I haven't been good at keeping up with the cd's and need to get back to that IMMEDIATELY!
I had a little chest pain on Sunday and have been on an anxiety roller coaster ever since. checking my pulse, constant panic, not sleeping, alot of muscle tension, burning in my muscles from all the tension, not feeling with it.
What is going on with me. I'm on lexapro..just went up to 10 mg on Monday, this all started on Sunday. I have mirena, had a baby almost 4 months ago. Do I need to be having hormone tests? I had an EKG the end of November during my pregnancy and they said everything was fine.
Someone pleaes help me!
Can someone please talk me down? I'm freaking out!
-
Guest
Nervous 1,
Think back...Were you experiencing these symptoms before beginning lexapro???? If so, no need to blame it on the medication..
I know that some SSRIs can bother your sleep patterns when you first begin taking them, until, your body becomes adjusted to them...
Sounds like you are having excessive amounts of "anxiety"...I think it would be a great idea for you to refer back to the CDs, as well as, practice your deep-breathing exercises, and listen to your relaxation tape...Make sure to do the positive self-talk, continuously throughout the days....
I have learned by accepting the anxious feelings, instead of, trying to wish them away gives them a shorter life span. Just try your best to embrace them with every ounce of your being. By doing this, you are turning the tables on them, and you are the one who is gaining control. Remember, the anxiety attacks have been playing games with you for far too long, now is your turn, to turn the tide on them... Anxiety does not know how to react to this new game..So go ahead and try beating them at their own game. What have you got to lose, but, a good old case of anxiety???? Hope this helps...God Bless...
Think back...Were you experiencing these symptoms before beginning lexapro???? If so, no need to blame it on the medication..
I know that some SSRIs can bother your sleep patterns when you first begin taking them, until, your body becomes adjusted to them...
Sounds like you are having excessive amounts of "anxiety"...I think it would be a great idea for you to refer back to the CDs, as well as, practice your deep-breathing exercises, and listen to your relaxation tape...Make sure to do the positive self-talk, continuously throughout the days....
I have learned by accepting the anxious feelings, instead of, trying to wish them away gives them a shorter life span. Just try your best to embrace them with every ounce of your being. By doing this, you are turning the tables on them, and you are the one who is gaining control. Remember, the anxiety attacks have been playing games with you for far too long, now is your turn, to turn the tide on them... Anxiety does not know how to react to this new game..So go ahead and try beating them at their own game. What have you got to lose, but, a good old case of anxiety???? Hope this helps...God Bless...
Please try and stop obsessing about your heart. I am sure if you had something wrong with it that the doctors would have found it...Embrace those pains, and don't give them any weight. Say to them; I know what this is...I have experienced it many times before...Say come on Anxiety give me your best shot...Fire Away....God Bless
ATTITUDE -- The mind is like a parachute...it doesn't work unless it's open!!
Dear Nervous 1 - There have been a lot of people who have posted here regarding feeling this way after they have had a baby. Your hormones may be a little out of whack right now. Have you consulted with your Ob-Gyn? I would suggest you stop checking your pulse and start listening to the relaxation tape a few times a day. I wish I could give you more help on this but I'm not an expert on what happens after giving birth. I imagine that having a new baby, and the changes in hormone levels could be putting you in an anxious state. Maybe you need to have your medication dosage reviewed?
-
Guest
Yes, I had the problems before lexapro, but I did have a baby 4 months ago. When on the lexapro before, it stopped my panic attacks, now I just feel worse. I also got a Mirena IUD about 2.5 months ago. I'm just wondering if any of this plays into it.
I have never had my thyroid checked. The only thing ever done is the EKG...would that have showed something if there was something wrong? That's been a few months ago I had it. My mom tells me since I had to be put out for a c-section and my son had to be sent to another hospital due to respiratory distress, if I had a real physical ailment, we would have known it.
I have never had my thyroid checked. The only thing ever done is the EKG...would that have showed something if there was something wrong? That's been a few months ago I had it. My mom tells me since I had to be put out for a c-section and my son had to be sent to another hospital due to respiratory distress, if I had a real physical ailment, we would have known it.
-
Guest
Hi, Nervous,
I'm sorry you are having a hard time. I really and truly agree with your mother eventhough I'm not a medical doctor. I remember when my son was one month old, I was watching a television show about people in their very early twenties and teens who died suddenly from an undetected heart problem that would have shown up on an EKG. I just freaked out about seeing that. I was 23, had just endured 15 hours of intense natural labor a month earlier, and I just couldn't see that I didn't need to worry about having that condition. I think the same goes for you. If you had any type of hidden congenital heart defect regarding arrythmia, it would have shown up during your c-section and on the EKG. If you really want to be responsible about this and allay your fears in a non-emergency format, just schedule an appointment with a cardiologist and have an echo cardiogram. That really would rule out anything congenital. Don't make it into an emergency, but just schedule the appointment and it will really help. I did that shortly after my son was diagnosed with autism. I just kept thinking the stress was going to cause me a heart attack, and my therapist urged me to get that appointment and check out of the way for my peace of mind. Also, the cardiologist was so comforting. I said, "I just think this is going to hurt my heart", and he said, "No. The Good Lord made the heart strong. Actually, if this was something wrong with your physical heart, it would be easier to fix than what's happening to you emotionally." That just really helped me to hear that from a cardiologist.
Secondly, a fact that helped me during an ER visit for a panic attack that I thought was a heart problem was told to me by the ER physician. He said, "Do you know how much estrogen a woman your age has in her body right now?" After having a baby, you have a lot! Pre menopausal women are highly protected from heart attacks because of estrogen. Unless you have a congenital heart condition, which is highly unlikely, you are really protected from heart disease because of your estrogen. It's when women go through menopause that they loose the protection of estrogen, and life style factors play a more significant role such as having high cholesterol, obesity, and high blood pressure, etc. So, despite all of those health commercials about the high risk of heart disease for women, it really isn't significant until menopause and post menopause. Then lifestyle factors matter.
You don't have to answer this, but how old are you? Do you have a healthy weight? Are you eating healthy? Even if those factors aren't great, they really matter more when you become menopausal. Don't feel that every cupcake is going to send you to your grave, but to be honest, I decided to become a vegetarian for personal reasons. I did it slowly and focused more on adding more vegetables, beans, and brown rice to my diet. I've always had good blood pressure, but I was so surprised that during a last check up with the doctor, my blood pressure was great within a month or two of the diet. Now, when I get a little panicky, I can never think that I'm having a stroke! It wouldn't be rational. So, taking care of yourself can really help you dismiss irrational fears that are really just distractions. If you hold onto your fears when you are in great shape and have had the tests, then it's important to note that your fear is serving some type of emotional purpose as a distraction. This program looks at that possibility to. I just think having a baby is scary if you don't know how to frame it the right way.
I wish I could help you about the lexapro menera?. I mean, I can say that from experience, I have taken meds after giving birth that effected me differently. I don't know if it was hormones, or changing in thinking about not wanting to be out of control since I was responsible for my son. That can happen. The point of taking these meds is to help you. If you don't feel like they're helping, you can focus on this program with plenty of exercise and eating right and rest and pleasurable hobbies! It can be done, and it is your choice. Just know that you are in control.
I mean, you've just brought a beautiful baby into this world. It's wonderful, but it's scary too. Look at how much you're body has been through, yet you are afraid that it can't take very much. I just think hormones actually make us more anxious after we have a baby because we really do have a great responsibility in taking care of a new life. I think it's nature's way of keeping us alert. Also, after you are pregnant, just understand that during pregnancy, you had to fixate on every little thing with your body. It takes a while to calm down about every little ache and pain. I think that's normal. However, you don't have to be a victim to your hormones. You just need to know what's going on, and then you can take action in whatever way you think helps you the most and definitely change your thinking. Focus on what a wonderful time this is. It really is:). I've been through it, and I just wish I could go back with the skills I learned in this program. I spent so much time worrying about the unknown. I just wish I could have enjoyed those moments more, and I wish that for you too:).
God bless you,
luvpiggy
I'm sorry you are having a hard time. I really and truly agree with your mother eventhough I'm not a medical doctor. I remember when my son was one month old, I was watching a television show about people in their very early twenties and teens who died suddenly from an undetected heart problem that would have shown up on an EKG. I just freaked out about seeing that. I was 23, had just endured 15 hours of intense natural labor a month earlier, and I just couldn't see that I didn't need to worry about having that condition. I think the same goes for you. If you had any type of hidden congenital heart defect regarding arrythmia, it would have shown up during your c-section and on the EKG. If you really want to be responsible about this and allay your fears in a non-emergency format, just schedule an appointment with a cardiologist and have an echo cardiogram. That really would rule out anything congenital. Don't make it into an emergency, but just schedule the appointment and it will really help. I did that shortly after my son was diagnosed with autism. I just kept thinking the stress was going to cause me a heart attack, and my therapist urged me to get that appointment and check out of the way for my peace of mind. Also, the cardiologist was so comforting. I said, "I just think this is going to hurt my heart", and he said, "No. The Good Lord made the heart strong. Actually, if this was something wrong with your physical heart, it would be easier to fix than what's happening to you emotionally." That just really helped me to hear that from a cardiologist.
Secondly, a fact that helped me during an ER visit for a panic attack that I thought was a heart problem was told to me by the ER physician. He said, "Do you know how much estrogen a woman your age has in her body right now?" After having a baby, you have a lot! Pre menopausal women are highly protected from heart attacks because of estrogen. Unless you have a congenital heart condition, which is highly unlikely, you are really protected from heart disease because of your estrogen. It's when women go through menopause that they loose the protection of estrogen, and life style factors play a more significant role such as having high cholesterol, obesity, and high blood pressure, etc. So, despite all of those health commercials about the high risk of heart disease for women, it really isn't significant until menopause and post menopause. Then lifestyle factors matter.
You don't have to answer this, but how old are you? Do you have a healthy weight? Are you eating healthy? Even if those factors aren't great, they really matter more when you become menopausal. Don't feel that every cupcake is going to send you to your grave, but to be honest, I decided to become a vegetarian for personal reasons. I did it slowly and focused more on adding more vegetables, beans, and brown rice to my diet. I've always had good blood pressure, but I was so surprised that during a last check up with the doctor, my blood pressure was great within a month or two of the diet. Now, when I get a little panicky, I can never think that I'm having a stroke! It wouldn't be rational. So, taking care of yourself can really help you dismiss irrational fears that are really just distractions. If you hold onto your fears when you are in great shape and have had the tests, then it's important to note that your fear is serving some type of emotional purpose as a distraction. This program looks at that possibility to. I just think having a baby is scary if you don't know how to frame it the right way.
I wish I could help you about the lexapro menera?. I mean, I can say that from experience, I have taken meds after giving birth that effected me differently. I don't know if it was hormones, or changing in thinking about not wanting to be out of control since I was responsible for my son. That can happen. The point of taking these meds is to help you. If you don't feel like they're helping, you can focus on this program with plenty of exercise and eating right and rest and pleasurable hobbies! It can be done, and it is your choice. Just know that you are in control.
I mean, you've just brought a beautiful baby into this world. It's wonderful, but it's scary too. Look at how much you're body has been through, yet you are afraid that it can't take very much. I just think hormones actually make us more anxious after we have a baby because we really do have a great responsibility in taking care of a new life. I think it's nature's way of keeping us alert. Also, after you are pregnant, just understand that during pregnancy, you had to fixate on every little thing with your body. It takes a while to calm down about every little ache and pain. I think that's normal. However, you don't have to be a victim to your hormones. You just need to know what's going on, and then you can take action in whatever way you think helps you the most and definitely change your thinking. Focus on what a wonderful time this is. It really is:). I've been through it, and I just wish I could go back with the skills I learned in this program. I spent so much time worrying about the unknown. I just wish I could have enjoyed those moments more, and I wish that for you too:).
God bless you,
luvpiggy
-
Guest
Nervous 1, I had very bad anxiety after each of my births, I have 6 kids by the way, ha. What is so weird, is that I did not have panic attacks of anxiety while pregnant, so I would think it has to have something to do with the hormones. The doctors would put me on ativan for a couple of months and I would be fine. This may not be something you want to try, but I think the Lexapro should help alot. Just hang in there, and listen to your audio's, especially the relaxation one. Good luck, I'm praying for you.
-
Guest
It could be from hormones, however, what I'm hearing from you is that YOU ARE REACTING to sensations in your body. Even if it is hormones (and we aren't for certain) you can still calm down. You do not have to react to how you are feeling. You do not have to react to your thoughts. It is your reaction that is the problem.
We are highly sensitive after giving birth. This can go on for quite awhile until our hormones balance again. You may wish to talk to your doctor about bio-identical hormones or other options. But please notice where you are overreacting. Understand your sensitive nature and soothe yourself instead of scaring yourself. You're OK. You're safe, and you're normal.
Go to your doctor. Get things checked out. Ask your questions that you want answers to.
Yes, start the program again. Our brains need to hear something several times.
We are highly sensitive after giving birth. This can go on for quite awhile until our hormones balance again. You may wish to talk to your doctor about bio-identical hormones or other options. But please notice where you are overreacting. Understand your sensitive nature and soothe yourself instead of scaring yourself. You're OK. You're safe, and you're normal.
Go to your doctor. Get things checked out. Ask your questions that you want answers to.
Yes, start the program again. Our brains need to hear something several times.