Anxiety and adoption

What you're going through must be awful but by being honest with yourself is the first step to dealing with it. I don't have other children so the anxiety I've been through is different to yours and got worse after I was reunited with my son. It took me a long time to face facts and deal with it which I did by seeing my doctor. I suffer with depression anyway but my doctor has been very helpful. Have you thought about counselling or seeing your doctor? Pip :flower:

Yes, I do have a counsilor and visit with him on a weekly basis. However, we primarily work on another problem from the anxiety. He does know that I've been through an adoption though.As for medication for the anxiety/depression, I've had a battle for the last 3 months in deciding whether or not to take meds. I'm not truely ready yet to succumb to medications, I'm trying to learn relaxation and positive self-talk techniques to get me through.

You're doing the right things so keep them up as it will take time. I finally succumb to medication 4 months ago but bear in mind I am much older than you and only agreed to take them as a stop gap as I don't want to be on them long term. I have had counselling on and off over the years and am waiting for an appointment for more. Medication has it uses but I quite understand why you don't want to take it as in this situation I feel strongly about it being a last resort which it was in my situation. These forums are a great place to start getting help though so stick at it as I don't know what I would have done at times without the support I've had as well as making plenty of friends. Hugs, Pip :flower:

Hi Cnelson,I hope you don't mind my replying. I'm no professional, but I wonder if you're going through some Post Traumatic Stress from the adoption plan you made? It's completely unrelated to adoption, but I went through PTSD a few years ago... It manifested itself in a strange way. It was when we started IVF we were at the very hospital that DH was treated for his Leukemia. I began having these awful nightmares that people were coming to hurt us, and I am not in any way a violent person, but began dreaming (nightmaring more like it) that I had to physically fight off people who were trying to hurt us. In my dreams usually dh was there fighting by my side. It is very similar to when he was sick, I was there fighting with him. It was his body, but my spirit, you know? Anyway, when I started IVF we had to go to a mandatory counseling session. I didn't like this therapist. But when I told her about my nightmares, she told me it sounded like PTSD. Once I thought about it and realized that's what it was, they stopped. I know you didn't say you are having nightmares, but the feeling and fear that someone or something is going to take your kids from you is very similar to the fear that I had that someone would take dh from me. PM me if you want to talk. I am not a professional, like I said, but am happy to listen and tell you more about my situation. And, whatever it is, don't be too hard on yourself, you have gone through a traumatic loss, no matter how happy you are with your decision, I realize it's still a loss. And you have a right to feel those feelings. Take care.

I have somewhat taken refuge in forums such as these and others for my anxiety and such. I used to visit these forums constantly when I was pregnant and making the decision but quit visiting after the baby was born. I am not having nightmares, however, I do have images pop into my head of something happening to my kids. I've been told that it could be OCD in my case. I wonder if this diagnosis is correct since I've always been a worry-wart and obsess about other factors in my life as well.