MommaSed
02-16-2012, 10:40 AM
I have a 15 month old who I stopped breastfeeding around 3 months ago. Ever since I stopped, around my menstrual cycle I experience severe panic attacks, which leads to nausea and an inability to eat or keep anything down. For the first couple of months the anxiety was unbearable and I suffered from insomnia and sometimes went days without sleeping. I did some research and found that after you stop breastfeeding, you can experience some residual postpartum depression, which often comes with anxiety and panic attacks.
I've always been prone to anxiety, but before I stopped breastfeeding it was always manageable and didn't interfere with my day-to-day life too much. But now, when I start to get anxious, it's unbearable and incredibly hard to shake.
A couple of months ago when my panic attacks first started, I was prescribed Xanax to take as needed. It didn't help at all and only made my insomnia worse, as well as making my brain feel all out of whack. Even if I took 2 or more pills at a time, there was no effect. I stopped taking those and started feeling better and back to normal.
Then I started my period, and the anxiety started again. I'm doing better than before, but if people come over or if I have to go out in public, it triggers a panic attack which overwhelms my whole brain and it takes everything I have not to succumb to it.
I was wondering if you thought PureCalm would work for me, or if you had any other suggestions as to what I should try? I do not want any more prescription drugs because I feel like I need to naturally re-balance myself, considering I think this is hormonal. I've been going on walks in the morning and throughout the day, which seems to calm me and make me feel better. But it doesn't help completely and I'd really like to stop suffering, not just for my sake but for the sake of my husband and son. I am severely debilitated during these episodes and any helpful advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
I've always been prone to anxiety, but before I stopped breastfeeding it was always manageable and didn't interfere with my day-to-day life too much. But now, when I start to get anxious, it's unbearable and incredibly hard to shake.
A couple of months ago when my panic attacks first started, I was prescribed Xanax to take as needed. It didn't help at all and only made my insomnia worse, as well as making my brain feel all out of whack. Even if I took 2 or more pills at a time, there was no effect. I stopped taking those and started feeling better and back to normal.
Then I started my period, and the anxiety started again. I'm doing better than before, but if people come over or if I have to go out in public, it triggers a panic attack which overwhelms my whole brain and it takes everything I have not to succumb to it.
I was wondering if you thought PureCalm would work for me, or if you had any other suggestions as to what I should try? I do not want any more prescription drugs because I feel like I need to naturally re-balance myself, considering I think this is hormonal. I've been going on walks in the morning and throughout the day, which seems to calm me and make me feel better. But it doesn't help completely and I'd really like to stop suffering, not just for my sake but for the sake of my husband and son. I am severely debilitated during these episodes and any helpful advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.