Anyone heard of or experienced this? A friend mentioned it when I was telling her about the anger type outbursts I have. Currently BFing so that limits some options - like CBD, some antidepressants. So I’m wondering if yoga or therapy or something might help? Or if anyone had suggestions.
-
@LindsayInNY: I did. It was tied in with ppd and ppa but rage was the biggest thing. I tried dealing with it for a year until I realized it wasn’t fair to my kids. I started a low dose of Zoloft and it made a huge difference. My pcp prescribed it- I’m sure it would have been better to go the a therapist and psychiatrist to deal with it but the med alone was so helpful.
Not to say I don’t still experience some rage when the kids are being absolutely annoying and defiant, but it’s betrer.
-
@Foodnerd81: I tried therapy with LO1 was around a year old. I had a hard time finding someone who took my insurance and then when I did, I didn’t love her. My PCP prescribed Lexapro (I’ve been on it in the past) when she was maybe 18+ months. I was already done BFing at that point. I see the pediatrician tomorrow and she’s a LC so I might ask her as well... I hate just flying off the handle and LO1 “don’t be mad mommy!”
-
A few thoughts:
first - anger/irritability is a really common (but less discussed) presentation of depression and anxiety. I would for sure find a mental health professional and explore medication options (there are several SSRIs safe for nursing) and therapy. DH is medicated for anxiety which, for him, primarily presents as anger/irritability. (and by that I mean overblown/irrational anger and irritability, not just run of the mill stuff.) once he was medicated it made a world of difference.
second - I highly, highly recommend reading the book "how not to hate your husband after kids" - it provides some good perspective and a light-hearted take on the anger/irritability/rage a lot of moms feel. for the book she met with researchers, therapists, and the like and gives some good tips on how to quell the rage (which was her primary issue).
finally - it sounds like your friend may already be this for you, but find a close friend to talk to about it. for me it's nice to have a few close friends who are dealing with the same issues (young kids, working, etc) as a sounding board and who will answer honestly when I ask things like "am I just spiraling here?"
-
@jape14: Thank you. For all of that. I never considered PPD/A because I’m not “sad” or worrying. But no one mentions the other ways it can manifest... My anger is usually unjustified and irrational. And I know that after the fact. Or even during but can’t stop it. I’ve heard of tha book but have yet to read it...Might help with some of the resentment issues I have too.
-
@LindsayInNY: glad at least some of it can help! I really enjoyed that book - the author (jancee dunn) has been on a bunch of podcasts so that might give you a flavor of it until you can get around to reading it. it does address resentment issues from the perspective of couples counseling being helpful, but to the extent that each member works on their own issues simultaneously.
-
@LindsayInNY: same- I tried to find a therapist nearby who took my insurance and struck out entirely. Tried paying out of pocket and still didn’t click and it was too overwhelming. I was still breastfeeding when I started Zoloft too and it had no affect, nursed until 21 months.
-
@Foodnerd81: Okay, good to know! I’ve always had good experience with Lexapro (no weight gain, effective, etc.) but unsure how recommended it is when BFing compared to others. I tried a therapist in between kids and found it hard to see how she could relate to my issues outside a textbook scenario because she was (older) unmarried and without kids...
-
@LindsayInNY: I had a really rough time this second pregnancy with rage. While I didn't feel depressed, I had a lot of anger and outbursts. it really started to negatively affect my son which made me sort of get a grip. For me it was linked to lack of sleep and just a constant, gnawing feeling of worry about the baby. Are you sleeping? It's so hard. Sorry you're going through this.
-
My PPD totally presented as irritability/rage. I know it’s not historically supposed to be the most prevalent symptom to diagnose an adult on but from what I understand, that is changing. I have been on a very low dose of Zoloft since my son was born (almost 4 years) and it helps immensely. I notice an immediate difference when I’ve tried to get off it.
-
@LindsayInNY: I’m on lexapro for post partum anxiety. My primary symptoms were intrusive thoughts ( about how short life is/my kids getting older/mortality) and being super irritable especially with my kids (I SAH so I’m with them all day).
For me, I was experiencing anxiety most of the day and so I had no capacity for managing minor irritations from my kids. I was also feeling wildly overwhelmed by the amount of stuff to do.
I had previously tried Zoloft (a few years ago) which is usually the first one they have you try when breastfeeding and I had terrible insomnia- which I couldn’t imagine adding on to my plate right now.
So I talked to my OB/GYN and she was fine with me going straight to lexapro. When I went in I was on the fence about starting the med but when I described my symptoms to her in office I realized it was time to try something.
My husband is a pediatrician and wasn’t concerned at all about lexapro and breastfeeding. I mentioned it to our kids pediatrician, too, and he was also totally fine with it- no hesitation.
I started on 10 mg and did maybe 8 weeks at that? I noticed an improvement in 2-4 weeks. Much more patient, intrusive thoughts almost completely gone, able to relax and enjoy my family rather than stressing about everything- it was a marked difference. I just went up to 15mg about a week ago because there were some lingering symptoms and I decided to try bumping up a little.It’s allowed me to enjoy my kids, sleep better at night, and feel “bittersweet” about them growing up rather than feeling my chest tighten every time I think of it. Intrusive thoughts and irritability aren’t “mainstream anxiety” but they We’re definitely powerful symptoms for me. I’m feeling like myself again!
I think if I had more time to myself, was sleeping 8 hours uninterrupted at night, could go to therapy weekly, and was able to take a walk every day by myself my symptoms might have been manageable without medication. But that’s not my reality right now and I didn’t want to come out of this funk two years from now only to realize I’d been miserable and missed out on enjoying this time.
-
Rage was one of the main way my PPD/A manifested. What helped me the most was a low dose of lamictal, which is a mood stabilizer that has less side effects than a traditional SSRI, and intense, sweaty exercise 3-4 times a week. There are plenty of medications that are safe when breastfeeding and if you're struggling I would talk to your doctor asap. I wish I had gone on medication a lot sooner.
-
@LindsayInNY: I took Lexapro all through pregnancy, while breastfeeding for 19 months and am staying on it through this pregnancy.
-
I think you've got some good recs here.
Also, I somehow came across the book Body Full of Stars which is a unique perspective about postpartum rage/other feelings. Her experience and choices were different than mine in many areas but I felt like by reading the book I felt a little less all alone in my feelings.
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
13 comments