Cris_Skittlez

Date posted: 2y

Post partum OCD and Panic attacks

Hi everyone, I’m a first time mom. I was diagnosed with anxiety for the first time in 2015 after my best friend and her mom passed in a car accident. Since then I have been terrified of being in a vehicle whether I’m the one driving or not. I have started having panic attacks the past year or so that come out of nowhere and feel like I’m going to die. I didn’t realize they were panic attacks until a few months ago. I thought it was an issue with my heart at first so I started obsessing over my heart( a few family members have heart problems) but they found nothing wrong. I had a baby 10 months ago and the past 3 months I keep feeling as if something terrible is going to happen to her, so I’m constantly checking her breathing, O2 levels etc. I checked some books out of the library the other day and had to fight myself not to use a sanitizer wipe on them(just in case someone was sick the last time they were checked out) and I’m constantly worried about having another panic attack (which usually results in another panic attack). Has anyone else gone through this after having a baby or am I completely off my rocker?

⋆⁺₊⋆anomaly⋆⁺₊⋆

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y

Hormones can also play a big part as your body shifts into new phases. Especially postpartum, I hear of many people suddenly developing ocd regardless of any type of panic/anxiety prior. Heck, my TSH was literally almost a 20 and I was having a time. I deeply struggle with panic attacks, and then like you said I was having some heart issues I obsessed with which turned out to be non-cardiac related.

Cris_Skittlez

Date posted: 2y

@hi.im.mol how did you manage? did it get better later in the postpartum period?

Alpallll

Date posted: 2y

Yes yes yes and yes! Went through this after having my first and currently pregnant with my second as well as juggling a job change. I’ve been having panic attacks as well and major OCD spike. You are not alone and definitely not crazy! OCD will try to convince you there’s something wrong with you but trust me there’s so many of us that understand :)

Cris_Skittlez

Date posted: 2y

@Alpallll Thank goodness, I’m currently a stay at home mom(I want to wait until she is walking and talking to try and go back to work). It makes it seem super hard sometimes and I’m not sure how to manage it at all(I’m still pretty new to everything even though I’ve been living with the anxiety and depression diagnosis for almost 8 years)

Alpallll

Date posted: 2y

@Cris_Skittlez I soooo get it. I also struggled with postpartum depression and it makes even the smallest tasks feel hard. This is not forever, no matter how much your mind tries to convince you it is! Have you started therapy? I HIGHLY recommend- it was incredibly helpful for me.

Cris_Skittlez

Date posted: 2y

@Alpallll I have started therapy, I saw 1 therapist a couple of times. I start group therapy on July 19th for CBT and I started seeing a new therapist in person since the once every 3-4 weeks online for 45 minutes didn’t seem like it was helping

Alpallll

Date posted: 2y

@Cris_Skittlez I highly recommend seeing an OCD therapist. I was also seeing a CBT therapist who was very good, but ended up diagnosing me with OCD and told me to find someone that specialized in OCD therapy (that’s when I found NOCS). Once I started the ERP (exposure response prevention) therapy, I started to get much better. Your symptoms with the constant checking seem like something ERP therapy could really help with. ❤️

Alpallll

Date posted: 2y

@Alpallll *NOCD not NOCS

Cris_Skittlez

Date posted: 2y

@Alpallll I’ll have to definitely check up on that, especially considering the issues with vehicles as well. My daughter has an MRI about 2 1/2 hours away on the 13th and the first time we drove down to see that dr I had 3 panic attacks on the way and had to have my husband find someplace to pull over because I felt like I was going to die

Alpallll

Date posted: 2y

@Cris_Skittlez That sounds so hard but so understandable considering what you went through. Panic attacks are truly the worst experience ever. Hang in there- this will get better!!

Cris_Skittlez

Date posted: 2y

@Alpallll Thank you, how do you manage with your little one?

Alpallll

Date posted: 2y

@Cris_Skittlez Lots of exposure therapy and I also took antidepressants. In the end the therapy was most effective. My tendency was to want to avoid being alone with my baby because I was terrified I would hurt her. It was so hard. But as you adjust to motherhood you will heal. It gets easier

Bradinrichard2

Date posted: 21w

Pocd

I’ve always had ocd. But never experienced pocd until after I got pregnant and was fixing to deliver. Anyone else? I’ve been struggling with this for almost 2 years 😩 and Prozac gives me heart palpitations I’m at my breaking point. Idk who I am anymore. And it’s so hard having to be a mother of two on top of not wanting to do anything bc my brain tells me everything I’m doing is inappropriate ☹️

mfernandes1

Date posted: 17w

Postpartum ocd/harm ocd

Hi there! I am 4 months postpartum and struggling with harm ocd, the fear of what if I harm my child. It has manifested to the fear of what if I harm my husband, sister, nieces, parents, etc. Anyone else have this experience and how did you get through it?

Holl1

Date posted: 17w

OCD

So I’ve just found out I’m pregnant and I’m freaking out rn I’ve been getting thoughts like “I’ll be a bad mum” and overthinking everything & my OCD is convincing me that I’ll act on my thoughts because of my hormones and stuff. I’ve also got a fear of being sick & I’m stressing over that too. Anyone else who has harm OCD pregnant or a Mum can give me some advice pls😭

Harm OCD

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Post partum OCD and Panic attacks

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