Don't want to make it to long, but I'm torn on what to do. I feel like I've always dealt with anxiety since I was a young teen. We lived in abusive household. My step-dad was very emotionally abusive. ANd sometimes physical. I'm sure that where it stems from. At 15 we finally left, and my life's been pretty good since then. But I've always had this lingering feeling of being anxious, irritable etc and it flares up from time to time. Now that I have 3 kids, am married running a household it's gotten alot worse. I had post-partum depression after my second son. But did fine after my 3rd. And what i'm feeling now isn't at all like the ppd. It's those feelings I've carried a long time just amplified. My doctor's treating me with zoloft again, and this time it's really not helping. I don't feel depressed, it's just during the day when my 3 year old has been badgering me all day about wanting a popcicle for breakfast, or why can't we go play in the thunderstorm, why can't I have this, not eating his meals, the baby constantly screaming because he's teething or wants to be held, or just because it's tuesday (lol) .......i feel like I'm going to pop!
I have a call in to the Dr. but I'm sure he'll want to come in again and frankly I can't afford another $180 office visit. We have a very high deductible.
Are there any holistic mama's out there who may have an alternative? Or should I suck it up and try to make payments again to see the Dr.? Let me add, i don't need counseling for my childhood, I've been down that road and I'm about as good with as I can be. I am even polite to my ex step-dad when I see him. I think it's just a an after product of my raising, maybe genetics?
Anyways, good positive advice welcome :)
I know how hard it is balancing your own needs and those of your children, but for me exercise ALWAYS helps me cope with stress and anxiety....it's amazing. So, put that three year old in the stroller with a popsicle for breakfast (really, who cares? Give them yogurt or fruit at snack time...it all balances out) and try to get out an walk, run, whatever. I guarantee it will help.
Feel better! :)
I'm sure you'll get a lot of helpful advise from the wise moms on this site. I'll just suggest a good Vitamin B complex supplement. I was experiencing a lot of stress, and I've found this supplement really calmed my entire nervous system, helping me sleep better and giving me more energy.
Hope that helps!
I have a similar background and deal with these feelings from time to time. I have found that exercise is very helpful. If at all possible, getting in a ten minute walk can do wonders. I also try to find something, anything to laugh about. I make sure to try to pray/meditate or at least have a moment of gratitude when that overwhelmed feeling starts to come. Also, try to figure out what your triggers are and then avoid them whenever you can. I do not watch the evening news much anymore and read papers to stay informed, for example. I try to stay away from negative people. I also have learned to set limits for myself. If I feel like I cannot say yes to something, then I say no, which is a big deal and has really helped with the out-of-control feeling. I hope some of these help. Hang in there....the toddler years are really tough some days.
Exercise, definitely. If you can't get out to run or something, try a DVD -- I LOVED doing Tae Bo because it really got my aggression out. Plus Billy Blanks is inspiring in a weird way and his yelling kept me moving. If you can do something physical like that for 30 minutes a day, it will really help.
Also, cut your sugar intake. Check out the book "Potatoes not Prozac." It really helped me a lot -- there is sugar in a lot of stuff you wouldn't think and it really can affect your mood and get you off kilter.
Good luck!
I have two perspectives; one as a person who has suffered with anxiety and one as a professional who treats it. The treatment from both perspectives is the same!
Most important things:
1. NUTRITION: what you put in your body is your fuel! It's not only about meds and supplements, it's everything that goes in. Caffiene and other stimulants are a BIG no-no. Sugars, especially high fructose corn syrup are terrible as well.
Some supplements to consider:
omega-3
b-complex
and 5-HTP. However, you can't take this last one while on the zoloft. Both effect serotonin (though 5-htp does it much more effectively and safely), combining the two could cause you to become quite sick with serotonin syndrome.
2. EXERCISE: the best way to get all the chemicals in your brain flowing the way they should is exercise. There is no medication on the planet that can compare to the natural process that occurs when you exercise.
3. SLEEP: the worse you sleep the worse your anxiety the worse you sleep. It's a viscious cycle I know. But one of the biggest contributing factors to your anxiety is your body not being able to get the recouperation time it needs. The better your sleep the less will be anxious. If sleep is a problem for you consider taking the 5-HTP, it will help you sleep as well.
Please do not make any changes without letting your doctor know. Several "natural" supplements interact poorly with psychiatric medications like Zoloft. Also, many people suffer terribly when abruptly stopping psychiatric medications; feeling worse than why they started the meds in the first place. If you choose to not take the psych med you must get off of it slowly and with professional guidance!
Please don't hesitate to message me if you have questions!
It is possible to overcome anxiety.
It is possible to overcome anxiety without medication.
It will get better.
I use an all natural balancing cream from Arbonne and I drink camomile tea and decafe green tea these have helped me. I refused to take meds for the anxiety. Keep in mind that natural cures do take a little longer in most cases. I also have several things that relax me (watching certain movies and tv shows, playing solitaire etc) just try different things until you find what helps you, taking deep relaxing breaths, yoga I think you get the picture. Anxiety is the most terrible thing I have ever had to face. I go to therapy regularly also even though I have gone off and on over the years but never for anxiety this just came up about 15 months ago. Also google anxiety natural cures and see what you find.
Anxiety is a vicious thing.
I tend to be a very anxious person and I have a very high stress job so that doesn't help matters.
I manage fairly well though. I do have a prescription for Ativan that I can take when needed for anxiety. I don't take it often, just when I start getting this nagging feeling that something bad is going to happen. For no reason.
That feeling is very real though.
Sleep is really important. During periods of anxiety, I tend not to sleep well which makes me feel more anxious because then I'm tired and I worry I will forget something.
Walking really helps me.
After a particularly stressful day, I'll take a nice walk and just kind of shake things off. A nice shower before bed helps too.
Swimming, if you can find the time, is also amazing. It is cleansing in so many ways.
I have a health condition that makes it imperative that I be careful with my stress and anxiety levels. I've been put on several medications that to be honest, made me feel even worse. But that's just me.
Put some music on. Sing. Dance around the living room with your kids.
It's not only a fun stress reliever, but I have lots and lots of video of my little ones dancing around. So precious.
Take it easy on yourself. Do talk to your doctor if nothing else works.
Best wishes.
