Post partum anxiety attacks, followed by agoraphobia? Have any other mothers experienced this?

Question

A few days after my cesarean, I experienced an anxiety attack, but didn't know it at the time; I started trembling and hyperventilating. The nurse came in and gave me oxygen, and after about 10 minutes of everyone freaking out, I calmed down.

I am now one year post partum, and have become progressively more of a homebody.....I only go out of the house once every 2 weeks. I went to the store with my husband last night, and wasn't nervous...in fact it was nice to be out, but by the end of our shopping, I was distracted and irritable, and happy to be back home.

I was fired from my job because I had pneumonia due to collapsed lungs after my cesarean, and I didn't have any more time off available. I can't even imagine going out job-hunting.

Have any other moms gone through this? Did you seek professional help? Are you better now? What did doctors tell you? What experiences have you had with these symptoms?

(I have not seen anyone yet, and feel that I will slowly improve)

I suppose I should mention that I was taking zoloft and stopped 6 weeks before getting pregnant. I found that I actually felt BETTER without the depression medication.
Another reason I feel that I might get better is because I found that I was hypothyroid and that can cause some problems with depression. I have been on that for about 5 months.

Answer 1

I would talk with you ob about this asap- I had really bad ppd after having my last child. I have 4 total and had never experianced it before this. I would want to stay in a dark room and sleep- I did not want to leave the house- just thinking of having to do the slightest task felt so overwhelming that I would go and hide- I could not get to sleep at night without imagining myself at Walt Disney World with NOBODY- not my kids nor my husband. Just me walking around by myself. I finally called my doctor when I could not even handle someone coming to the house to help me because I did not want to see anyone, answer the phone or "entertain" which is totally not like me. I was put on zoloft and it worked within a few days. It affected my sex drive a little as I wanted it more but could not climax but it was a livable side effect. I was on it for about 4 months and when I was feeling better we weaned me off. It took another month or so to completely recover but seeking help was the best possible thing I could do- I was home with two kids with two more in school so this avoidance was just not a possibility!
I got the help needed from my OB at my 6 week checkup- ask for help! And zoloft was light without feeling drugged in any way- Oh and I was also breast feeding so it was safe apparently.

Answer 2

I have had anxiety problems since i was 18 years old when i went through something that i do not care to talk about.
I went to the doctor because i was really nervous alot, couldn't go into stores because i was scared to be in crowds or i would start smothering.
They started me out on anti-depressants which none of them helped me then finally a doctor wrote me out valium which helped me so much.
When i became pregnant i was still nervous but not as bad i mean i could go into stores and all of that, i would just get nervous and it didn't matter where i was at.
After i had my son i did get depressed which was helped by taking elavil for a short time then the doctor put me on xanax and i swear to you i don't get that way anymore.
Xanax was a life saver to me. I really believe that having bad nerves does run in a family. My grandma, mom and one of my sisters all suffer from anxiety.

You should see a doctor. They will most likely put you on depression pills but if they do not help you ask for a nerve pill (valium/Xanax)

http://www.agoraphobia-treatment.com
http://www.postpartumstress.com
http://www.healthywomen.org/healthtopics/anxietydisorders/treatment/q/L2/6/.../3

Answer 3

Honey, it souds like you have a form of post natal depression, and I think that you need to see a doctor so they can start treating you.