How do you kick anxiety and depression?

So, I'm technically a little bipolar. Diagnosed as such anyways (mood disorder NOS as a teenager). But I'm generally fairly unemotional.

I have an 11 week old baby and since I was pregnant I've been emotionally ill at ease. I get down and mopey and can't seem to accomplish basic tasks like feeding myself, cleaning up, etc. I get anxiety in the pit of my belly.

This is all quite unusual for me and I feel like I'm always reaching and grasping for something to make it better. I want sex or cuddles or time with friends or exercise, but nothing really works or it's just a temporary fix.

I really don't want any sort of pharmaceuticals. I thought maybe others have gone through something like this and found ways to just make themselves feel better.

 

I went thru a similar thing after I had my baby (he's now 2.5 yrs old) and all I can really say that worked the most for me was time for my hormones to get back in check... but what also helps, and it might seem silly or like it won't work but it is true is just taking care of your body....exercise, meditation, getting 8 or 9 hrs of sleep a night, eating well (whole, nutrient dense foods), eating 5-6 small meals thruout a day instead of bigger ones.... also fish oil can help w depression.

 

Vegetables, multi vitamin, exercise, water, sun. No results over night but within a 5-7 days you should see some changes

 

you might want to check out traditional chinese medicine. it can be expensive though

eating fresh, lightly cooked, whole foods might help.
getting regular, gentle exercise might help.

there is a chinese medical herb that can be smoke/burned as incense to treat anxiety and depression

some other stuff too

 

Yeah...and what rollinstoned said... I notice a HUGE difference in my mood when I am outside in the sun. It's amazing actually how much I notice it helps me.

 

and then of course limiting processed sugars, caffeine and alcohol...

 

I forgot to mention this too ^^^^^

I used to eat a shit load of fast food up until a few weeks ago and i would always be super lethargic throughout the day but i cut out most bad food I was eating and I have noticed a dramatic increase in energy and mental clarity by doing that, among the other things listed.

 

oh and try this for anxiety ... do it every hour or two for a cpl mins... it's really really helpful imo. I have had some major issues w anxiety and used to have to take benzos all the time but that just makes it worse if you stop them... sit there quietly and comfortably and first concentrate on your breathe and what is going on with your body (this works well for panic/panic attacks but it can help any type of anxiety)... notice your breathing, your heart rate, how do you feel... do you have aches and pains... just sit there and notice nothing but your breathe and your body.... THEN switch it up and leave your body and just notice the external.... still concentrate on your breathe but notice what do you see? what do you hear? smell? etc... do that for 30 secs to a min and then switch back to noticing your body only.... go back and forth between the two....
do this several times a day...
the more you do it the better it works... it somehow helps you to really manage anxiety and avoid panic attacks and other types of anxiety.
(a counselor had me do this one time when I was having a panic attack in his office)

 

I've been dealing with anxiety and depression for years now. Something I'm still struggling with. You mentioned cuddling and sex and that actually works for me. It gets my mind off of all of my problems. I need distractions. I need to be constantly laughing.

So, do whatever makes you happiest..

 

hahaha

yea... um when worst comes to worst sex or masturbation is helpful for anxiety. seriously. i'd had to "resort" to that before... lol.


oh and this is kinda stupid sounding but I heard it's impossible to be anxious/depressed when you are jumping up and down. seriously.

 

Right exactly. These things work but are temporary. If I'm not laughing, dancing, sweating, screwing or snuggling; it comes right back.

Problem is, having a little baby, I'm rarely free to just do what makes me happy.

 

same here,
I have two girls- a 20 month old and 9 month old..

 

I'm not sure how true this is, but I get the feeling, when I'm feeling like this, that there is a few things I am unaware of that I should work through in my mind. I felt like this last week, and what went through my mind later on is that my brain wasn't working through certain issues. Your mind re-orders itself, or tries to, when you are asleep - it just felt like my mind needed a bit of the clutter removing. Maybe when you are feeling down, write down what it is that you are thinking, and then when you feel better - work through what you have written. I did. I ended up laughing at what was concerning me.

 

I've been mixed manic since I was 15 (now 49). Many hospitalizations, tons of meds, ECT. Have had very, very few periods of relief. Seen many psychiatrists from prestigious Institute in Phila PA area since 1990. Been on SSDI since 2003. I can't do anything. Constantly irritable/agitated. Very good Mental Health forum is Psych Central.

Benzodiazapenes (klonopin, xanax, ativan, etc.) are used for anxiety. They have fewest (and less intense) side effects compared to other psychotropic meds (anti-psychotics, for example).

 

all of this is good! for vitamins be especially sure you're getting enough b12. if you don't eat fish regularly, try taking a fish oil supplement as well.

5-HTP helps with anxiety, you can find it at a health food/supplement store (or on amazon). works kind of like a mild anti-depressant, without the withdrawals and brain zaps and all of that. if you're breast-feeding it would probably be best to check with a doctor before taking it though.

 

It sounds like post partum stuff. I would work out seriously. I mean lift, really go to failure, fire up those muscles, and push myself to jog that extra mile on the treadmill, find new work outs every week, etc.

But, if you're already doing that, I think you're on the right track. I think what you're feeling is normal. Having a baby is a life-changing event.

You're probably holding your life priority for the next 18 odd-years in your arms right now.

I wish you luck, and I hope you capitalize on the time you do have for yourself. Take care of yourself.

I, for one, think you're pretty awesome. Yours truly, from an internet admirer.

 

Is talking to a therapist an option? This is pretty common I think, so they would probably know how to help.

 

Case of vodka raspberry drinks. Woop.

 

First of all, remind yourself that your body is going through a ton of adjustments from having a baby! - so cut yourself a bit of slack! Don't get depressed about being depressed.

Second, I cannot say how important exercise is. And I don't mean lifting weights at the gym or going for hour-long runs every day. I mean exercise as in going outside and MOVING YOUR BODY. Its amazing how much better people feel after going for just a 15 minute walk. ....you know what, even just getting OUTSIDE (even if you just sit somewhere) can help boost your mood.

Third, make sure you are getting all the support you can - raising a kid can be hard work! Get the hubby or your parents to take the baby for a few hours so you can have some YOU TIME.

Overall there is no instant solution....sometimes things just take time. Take a moment to remind yourself of this when you're feeling down. Things will get better!

All the best! V

 

Have you medically eliminated the chance that you might be having Postpartum depression?

It is something that most people do not want to consider but it is common enough that you may wish to see if it could be amplifying your symptoms.