New here and needing some help

Hi there

Welcome to the forums @Lotusgirl I think that when it comes to our kids we are naturally very protective and worry about all sorts of things, worrying over them is a part of life! but if its getting to that stage that its unbearable and interfering with you enjoying your baby it might be good to get some help with it. Sounds like you are able to talk to your gp which is awesome, do you have a counselor or psychologist that you can talk to as well to develop some strategies for combating some of the intrusive thoughts? I have PTSD and I also struggle with intrusive thoughts that replay themselves, or i imagine what could go wrong/happen over and over which is just crap. I've really found mindfulness strategies to help (although i think its taken me about 6 months to really get my head around them and find them useful...but maybe just a slow or stubborn learner lol).

I used the 'tiger in the tree' hold constantly with my lil girl, as it was the only way she'd settle.She has coeliac disease (didnt know it back when she was a bub)so she got lots of stomach pains, poorthing.I used to worry about it too, because i though, omg is it abusive to hold them like that? i worried about bathing them and touching them in all sorts of ways! But i slowly learnt through my awesome dr at the time, that it was all normal and part of being a good mum. I also had a womens health nurse who helped me back then as well with a whole range of things. Support and knowledge is so powerful!

Good luck, please keep writing if it helps, there are lots of mums on this site and people with a whole range of different experiences!

LJ

@Former-Member I really appreciate your comment because I was struggling so badly today. Yes, for me the hold conjuresup anxiety and I wonder why others dont feel weird when they do it. Are they just not telling me their thoughts, maybe they feel the same that its a bit awkward to begin with, but people don't often openly talk of their anxiety. I try to let any wayward thoughts come and go without interacting directly with them because then that gives them untoward power. I guess in holding her in different ways I wanted to show myself that it was not a big deal and that it wasn't harmful. My mind just worries itself sick afterwards. But I tell myself, why would countless people hold children that way if its somehow illegal???

Thank you for taking the time to reply you have no idea how comforting your words are to someone who was really struggling today! I appreciate it more than you know.

I'm glad that i can be helpful 😄

I've found people to be much more genuine and honest in some ways here on the forum, especially when it comes to admitting to how we think and feel... and sometimes it really does help to know that we're not alone... and not as 'different' as we often think we are inside our heads! How old is your bub? i have a 7 year old lil girl and 4 year old boy. They change so much so quickly, cant believe my lil boy is starting school this year already!

Hope this evening is better for you!

LJ

Hi @Lotusgirl

Thankyou! I'm going pretty well at the moment, though we've just moved and I'm about to start a new job, which is pretty scary..

I must admit, i did think that the second baby would be easier, but he was completely different in every way to my first and it took me some adjustment! But I was living in a terrible relationship and my anxiety was really quite bad during that time. I left my ex when my second was 2 and its been so much better for us, though all three of us have scars of various sorts from him.

LJ