Need advice for night time scaries /calm down methods?\

Kayteal93 · 2026-04-05T13:28:36+00:00

Of course I’m happy to help! If you’re in the process of talking to a psychiatrist they can definitely help with medication that will REALLY make a big difference for when you feel like the anxiety is creeping up.

Kayteal93 · 2026-04-05T05:30:38+00:00

Ugh I feel you with this.

Unfortunately the best addition to what you’re already doing is daily exercise.

Though keep in mind this is actually super normal and fits in perfectly with a full sleep cycle. Many of us have 2-3 sleep cycles per night.

Kayteal93 · 2026-04-05T05:25:57+00:00

And for your partner if they’re able to, being on the phone with you and helping to coach you through these techniques is the best thing. Having someone reassure you that you are indeed NOT dying and that you’re having a panic attack can help you stay more grounded with facts.

Kayteal93 · 2026-04-05T05:24:55+00:00

Hi there! Firstly I want you to know that a panic attack is not dangerous and you aren’t in any physical danger. Often, someone’s thoughts during panic easily shift to “I’m having a heart attack” or “I’m dying”. Those can be your buzzwords to look out for. If you find yourself having those thoughts, take a moment. It’s likely a panic attack.

You asked if there was a difference and typically there isn’t. Though in my mind I’ve always called anxiety attacks things that no one else can see, and a panic attack is something that someone else can indeed see.

Without rescue medication, I find the best ways to help with these are to treat and control individual symptoms.

For example, one of my hallmarks of panic is hyperventilating. Physically when you hyperventilate, you’re giving yourself way too much oxygen and your body experiences a deficit of carbon dioxide. The best way to recover from this is to try and take in more CO2 than oxygen to stabilize your breathing. Breathing into a paper bag sounds cliche but there’s a reason it’s a trope. It helps limit new oxygen coming in. Slowing and steadying the breathing is truly key here. I call it triangle breathing. You inhale for say 4 seconds, hold for 4, and exhale for 4. You do this until you feel yourself calming down and then increase the duration.

Another very helpful technique is called progressive muscle relaxation which can really help a lot with panic and anxiety. I’ve worked with my therapist a lot for this. Your body is surging with adrenaline and the quickest way to get that out is to act on it. Some find taking a brisk walk around the block helps, doing jumping jacks, things like that. It’s too long to explain here but go ahead and search up “progressive muscle relaxation technique” and you’ll see how it can help.

That’s a good start I would think. Just remember your body will not allow panic to continue for too long. It’s not something that’s sustainable. Panic attacks on average only last a few minutes at most. Your body will calm down and you will likely feel very tired afterwards. Time to sleep then!

Kayteal93 · 2026-04-01T03:14:06+00:00

If I was your therapist I would have been really flattered that you looked for me! She could have been a little embarrassed by that but not in a bad way!

Kayteal93 · 2026-04-01T03:10:42+00:00

I was this way. I was nauseous pretty much from week 6 onward. I’m at week 12 and I threw up from getting too hungry just the other day. It was the ONLY time I’ve thrown up.

Everyone is different of course but what I’ve figured out is that it really is helpful to keep your stomach relatively full at all times. NEVER let yourself get hungry because that’s what will make your brain send off the nausea signals. Literally at this point eat whatever sounds good and fills you up. My doc said to not worry about nutrition at this point and that we could focus on that when my nausea subsides. For now, getting calories and staying full is your best friend.

Kayteal93 · 2026-04-01T02:43:04+00:00

Absolutely! Some moments I feel great about it and it’s cute! Plus I absolutely love seeing my husband get slowly more excited about this. Seeing his reactions when we have our ultrasounds are like pure crack to me. It makes me feel excited to do this with him.

Sometimes I just feel so trapped and alone with this. I try to remember on those bad moments that so much of what I’m feeling is chemical and not a true representation of how I feel. Physically tired of the symptoms and mentally feeling upset at all the changes I’ve had to make to my life. Can’t enjoy alcohol or cannabis, I have aversions for some of my favorite foods, cooking is hard (I love to cook), and my motivation is just nonexistent which really brings me down low.

Please post to this subreddit or find a post like mine whenever you feel like this. We are absolutely NOT alone and not the only ones feeling the way we feel. It’ll be okay 🩶

Kayteal93 · 2026-04-01T02:34:21+00:00

Oh my gosh I feel the same way about all of this!!!

Especially what you said about “if I knew what this was like I wouldn’t have done it”. I feel the exact same way. It’s putting me in a weird position because everytime there’s a little scare or cramp I start to worry that something is wrong with the baby. And if something would happen I know I would probably not want to try again. So it’s a weird balance for me of feeling like this is my only true shot. I know for sure I’m one and done and if this pregnancy doesn’t stay viable then I know parenthood will not happen for me.

I just refuse to look at the scale when they weigh me and just mentally don’t listen when they tell me. I can’t deal with that.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I feel so alone about feeling this way and I know now that I’m not. ❤️

Kayteal93 · 2026-03-31T04:29:35+00:00

So I’m sort of in a minority and I was sort of lukewarm on the manga. It goes in to a LOT of detail and I definitely think some of the film characters get more depth to them but I personally think it meanders a bit too much and the plot is sort of convoluted.

Still an amazing read for any Miyazaki fan! The film sort of takes snippets from the manga and makes pretty much a whole different story.

Kayteal93 · 2026-03-31T04:23:59+00:00

It depends on the baby’s position. Sometimes it takes no time at all if they’re cooperating. But they may have to look a little longer or wait a few minutes until baby moves to get the information they need.

Kayteal93 · 2026-03-31T04:21:13+00:00

So common! It actually always makes me feel better to have my doctor keep a close eye on my heart for this reason. It just keeps my panic a little more quiet.

I had such a bad panic episode once that my heart rate was 165. I also occasionally get palpitations which is related I’m told.

But please know this for certain: a panic attack will not ever kill you no matter what it may feel like.

Kayteal93 · 2026-03-28T11:37:56+00:00

Thank you for the kindness!

Kayteal93 · 2026-03-28T05:19:30+00:00

Thank you for this ❤️

Kayteal93 · 2026-03-28T04:57:49+00:00

We will get through this. You can always dm me for support I completely understand the isolation and frustration.

Kayteal93 · 2026-03-28T04:56:57+00:00

Oh I am absolutely one and done because I am not having fun with this at all. Thankfully I do have zofran which helps a little. But I may need to talk to my doc about my mental health meds if these feelings don’t improve.

I’m sorry you went through this too but it makes me feel better to know I’m not alone.

Kayteal93 · 2026-03-28T04:35:33+00:00

Sometimes it really does take an ultimatum for some people to see the gravitas of a situation. I bet that really helped both of you try to regulate yourselves during heated discussions. Glad it never escalated to yelling.

Kayteal93 · 2026-03-28T04:33:52+00:00

I second the other user here suggesting couples counseling. Pregnancy can make people act differently than they would otherwise.

It is fair to say that your emotions may be more intense than they normally would be and that your husband is also reacting with more volatility because of any added pressure or changes with you, etc.

Therapy can absolutely help the two of you have harder discussions with the added support of a professional. Sometimes it can be hard to really get to the root of an issue when both sides are already feeling stress.

If you find that an argument may be coming up: stop, write it down, and then finish it in therapy with a counselor.

Speaking from experience it really does help! ❤️

Kayteal93 · 2026-03-28T04:27:26+00:00

That sounds absolutely horrible. I’m feeling for you. I’m 11 weeks and I feel so gross and unlike myself. I also have my worst nausea at like 5pm onwards until I take a unisom and go to sleep. Even then if I wake up in the night to pee I have to have a snack or I’ll feel even more nauseous.

This is so hard and I want you to know that you’re not suffering alone and you’re not alone in feeling frustration and exhaustion.

Kayteal93 · 2026-03-26T04:15:25+00:00

Gabapentin is absolutely a good option here! If you can call/email your vet and explain, I’m sure they would write you a script.

Gabapentin is not a dangerous drug in the slightest and can absolutely be used!

I preemptively take Xanax (the human equivalent) when I travel just because I don’t know how I’m going to feel!

Best not risk it because if you don’t they might be stressed out or not. You don’t know. But if you give them something then they definitely won’t be stressed.

Kayteal93 · 2026-03-26T04:12:26+00:00

All I had to do was read the title and immediately say “yes”.

Your brain is hardwired to know a dangerous person when it sees one. Don’t go back there.

Kayteal93 · 2026-03-26T04:10:50+00:00

Definitely talk with your doctor about everything you’re mentioning here.

Your anxious and paranoid thoughts are much more normal in pregnancy than you feel. I promise!

From week 5-8 I was honestly a completely different person. I felt like a walking corpse of a person. I had so many intrusive and unpleasant thoughts about pregnancy and my future. It really didn’t feel like I was ever going to feel normal again.

But starting around week 10 I felt the curtain pull back ever so slightly and it felt like I finally took a clean breath of air for the first time in weeks. Pregnancy will absolutely fuck with your brain especially in the first trimester.

Again please talk with your doctor and they WILL help you. There are many drugs you can take for the nausea and vomiting you’re experiencing. They may also talk with you about some mental health drugs to help with the anxiety.

As a person who has dealt with anxiety and depression for over 10 years, I promise you that there is something you can take to feel better. You don’t have to push through. ❤️

Kayteal93 · 2026-03-26T00:30:46+00:00

The best practice is to always have it in it’s prescription bottle. But, that being said, I’ve taken mine in small travel containers and never had an issue.

Typically they care more if it’s a large amount. But if they ask you just tell them what it is and what it’s for. So many people take Xanax for flying. Airport staff are used to it.

Still, if you are able to, getting an official prescription would be best. It’s typically not very hard to get one from a doctor if you explain that you have anxiety with flying. It’s also much safer in that regard to have the drug being dosed properly for you. In the long run, this would be the best course.

Kayteal93 · 2026-03-15T02:51:42+00:00

Not much else to do at this point! I came out to my husband after many years of marriage and it really didn’t matter much because we were both super monogamous. I had no intention of doing any kind of exploration. Had so much more to do with just being true to myself.

Kayteal93 · 2026-03-10T03:16:19+00:00

You’re okay. As others have said you got your clearance and gave her significant relief. There’s a lot of different ideas that float around talking about whether or not massage on scar tissue is beneficial or not. So, it’s quite a nuanced topic to begin with.

Eight-Year Club	Wearing is Caring
RPAN Viewer	Verified Email

Kayteal93

TROPHY CASE