst pregnant and that it's my way of not putting my unborn baby in any danger. He assures me that it will disappear after the birth. I like his positive thinking but I'm not so sure.
I feel such a failure. There are hundreds of ladies that get on with pregnancy without such hang ups and I feel like I'm the only one.
Any words of support would be most welcomed or if there is anybody else out there that suffers panic attacks x x
I used to suffer panic attacks as a child. However after a few years of suffering them and some sessions of counselling, I managed to gain control and be able to manage the attacks and eventually the attacks disappeared. However after at least 10 years without having one, all of a sudden at 7 weeks pregnant I was driving along and had been overcome with sheer panic and didn't even make it to my destination. I had to pull over, gain composure, turn round and go straight back home. I felt such a failure. I have also had a couple more since then and I am scared to go out driving on my own.
Hubby is such a great support and told me that it's all my hormones going haywire whilst pregnant and that it's my way of not putting my unborn baby in any danger. He assures me that it will disappear after the birth. I like his positive thinking but I'm not so sure.
I feel such a failure. There are hundreds of ladies that get on with pregnancy without such hang ups and I feel like I'm the only one.
Any words of support would be most welcomed or if there is anybody else out there that suffers panic attacks x x
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Replies
However, they didn't come back when I was pregnant? Have you spoken to your midwife? I have to agree that maybe it is hormones, the first 3 months are the worst?
I'm sorry I can't help more but you're not a failure you're just going through some new things, big changes used to set me off and being pregnant is one hell of a change! Talk to your doctor or midwife to see what they suggest? x
I completely understand what you are going through. I have suffered with panic attacks from the age of 11 and I'm 23 now. I have been on and off medication for them but was off meds for 3 years and was doing really well. When I got pregnant with my little girl I had them often within the first 12 weeks and then they disappeared again.
She was born september 09 and about 3 weeks after her birth they came back worse than ever and I couldn't even leave the house. My OH had to take time off work to look after both me and our daughter. I went on medication again and it worked but then decided I didn't want to take it so have got through it on my own for the last 3 months. I am 5 weeks pregnant with our second now and they have come back again but not as bad.
I think your hubby is right about the hormones as that's what my GP seems to think it is. Have you tried any relaxation techniques? I find they help me a lot.
If they seem to get worse I would have a chat with the midwife as she might be able to suggest something.
It is the most horrible thing to suffer from and I hope yours disappear again for you.
Good luck
Sarah xx
I'm not seeing my MW for another 8 weeks but intend to make an appt with the GP tomorrow. I thought it was too good to be true as I've had no symptoms so far with my pregnancy and have felt pretty well physcially - shame I feel like a bit of a mental case at the mo!!!
Gina 16+4
x x
I sympathise with all you girls. It's a horrible feeling. It feels so weird having the love and support of your partner and family but yet feel so isolated. x x
I'm sorry to hear that but glad you have been referred for CBT.
I have also got worse but know its because of the nausea!! I can't eat anything without feeling sick and its making me unwell!!
Its such a horrible thing to have and I agree with you about having the support from your family but still feeling isolated. I hope the counselling works for you.
If you ever need to chat you can always e-mail me.
Take care
Sarah xx
Still waiting for that letter with an appointment for CBT. I can't wait to get my life back on track and back on the straight and narrow. x x
I'm annoyed and frustrated. I just want to get better before baby gets here. Sorry for rant but does anybody have any suggestions? Do you think I ought to complain? I feel soo down.
x x
23+1
Hi,
I would push them to do more especially if your worried it could get worse.
Tell them you feel you are not getting the help you need and that you feel telephone calls won't be of any benefit to you. They need to get you the help before October!! The last thing you need is all this hassle on top of giving birth and looking after a newborn!!
I noticed this was posted nearly a week ago now, hoe have you been since?
Sarah xx
I saw your post and had to respond. I suffered really badly with anxiety on a couple of occasions really badly over the last 8 years or so and (luckily as my husband had private health care through his work at the time) I managed to get referred to the priory hospital (a private hospital that specialises in treatment of this condition) on 2 occasions, the 2nd time was such a great help, I later had a few additional problems (but no further anxiety) and had an episode of depression and saw a private therapist (that I had to pay for myself for a couple of years)
I know that the NHS offer CBT counsilling but there is such as massive waiting list as you have mentioned and with this type of condition waiting that long doesn't help at all, during this time the problem could just get a whole lot worse. Especially if you have additional worries and concerns being pregnant, I can imagine that would just add to your anxiety.
Have you thought about seeing a private CBT thearipist in your area? I know it can be expensive with sessions ranging from ??20 - ??50 depending on the counsellor. If you go on to the BACP website (which is where I found my therapist) it gives you lists of registered counsillors in your area, what they specialise in and their charges per session.
If you were going to go down this route, having suffered from severe anxiety myself in the past I would reccommend you only go for a councillor that specialses in anxiety / panic and not a general thearipst.
The only other thing I could suggest if you were not able to afford to pay yourself would be to go down the GP referal route, I know that it is possible to also get referred via your GP and apply for subsidised rates (you still have to pay a bit towards it tho) Although I do not know so much about this personally. I'm sure there would be some info on the internet about such things.
I hope you can get something sorted soon and let us know how you get on. I hope what I have written helps, I know my circumstances are not the same as yours as I was very lucky to have private health care but only because of my husbands job. Later my husband and I felt it was so important to see a private therapist and pay for this ourselves we managed to find the money to pay for it, it was a struggle financially but so worth every penny. Jo xx
Thanks for your advice Jo. I will certainly look into privately. Unfortunately due to the recession my employers stopped our private healthcare. However I believe that the money would be wisely spent if I sought the help myself. The way I'm feeling at the moment, I would spend anything.
Jo, I had a telephone counselling session Monday and was assured by the counsellor that I wasn't being "sold short". Hmmm, I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt at the moment. However I was told that he would be sending out some literature for me to read. It's now Friday!! I must say it's not had any effect so far as it was probably just like I had got myself a self help CD. It's early days yet but i'll let you know on progress.
I can't believe that i've longed for this moment in life to be pregnant and to enjoy it and then the panic attacks have come back which have just isolated me
I'm now off tho to look at the BACP website
Thanks for the advice x