@steph_anie, I listen to Polynesian / Island music. It normally helps at least a little

@toridewey clair de lune is my go to.

@steph_anie, hot shower and music can help if you don't want to go out.

@toridewey honestly, it would help. But since its daylight i dont like going out. Too many people and people who know my husband 😔 id rather sit home alone (knowing it doesnt help me at all)

@steph_anie, maybe try a walk around the block first? That helps me sometimes

@toridewey hes not like that. Hes very into leaving me be when im like this.

I personally just need to not be home but its just worse at my parents.

@steph_anie, tell him it's bad and you need him right now. Night shift or not there are plenty of times if my husband was having a very bad day and needed my help by being there even if he was too stubborn to say so.. I have had nights that I didn't sleep at all and went to work at the hospital the next day. Energy drinks were my best friend that day. It was worth it to me that he felt ok and safe before I left

@steph_anie, see that's the reverse for me.. my family are the ignorant ones like that and his family gets it but I still don't openly talk about it with them. My husband is an army veteran with PTSD though so they've seen alot with him before we met. They're just happy we're both here and happy which is sweet. I don't see my family though, I cut them out because they are like that and other recent things.. it's harder when its your in-law though when you don't have that option. Would your husband be able to tell his mom you can't go?

@toridewey hes a cop and works midnight shift. So hes sleeping or listening to the baseball game. He and i both got 3 hours of sleep, so he will be staying home to nap while i have to suffer and go alone. I even told him im having a panic attack and he said, "over what?...okay ill leave you alone" and i havent heard him sincr

@toridewey she just doesnt really think. She knows nothing of my past and how i have body image issues or how i contemplated suicide for years. So her "oh stop you dont need him home for a month, he needs to work, youll be fine" comments hit hard for me. Husband and I both know im going to struggle with PPD but we dont explain that to his family. They are the type of people to say its all in our head and to man up.

My family is different, theyve been around. They help me. They understand that Im not "normal" but even then, its just hard to talk to family or in laws about mental health when they dont fully grasp it.

@steph_anie, what did your husband say about it? Is there anyway he can come today? Or do you have a friend or someone you could bring to help?

@steph_anie, also my MIL will say my dogs are wild and that I'm not gaining enough but have water weight in my arms in legs.. I just ignore it since I know that's just how his family and culture is, no filter but I know they mean well. My family are never there for anyone but themselves so I appreciate his family always being there for us even if like her son, she doesn't always think about my extra sensitive state right now before they talk haha

@toridewey no. She told family from down the shore that id be around since i didnt see them for the babyshower. Its just too much for me to go over and sit there when all i want to do is cry

@steph_anie, can you tell her you're having really bad morning sickness and can't make it today? I would to do that when I was bad or say the flu or a cold. Most people don't understand mental health issues but easily identify with physical ones

@toridewey i dont get along with my in laws since i became pregnant. Every single chance she gets its "you sleep too much, you dont eat enough, feed MY baby" etc. I am a very mellow person but when it comes to 2cents on how to raise my dogs (theyve never owned any. I grew up with animals) or on how to raise my son, i get very very mother bear and end up snapping. Ive been nice for the last 8 months. Now im at that point where the joking comments of "wow you got huge" dont sit well with me. Or how I should eat cold cuts when i cant because I swell like a balloon and im trying to not be in pain since I walk im usually on my feet.

I still havent left the commfort of my bathroom bc im still having an attack and i refuse to leave (pretty sure ill just cry)

@steph_anie, omg that's the worst having an attack and then having to be around people.. it's so awkward and you feel like they all will see it and know and you're exhausted so not up for small talk. I'm really sorry. Just keep messaging us here it should take the edge off getting to look away and focus on something other than where you are for a while

@toridewey i normally sleep or clean when im having an attack (no idea why but it helps) and i cant bc my MIL made plans for me to go over and i cant deal with my husband's family without him. So a huge fight with him caused me to have an attack and im just waiting until im calm enough to go

I have really bad anxiety too and am not taking anything. It was really bad my first and half way through my second trimester. When an episode hits there isn't much to do but try to breathe, drink cold water and wait.. after I would sleep it off or lay down because it's exhausting. Lately I've been going outside alot in our backyard for the sunlight and some waking. It's actually been helping since I would rarely go outside before. I used to take vitamin d pills too. It's obviously not as good as the real medications but it was a natural way to take the edge off and made me feel better.

Yes!! It drives me crazy. I have a panic anxiety disorder and have a lot of panic attacks and I don’t know how to calm myself down without my medication. It’s horrible😩 I plan on breastfeeding too so I still can’t take my meds after birth😭

@thetroller thanks

@thetroller just personal preference on not taking it

@thetroller i have, but wont take it.