Reddit reviews The Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook: Practical Skills to Help You Overcome Anxiety, Worry, Panic Attacks, Obsessions, and Compulsions (A New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook)

FTM and still pregnant (34+5). In the past 12 years I have had a few episodes of major depression and times where my GAD was really bad. Before getting pregnant I was also having a lot of health anxiety that was somewhat related to legit health concerns (and I had just begun working in palliative care which made the anxiety worse).

Since getting pregnant, I've had hardly any issues with anxiety or mood. I find myself very even keeled most of the time. I think I attribute a lot of this to not drinking, which even in small quantities has an effect on mood. I did have a big two day freakout around 13/14 weeks worrying that baby would have a chromosomal defect (in which case I would terminate) and freaked out over how horrible that experience would be. But I was able to calm myself down pretty quickly. At that point I also purchased this book: https://www.amazon.ca/Pregnancy-Postpartum-Anxiety-Workbook-Compulsions/dp/1572245891 but haven't had to use it yet.

Other than that, I do get some very brief periods of anxiety. Maybe for a few hours - a day here and there. I find it usually involves me ruminating over a hypothetical, and I find ways to let it go/process it. I find the main trigger is actually spending too much time reading other people's negative experiences on baby bumps where I then project them onto my life (like annoying/boundary stomping family or other collective anxieties/frustrations). Realistically most of these don't apply to me or my family but it can get really easy to get wrapped up in them. So stepping away from the computer really helps.

I'm not sure how post-partum will go, but I'm optimistic. I hope you have a good and generally calm rest of your pregnancy :)

It's great that you are thinking about this now! One of the most effective "treatments" for PPD is actually prenatal counseling and coaching to develop coping skills and support networks. This NYTimes article mentions two specific programs you could check out to see if they are available in your area, or ask your OB/clinic/midwife if something is available in your area.

I don't have personal experience with them, but there are also cognitive behavioral therapy-based self-study workbooks and phone apps/websites if scheduling and expense makes in-person therapy difficult. Just as an example, since I haven't used them, here's a an internet course that says it's available worldwide (https://thiswayup.org.au/how-we-can-help/courses/mumentum-anxiety-and-depression-courses/) and a workbook available from Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1572245891/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_pn00Cb73J4136).

Best wishes to you!

I thought The Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook was super helpful. Goes over basic skills to manage anxiety in a very detailed and helpful fashion and baby steps you through basic cognitive behavioral therapy to do on your own. My local library had a copy, but I would highly recommend purchasing it. It's a little time intensive to work through the anxiety, but I would say certainly worth it.

Congrats! I’ll be honest, that month was so tough for me! I was just holding on until I started to feel better after 12 weeks. In general, I started therapy after my third miscarriage. That was a lifesaver, and I’m still going every week, even at 35 weeks. Other things that helped were exercising, the app Expectful (which is a guided meditation app focused around fertility—it has a free trial period!), and this workbook: The Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook: Practical Skills to Help You Overcome Anxiety, Worry, Panic Attacks, Obsessions, and Compulsions (A New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1572245891/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_OPQKDb5NEEDQ2

Good luck! Hang in there.

I had a rough time with mental health in my first trimester, too. I found out in June I was pregnant, after having a MC in January. I’ve had anxiety/depression/ptsd since I was a child, and am fairly in tune with my mental health status. My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s during this time as well, and I’m rather estranged from the rest of my family (see: reasons for having PTSD). After a couple of weeks of emotional chaos, including a couple of times of nearly having a panic attack, i sought help.

I purchased the Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook and found a clinic in my city that specializes in prenatal/postnatal therapy. Like magic, I started to feel better. It is amazing how just seeking help (at least in my case) can make things turn around. I still didn’t feel great my any means, but just knowing I had options gave me some semblance of control.

What i found to be most helpful was increasing my meditation regimen from once per day to 3-4 times per day, and getting out of the house and moving my body. I would make my husband go to the mall (which I hate) or go to the park with me and walk.

When I was able to see the baby on the ultrasound at 6 and 9 weeks, the anxiety about having another MC subsided (but didn’t go away). I still cried myself to sleep many nights about my mom, and feeling so alone. I really only have one friend who isn’t a coworker in the city I live in, and she has struggled with infertility for 10+ years.

What I can tell you is it does get better. Even though I had some real things going on in my first trimester, my mental health issues also seemed to be mostly chemical/hormonal, and wasn’t usually connected to anything specific. I am now 5.5 months pregnant, and although I still have heightened anxiety compared to before I was pregnant, I feel 1000x better.

I’m kind of rambling at this point, but I want you to know you’re not alone! The first trimester was difficult for me, too, but my husband and I grew closer because of it. There are also a lot of people on reddit that can share similar situations, and offer advice and support. I hope the best for you, and please feel free to reach out if you need anything.

I second everything this Mom says. I also wanted to add that I found this book really helpful after I had my kiddo, having suffered from prenatal and postpartum anxiety myself. And if you ever need a sounding board or some mom-ly thoughts about any moment of your parenting, please feel free to send a PM! This sub tends to be full of a lot of helpful, non-bonkers moms, which sometimes seems rare on the internet :)

I found this book, which has been helpful to me:

The Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook: Practical Skills to Help You Overcome Anxiety, Worry, Panic Attacks, Obsessions, and Compulsions https://www.amazon.com/dp/1572245891/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_-J0JBbZSGH6B3

Maybe something like that would be helpful for you too? Also, I’ve talked with my OB about what level of anxiety/worry/fear/sadness is normal at this stage (I’m in the second trimester now, but I’ve been dealing with this since early on!), and what level is beyond normal/needs further intervention. It was good for me to realize that a LOT of pregnant women go through this, and that some degree of being freaked out right now is normal. Hugs!

https://www.amazon.ca/Pregnancy-Postpartum-Anxiety-Workbook-Compulsions/dp/1572245891

This is the one I used, it was enough to get me going in a healthier direction. My OCD was quite controlling and fed into the anxiety so badly that I had coping mechanisms that were totally flying under the radar. I thought I was doing good only to find out how deep the rabbit hole was. The book really helped me figure out what could be my bad habits and unhealthy moments. It's something I have to recommend to anyone at risk of the same controlling situation.

I really really really hope it helps you momma. PPA/OCD can be really life controlling in ways we just don't realize.

BIG hugs!

You are not going crazy, it makes sense when your hormones are kicking into gear for your period that you might feel similar to how you did right after giving birth.

Can I ask what treatment you used to help with your PPA? CBT therapy has a VERY low rate of anxiety relapse, and there are self help CBT books if you cannot get to a doctor.

I liked this one: https://www.amazon.com/Pregnancy-Postpartum-Anxiety-Workbook-Compulsions/dp/1572245891

Ugh I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this. I attended a workshop not so long ago about OCD and pregnancy, obviously if you deal with it before pregnancy it will come up during and after. OCD is such a shapeshifter, I suffer from it myself and at times it has been incredibly debilitating. OCD needs reassurance to live so once you are able to challenge it it will dissipate. I encourage you two dismiss those thoughts, essentially just say “ not right now” even if it’s for an hour a day. Try and talk to someone, maybe there’s a support group in your area, CBT therapy works best and if you live in a big city there should be interns that are sliding scale if money is an issue. You can DM me and I can help find you support in your area - I work in this field and can help you find someone if you want.

I’ve attached a book that deal specifically with this.
The Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook: Practical Skills to Help You Overcome Anxiety, Worry, P... https://www.amazon.com/dp/1572245891?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

part 2:

books:

copy of chapter "Children of Depressed Parents" from the book The Edge of Darkness by Kathy Cronkite: http://imgur.com/QsW1D,neLcM,KeByl,tKhTz,Y2VzK

http://www.amazon.com/Sorrows-Web-Understanding-Depressed-Children/dp/B004JZX1TE/ref=sr_1_sc_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1329195154&sr=8-3-spell

http://www.amazon.com/Pregnant-Prozac-Essential-Making-Decision/dp/0762749407/ref=pd_sim_b_3

http://www.amazon.com/Mommy-Childs-Guide-Parental-Depression/dp/1929622716/ref=pd_vtp_b_5

http://www.amazon.com/Ghost-House-Maternal-Depression-Children/dp/B003B3NWXU/ref=pd_vtp_b_3

http://www.amazon.com/Deeper-Shade-Blue-Recognizing-Childbearing/dp/0743254759/ref=pd_vtp_b_5

http://www.amazon.com/Pregnancy-Blues-Every-Depression-During/dp/0385338678/ref=pd_vtp_b_4

http://www.amazon.com/Pregnancy-Decision-Handbook-Women-Depression/dp/0976581418/ref=pd_vtp_b_5

http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Your-Moods-Youre-Expecting/dp/0547053622/ref=pd_vtp_b_8

http://www.amazon.com/Pregnancy-Postpartum-Anxiety-Workbook-Compulsions/dp/1572245891/ref=pd_vtp_b_7

http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Mother-Postpartum-Depression-Support/dp/0425208087/ref=pd_vtp_b_6

http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Blue-Surviving-Depression-Anxiety/dp/B004X8W91S/ref=pd_vtp_b_10

http://www.amazon.com/Therapy-Postpartum-Woman-Depression-Clinicians/dp/0415989965/ref=pd_rhf_ee_shvl2

http://www.amazon.com/Sucked-Then-Cried-Breakdown-Margarita/dp/B004J8HXA4/ref=pd_sim_b_6

http://www.amazon.com/Down-Came-Rain-Postpartum-Depression/dp/1401308465/ref=pd_sim_b_4

http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Having-After-Postpartum-Depression/dp/1413473474/ref=pd_sim_b_6

http://www.amazon.com/Parenting-Well-When-Youre-Depressed/dp/1572242515/ref=pd_vtp_b_11

http://www.amazon.com/Bipolar-Bear-Family-Parent-Disorder/dp/1425929524/ref=pd_vtp_b_2

http://www.amazon.com/My-Mothers-BiPolar-So-What/dp/1419620061/ref=pd_vtp_b_4

http://www.amazon.com/Bipolar-Pregnant-Planning-Parenting-Depression/dp/0757306837/ref=pd_sim_b_9

http://www.amazon.com/Sometimes-My-Mommy-Gets-Angry/dp/0142403598/ref=pd_vtp_b_4

http://www.amazon.com/Hand-Me-Down-Blues-Depression-Spreading-Families/dp/0312263325/ref=pd_vtp_b_13

http://www.amazon.com/When-Parent-Depressed-Children-Depression/dp/0316738891/ref=pd_vtp_b_6

http://www.amazon.com/Life-Will-Never-Same-Postpartum/dp/0982641001/ref=pd_sim_b_9

http://www.amazon.com/This-Isnt-What-Expected-Overcoming/dp/0553370758

videos: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/takeonestep/depression/video-ch_01.html - pbs out of the shadows (this is a full documentary but it has parts about postpartum depression that I think are worth watching)

check out my original post as well for lots more info.

Things to keep in mind if you are a mother with depression; quotes from two resources:

Harvard maternal postpartum depression links:
http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/reports_and_working_papers/working_papers/wp8/

Serious depression in parents and caregivers can affect far more than the adults who are ill. It also influences the well-being of the children in their care. The first joint Working Paper from the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child and the National Forum on Early Childhood Policy and Programs summarizes recent evidence on the potentially far-reaching harmful effects of chronic and severe maternal depression on families and children. When children grow up in an environment of mental illness, the development of their brains may be seriously weakened, with implications for their ability to learn as well as for their own later physical and mental health. This report examines why the continuing failure to address the consequences of depression for large numbers of vulnerable, young children presents a missed opportunity to help families and children in a way that could support the future prosperity and well-being of society as a whole.


Here is a quote from The Noonday Demon from the section on mothers with depression (my own added comment is in the parentheses and not part of the original quote),

"Depressed mothers are usually not great mothers, though high-functioning depressives can sometimes mask their illness and fulfill their parenting roles," (this is not an insult against depressed parents, it's an inevitable consequence of what happens when you are depressed because you are more irritable, have less energy, can be less outwardly loving, sometimes fail to respond to social cues from your children, possibly unaffectionate and withdrawn...), "In general, the children of a depressed mothers not only reflect but also magnify their mother's state. Even ten years after an initial assessment, such children suffer significant social impairment and are at a threefold risk for depression and a fivefold risk for panic disorders and alcohol dependence. To improve the mental health of children, it is sometimes more important to treat the mother than to treat the children directly..."
***
Resources for men with postpartum depression:

http://www.postpartummen.com/resources.htm

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Parenting/postpartum-depression-fathers/story?id=10672383#.TydWX8VAb6k

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/32403497/ns/today-relationships/t/new-dads-coping-baby-blues/#.TydWZsVAb6k

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/17/time-to-focus-on-sad-dads/

book: Kleinman, K. (2001). Postpartum Husband: Practical Solutions for Living with Postpartum Depression. Xlibris Corporation.