severe anxiety disorder children
History of Depression and having children?
I have a history of severe depression and an anxiety disorder. I still struggle and am on anti-depressants. I’m only 21 so don’t want children yet. But I definatly do one day, in fact I can’t think of anything I want more. But I’m worried that if I ever did have a baby, I would be being selfish. The genetic factors in mental health, coupled with whether I’d have to stay on anti-depressants through pregnancy and the high risk of post partum depression. It all seems impossible right now and I’m devastated.
Anyone have any advice or opinions for me? Or anyone who suffers with depression and has had children, I’d love to hear your experiences. Thanks in advance
My whole life I have felt I didn’t want kids, because I was pretty self-centered. I decided to start trying to get pregnant when I was 38 years old, and still worried about giving up my personal time for a little child. I was used to having cats that you could go out of town and leave a big bowl of food and water, and they would be okay without you.
I was taking Zoloft when I decided to start trying to conceive. I talked to my obgyn, and he said that it is best to stay on the antidepressants. The catastrophe that could occur if I was severely depressed was worse than any harm zoloft posed to the fetus.
I wasn’t happy with zoloft anyway, so I got it out of my system 2 months before trying to get pregnant.
I cried a lot, and yelled a lot during my pregnancy, but I don’t think it was anything out of the ordinary for a pregnant woman.
After giving birth, I did get really down, but not in the normal sense of crying….my problem was withdrawing, social phobias, lack of energy, and a really hard time bonding with the baby for several weeks. I also wrote a lot of suicide notes at around 2 months postpartum.
I found out that I had severe hypothyroidism, and that was causing depression too. I have been on thyroid meds since then and am a little better, but refuse to take antidepressants anymore.
With lexapro and zoloft, I felt so NUMB. Great…I didn’t feel sadness, but I also never felt happiness, elation, contentment.
NO FEELINGS at all. Now without the meds, I feel anger, sadness, but I also feel happiness and hope too.
My obgyn sat me down with my husband and told him to keep an eye on my moods….and to bring me to the hospital if I had any suicidal symptoms. Post partum depression can cause you to hurt yoursef or your baby or BOTH, without much notice, so I would say you need to really be aware of your actions.
At 21, you will be selfish….Kudos to you for being aware of that, and choosing not to get pregnant for the baby’s sake. (You know, that is actually self-less what you have said, and is a good sign that you will probably be a very considerate, thoughtful parent)
As for giving up personal time for an infant/child, you just do it if you love your baby. You realize that they are an extention of you, and you take them wherever you go. They aren’t an inconvenience….they are a blessing, and you just learn to incorporate them into your life..(or learn to incorporate yourself into their lives…lol)
My mother’s side of my family ALL had bipolar disorder, drug addictions, alcoholism, eating disorders…they are a real mess. I believe I have received a few of those family traits, but rarely drink because of my fear of becoming an alcoholic, and definitely don’t use drugs.
Probably by the time you decide to have kids, medicine will be so advanced that you will feel great.
Congratulations on being such a SMART and conscientious girl. When it is time for you to have a baby, you will do a great job.
Child Specific Phobia Disorder
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