do they ever go away?

[smiley]

Hi

I am more or less fully recovered from my pni experience. Yesterday, I found out im pregnant and the intrusive thoughts relating to anxiety are making abit of a comeback. Although they are mild, i feel edgy. Will they ever go?

any advice?

Smily

[sarajay28]

Hi Smiley,

Firstly congratulations on your pregnancy?? Was it planned? are you pleased about it? Sorry for all the questions but if it was unplanned then that could explain the sudden anxiety?

Yes the thoughts do go, I have been recovered for quite a while now and very occasionaly i do get the thoughts but they pass in a matter of seconds and i don't give them another thought (if you know what i mean?) but when i am particularly anxious about something i seem to notice them all the more, i therefore link them to me being anxious about whatever and not to the PNI, if that makes sense?

I would advise that you speak to your GP or midwife (maybe even both?) about it so they can monitor you incase of recurrence - not that this would definately happen, just to be aware of the possibility.

I hope this helps and i hope that i haven't scared you because i honestly don't mean to be i think its a case of forewarned is forearmed??

keep up up to date with your pregnancy

loadsa love

sarah.xxx

[monica]

Hi

Firstly huge congratulations! I found this too with my pregnancy post PNI - I think you're more aware of it so worry about it if you see what I mean, but it doesn't mean you have it. Also in the first trimester it's normal to feel more hormonal so that too can account for feeling a bit anxious.

As sarajay suggested talk to your gp/midwife so they can advise and keep an eye on you.

Take it easy if you can!

Love

Monica

[smiley]

Thanks for your replies! ;D

Yes, it was planned but it happened within a month of starting, which was abit of a shocker! But I am really happy and excited apart from the occasional what have I done! Even when I fell ill I always knew I would want another child some day, so am willing to face what comes.

I have learned to ignore the thoughts and so they would flutter by but I think I just got scared that they were back again and this gave them more importance - again I will ignore them and they should hopefully go. I know my hormones and anxiety are playing apart in their appearance but i just wish they wernt there at all. I was reading up about them and it appears they are a form of OCD called 'Pure O'. I suppose its a relief to know what it is that causes them and thats its a faulty wiring of the brain due to my experience which should level out some day once the anxiety and brain functions at a normal calmer level. The only therapy that seems to work well is CBT with this condition or accepting them as only a thought and letting them go in order to desensitise your response to them. I dont think talking to a midwife or a GP about them at this stage will be particularly helpful as my self help strategies are working ok with it all for now. But I will let my GP know of my past experience to see if she has any useful advice. I know that I will be symptom watching all the time but I will try not to confuse it with normal pregnancy issues.

Thanks for all your support. I have a big support network this time so dont feel alone in this.

Smiley

xx

[smiley]

Hiya

You will see from my post in my diary that I have just had a week from hell. When the intrusive thoughts got really strong fro 4 days and now have fizzled alittle. I am so shocked that this happened and thinking it means i will get ill again when the baby is born. I was free of these thougths for about a year..

Smiley

[winegirl]

Hey Hun

I have written to you in your diary about it..

How are you feeling this morning??

WG xx

[smiley]

Hey WG

I replied in my diary to you. I am feeling alot better than I was - but still in shock as to why this happened to me. Poor me - I just dont deserve this again!!! My confidence has been shaken in life ad in this pregnancy. The IT are occuring around once a day?? if that.. I cant believe I can think such things about my toddler - it feels like my relationship with him has been ruined for now as I was loving free of the illness for about 6 months now.

My mind feels fragile and I dont know if I am going to wake up ok or having IT's. I thought I was in control of it now. On top of that I have the horrible all day sickness.

But you know what I am just getting on with life and doing my best to enjoy it.

Smiley
xx