Having Children and Coping With GAD

Just wondering, if any of you with GAD, and even specific phobias, were able to have children or how it has impacted your life with children? I do often worry that I would not be able to take care of children with the issues that I have. It is sometimes hard for me to be alone, I have a phobia of driving, and healthy anxieties (which I am currently tackling and making super progress on!) Ladies, I do have PCOS (polycystic ovaries) which may or may not affect my chances of carrying/having a child. Which gives me some stress but nothing major. But we are also open to adoption.

My husband and I are not currently preventing pregnancy but also not currently trying. My husband and I have been married for 5 years, and he is 5 years older than me. He struggles with being his age and not having children. I feel guilt that we are unable to have children at my current state. He reassures me but I know that deep down I am the reason.

Anyway, what are your experiences with GAD, phobias, and child rearing? I know that when you have children, the show must go on. I am just curious as to how to you handle it and your experiences with it!

Thanks in advance!!

Add on:

I do care for my 3 nieces on occasion, mostly alongside my mother, but sometimes alone. But I am not committed to driving them anywhere or taking care of them 24/7.

Hi the anxious mind,sorry to hear about your difficulties.:weep:
I actually think my anxiety has improved since having my two boys. I think it's because you are so busy looking after them and you love them so much you don't have as much time to notice how you feel!
I think before they were born I had more time to myself so naturally I would notice how my body was feeling etc. I had six years of being a single parent too which I really thought would be dreadful but the same thing applied as above. I did still have symptoms but as I was so busy I had no choice but to think of other things which actually helped. I didn't try and MAKE myself think of other things I just had no option! That's a few years ago now and I am a lot better apart from some occasional health anxiety!
Hope this helps.Take care:bighug1:

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Originally Posted by sunflower lady

Hi the anxious mind,sorry to hear about your difficulties.:weep:
I actually think my anxiety has improved since having my two boys. I think it's because you are so busy looking after them and you love them so much you don't have as much time to notice how you feel!
I think before they were born I had more time to myself so naturally I would notice how my body was feeling etc. I had six years of being a single parent too which I really thought would be dreadful but the same thing applied as above. I did still have symptoms but as I was so busy I had no choice but to think of other things which actually helped. I didn't try and MAKE myself think of other things I just had no option! That's a few years ago now and I am a lot better apart from some occasional health anxiety!
Hope this helps.Take care:bighug1:

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Thank you for your reply!! It is something I often wonder. This is just something that I feel scared to just take a chance on! I feel like I would be like you because once I am distracted I am okay. But I am on my way to recovery so I am staying positive! :)

My anxiety has gotten out of hand about 4 months post partum. During my pregnancy I was fine, but I stopped taking my Zoloft when I got pregnant. But anyway, I am a wreak now, I have OCD, anxiety, depression, and I am breastfeeding and I do not want to take medication while breastfeeding no matter how "safe" they say it is.

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Originally Posted by stressedanxious

My anxiety has gotten out of hand about 4 months post partum. During my pregnancy I was fine, but I stopped taking my Zoloft when I got pregnant. But anyway, I am a wreak now, I have OCD, anxiety, depression, and I am breastfeeding and I do not want to take medication while breastfeeding no matter how "safe" they say it is.

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I don't blame you for not wanting to take meds while breastfeeding. I pray that you get through it okay. Have you ventured into any natural health healing options? Supplements and such? I know its hard to take just anything cause baby receives it too. Sending love and prayers your way!

Anyone else have experiencing a mental illness and having children? TIA

Any update??

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Originally Posted by jumpingmuffin

Any update??

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UPDATE! So, we are now the parents of an AWESOME 1 year old little boy. He is the most precious, brilliant, and mischievous child you'll ever meet! So much has changed since I first joined this site--it's incredible. It just reinforces that things are temporary and things WILL get better. It is so hard to see that when you are going through a low but it's amazing what life can throw your way that changes everything.

We were pleasantly surprised to find out we were expecting July of 2016. And there were times that I was anxious (stayed on my Effexor during pregnancy--was under the care of a maternal fetal medicine specialist--and had zero issues!) but I had an awesome pregnancy and even went on to have our baby through the help of hypnobirth and zero pain meds. It was the most empowering thing of my life!!!

At around 5 months PP, I started having panic attacks again, which I was told was due to hormonal changes. Things got back on track again, and then 3 weeks after weaning my son and weaning from Effexor, as I thought I would be able to, we found me back on the crazy train again! So I have started Cymbalta and I am currently on Day 3/4. I am keeping a diary of the day to day if you would like to follow that and what it is like having a small child and living with GAD/Panic/ OCD.

Thank you all for reading and commenting! The support here is unreal. Keep up the faith and take it day by day!! xx:hugs: