I'm new! Any mothers with anxiety? Please help

[Tink1595]

Hi! I have been struggling with anxiety in many different ways since I was out of highschool, ( I am 31 now) It was always manageable, and didnt really affect normal day to day activities, for example if I couldn't go on a roller coaster , it wasn't a big deal to me, I would avoid situations that I felt anxious in, I am married to a great man and have a beautiful 2 year old son, but the past few months my anxiety has hit me hard!!! and like nothing I have dealt with before, it is causing me to be scared to drive alone, especially with my son in the car, the farthest I drive is up the road to the grocery store, Im so scared of "feeling trapped" in traffic or a red light or somewhere where i cant pull over, its just awful!! and came on with no explanation, I used to always NEED to drive myself places, but now can't, to make a long story short, Im so scared of my future, especially being a mom! Im so scared for when my son starts school, today was asked to go to a play date with some kids in the neighborhood and it took everything I had to go! Anxiety is taking control of my life, my husband has to drive me everyone, and im missing out on things i love to do for me and my son! Any other mothers with anxiety out there? is there hope for me? I wish people with anxiety could be given some sort of disability sticker! some days are very hard and i could just cry and cry! Sorry if this is all over the place, I just need support! I am about to start new meds as I have always depended on xannax, so I am nervous but very hopeful! pleas tell me things get better and how you cope with you having anxiety and your children going to school having activities ect!
Thanks so much!

[petrified]

Hi tink and welcome to the forum. I'm a mother too I have a nine year old son. I'm fairly new to anxiety and I agree it's really hard juggling mother hood and anxiety. My son has lots of activities I also struggle with driving, I'm terrified of causing an accident with my son in the car. My sons activities I usually find I'm on edge and panicky before I go, I'm fine while I'm there I put on a front and a total mess when I get home. I've recently started on beta blockers and antidepressants and they are helping me. It took me a while to build up my courage to take them but I'm so pleased I did.

I normally wouldn't take meds before my anxiety I used to fret over side affects, but I've been ok. I'm also having cbt at the moment and it's helping me a great deal.
I hope you get some help soon, and please don't worry too much, things will get easier and you are definitely not alone :-)

[ens22108]

I'm a mother to a 3 year old and I have general anxiety and panic disorder. It's so hard. This didn't start until I had her. It's a constant struggle. If you ever need to talk message me

[blondieqtpie]

I'm so there too... I have a 3&5 year old but my anxiety and panic stem from PTSD-// a traumatic Experience I had 17 years ago. It goes of stages : is not so bad then worse--- so it's up and down. I used to have depression and major PTSD flashbacks and was on antipsychotics many years ago but have mainly overcome that. It's one step at a time and figuring out what triggers or causes it. Sometimes there is no real apparent reason ( panic).
But you came to a good place to vent and talk and to talk to others who understand

[worriedmummy85]

I am also a mother to a 3 year old and very new to anxiety I have been put on meds after 5 weeks of suffering and then it eventually hit me at work and had to come home it was then I realised I needed help

I constantly worry if I am going out somewhere like today I have to pick her up from preschool and I worry while walking home with her I pass out and leave her by a roadside

I have completely chickened out of taking the Sertraline and going to ask a gp for propanalol tomorrow

There is hope you just have to be willing to start meds or CBT xx

[Tink1595]

Thank you all for replying, I can relate to you all! Im so scared of driving with my son and freaking out at a red light , getting in a accident and someone being like this lady has no business driving with a young child! I am willing to do or try ANYTHING to help me! I have some new meds I am going to start this weekend! what is CBT? Worriedmummy85- what do you do when you start to feel that way ( walking home w your daughter) I feel like that too, if we walk too "far" from home i start to panic that I cant get back home in time and people might see me out panicking with my son I have been very hard on myself and in my darkest thoughts feel I dont deserve to be a mom Im trying to stay positive it is hard

[jessy]

Hi there I'm also a mother with generalised anxiety disorder , panic disorder & depression. I have a 13 year old & a 5 year old .

Like you I find driving very difficult & never go far & since having my some 5 years ago I have become very isolated & alone . I struggle every day with this , I'm 33 & I started with anxiety age 6.
Feel free to message me any time if you would like to chat . We are all here to help each other.
X

[trinidiva]

My anxiety issue started after I had my kids. I got to a point where I was scared to leave the house by myself with them....but I kind of had to force myself to do it because I can't always depend on my husband to take me everywhere. When I did do outings with them and everything went well, I felt a sense of accomplishment. You just have to force yourself to still do things even if your anxious.....it will be uncomfortable at first but it will get easier.

[ann007]

It is so nice to log in and see others going thru the same crap I am. I have a 6,4 and 3 year old and have to drive to drop off and pick up at school 3x a day, some days are so hard. I just tell myself that I cannot let anxiety keep me from doing the things I want to do. I have to realize its anxiety and once I accept that, it usually helps. Even after doing this for over a year it is still hard to convince myself its anxiety every day. Mine also started after having my last child, so crazy. Hang in there.

[worriedmummy85]

Thank you all for replying, I can relate to you all! Im so scared of driving with my son and freaking out at a red light , getting in a accident and someone being like this lady has no business driving with a young child! I am willing to do or try ANYTHING to help me! I have some new meds I am going to start this weekend! what is CBT? Worriedmummy85- what do you do when you start to feel that way ( walking home w your daughter) I feel like that too, if we walk too "far" from home i start to panic that I cant get back home in time and people might see me out panicking with my son I have been very hard on myself and in my darkest thoughts feel I dont deserve to be a mom Im trying to stay positive it is hard

I tend to get shooting chest pains when walking and start to think I am gonna have a heart attack so I take a step back and think stop your being stupid there's nothing wrong and I tend to kill the panic attack then and there

Like the other day I was walking to get her from school and I started thinking stupid thoughts so instead I distracted myself with thinking about where I was going to get an onion haha I know it sounds stupid but it took my mind off it

I want to just stress tho its thought of something more serious being wrong with me that panics me I always think of the what if

I also have good days where I feel great for a few days then I will start feeling unwell again an start freaking out