Has anyone experienced bad anxiety with pregnancy?

I had a baby almost 3 months ago- b4 I found out that I was pregnant with her I would have dizzy spells and real bad anxiety whenever I would go out in public.It would make me feel as if  everything was closing in on me-and my heart would palpatate.I would also feel as if I couldn't breathe-sometimes when I would go out in public it would feel asif I was gonna have a heart attack and die infromt of everyone around me.It was the scariest thing I have ever experienced.Shortly after all of these experiences my friend asked if I could be pregnant-that never even dawned on me. A few days later I missed my a/f so I did a test sure enough I got a bfp! These anxiety attacks happened throughout the whole pregnancy-they were so scary that I was worried what the baby must be going through-If I'm feeling this way how is he or she doing? I even got to the point with these attacks because they were so severe I wondered If I would make it through the pregnancy-or whether it would kill me. Well here I am now my daughter is almost 3 months old and I'm still having these episodes from time to time- I'm starting to wonder if I'll have it the rest of my life. Is anyone else experiencing this?-if so pls let me know :) I know I'm not the only one  probuably experiencing this - it's just nice to hear input from other people going through the same thing.

[renee7117]

Hi there
You are not alone. My anxiety started when i was pregnant with my baby who is now 2 years old. I remember feeling that way in public as well, also i constantly worried about stupid things that know wernt worth worrying about. I know i had always been shy when in public but when i was pregnant things became much worse. Thing is i still suffer from it now. I dont know if pregnany triggered it off but its very annoying.

[shaydy]

Melissa,
i don't think you are alone. I work in a psych unit and I cannot tell you how many pregnant ladies we get coming in because since they became pregnant they get anxiety attacks, fear of the unknown and dread. I know there is not much you can take medication wise when your pregnant but after sometimes an anti anxiety medication can break the cycle. I would definitly talk to your dr., sometimes bad anxiety can be followed by post pardum or vice versa. I wish you the best!!! If you have any more questions maybe I can help.

[jgirl34]

I started to get my anxiety and depression and all after my chilren. I mean I had it in pregnancy as well but it didn't start until then. I'm on my 4th child now so I'm pretty used to it and I had anxiety attacks for a long time but I learned how to control them. This girl I know said she had a bad panic attack after her baby and that everything felt different after she had her and she got depression and everything. I think it really has something to do with the hormones, but I wonder why it sticks around. I would look into anti-anxiety meds like the previous poster said if you continue to feel this way. I have not been on anything but am debating after I have this one. Good luck I know how you feel and hope this goes away for you.

[morethan1luv]

everything you have just discribed has been me... I even blacked out in Subway one time going thru an anxiety attack. I'd start with a really bad hot flash then the breathing would get really dificult then dizziness and if I didn't sit or breath into a paper bag then I'd pass out... not completely though, I'd always be aware of what was going on around me somehow... I'm not sure what triggered it either. I do know this started shortly after I got pregnant. I'm 22 weeks now, I still have issues sometimes, the doctor wanted me to take Zoloft and I tried that for 2-3 days, but for some reason I felt worse and really nausious so I stopped. I feel for you, I mostly stay in the house now to be honest. I wouldn't say that's a cure but for now it works for me. Good luck to you. You're definitly not alone!

[Morgan277]

I got a couple panic attacks with this pregnancy but never had any problems until my DD was born.  A couple months after she was born I became somewhat agoraphobic and had anxiety driving far especially over bridges.  Never had this before.  It comes and goes now.  I am very aware of it and fight through it.  If the anxiety is that bad, you may want to consider therapy.  I did that a few years back for my fear of flying and it helped.

[Facere23]

My mother had a problem with bad anxiety attacks for years...the Dr. finally started her on Paxil.  It seemed to do the trick after some time...it took about a month to take full effect, but she hasn't had one since.  Also, Before she was able to control them with Paxil, colonopin(sp?) would help if she could catch it early enough.  I don't necessarily advocate taking meds, but sometimes, it's something that can't be controlled otherwise.  My poor mother was in the hospital several times thinking she was having a heart attack!  She started having them around the time she had me...and they never went away..i'm 24 now.

[melissa012681s]

i have had anxiety attacks now for two years and i am 27 going on 28 this month. I have two kids 2 and 3 years old and just found out i am pregnant now. (literally) thing is, i finally got on anxiety meds about a year ago. it was the best thing that ever happened to me because have those attacks was not only embarrassing but i always felt as if i was going to die or have a heart attack. the paxil 40mg i take daily and i also have colonopin which is used on occasion if i feel a little anxious. the only problem i have experienced is if you forget to take the paxil...you can get very dizzy and lightheaded, get headaches so i suggest you remember to take the medication everyday as prescribed. its great to lonmger experience any form of anxiety....however my problem now is that i am 5 weeks pregant and i have been taking my anxiety meds (paxil and colonpin) and they are very dangerous during pregnancy for the fetus. im hoping there is nothing wrong and now i have to switch over to something else./ paxil is a medication that you can not just stop taking you will end up with horrible anxiety and other health problems placing you in the hospital. so what is the substitute?! I dont know?!

[mommy200970]

I was reading everyones comments about anxiety, depression during & after having a baby. I was a healthy girl all my life b4 i got pregnant with my daughter. Never took meds for anything, only been to the ER once my whole life..as far as being sick it was like a common cold or runny nose..But after I was about 20 weeks pregnant i started feeling sad all the time, I mean, i was excited about the baby & all, but it seems as if at times i felt "alone":( Then I develped preeclamsia after about 20 weeks of being prenant, which at the time I didnt even know what that was & what was wrong with me:( my dotor was a total idot & kept telling me everything was fine & nothing was wrong with me..well after awhile my blood pressure stayed super high! & i felt dizzy at times and had bad headaces..I ended up having my daughter by a Eermency C-section..well..i was put back in the hospital after my baby was born & we came home cause I was running a high fever ..they have me meds to get the fluid off of my bosy that they found! In one night I lost from 207 pounds to 180!! nothing but fluid..after i came home i still "felt sad" like i did when i was prego..but it seemed worse..i cried over nothing..i cried mostly when it got dark..one night i felt like i was having a heartattack which was (anexity)..it got soo bad that i lived with my mother in law when my hubby went to work..i felt as if i couldnt take care of my baby thats how bad my attcks were...finally my husband made me see a family doctor to help me..come to find out...my high blood pressure had never went away, i was suffering from horrible post patturm depression & anxiety..along with thyroid problems..& also had to be put on a stomche pill...anyways..my daughter is almost 15 months old & im just starting to feel like my "old' self again..thanks to my family doctor..