PND, "voices" and nightmares - advice please

[KellyKettle]

Can anyone help. My lovely little cousin had her son a year ago. I found out (via my aunty & then my mum) that she's been diagnosed with PND. She hears voices, can't cope with life with her little one, is frightened someone will take him off her, cries all the time.

She was prescribed antid's (I don't know which) but I spoke to her via email and she didn't seem to think they were working. She's since moved in with her mum again because she's scared to go home. She has nightmares every night which makes her scares to go to sleep,

She went back to her GP last week who changed her anti-depressants. My aunt & cousins are all having a terrible time, they're so worried about her and upset.

Has anyone had any experience of this?

She's only 21, completely not the type to come on MN and ask. I just want to help her, it's heartbreaking to see her like this.

[wrigle]

Her GP should refer her to a CBT therapist or a clinical psychologist. Meds are a short term solution and she's been struggling for a long time now.

[KellyKettle]

Thank you for replying. My aunt says the GP is really helpful. I don't know if anything other than meds have been suggested.

I'm not sure how CBT would go, she doesn't really talk much which is why my aunt goes to appointments with her & I've only spoken to her about it via email.

[cheesesarnie]

it can take a while for the meds to work so fingers crossed the new ones will be better.

introduce her to mn

[catsareevil]

Does the GP know that she is hearing voices? Has she seen a psychiatrist yet?

[KellyKettle]

Yes, she's told him about the voices. I don't know what they say. No mention of her seeing a psychiatrist at all. Just drugs.

She talks in txtspk cheese she's too fragile for the reception she'd get for that.

Do you think I should suggest to my aunt that she asks for counselling or something? Apparently there is a history of psychiatric illness on my uncles side and that's partly why my aunt & the GP are so worried.

I think PTSD has been mentioned and I know she is dealing with some physical problems after the birth because she told me she felt fobbed off by the hospital & was worried about returning to work.

I suppose I feel like she should be getting more help than just seeing her GP because she's not improved.

[catsareevil]

Can anyone go with your neice to the next appointment with the GP to support her and also to get the GP to say what the ongoing plan is, and at what stage they will be referring onwards to psychiatry?

The symptoms that you describe could be an indication of a serious illness, and counselling is unlikely to be the preferred treatment if that is the case.

[KellyKettle]

Thanks cats I think I'll try and call my aunt this evening & see what they say. I've offered to go since I had a difficult birth but we're not really close, my cousin & I, so I think she just felt awkward.

I'll update the thread.

[KellyKettle]

Ok she's back on the first tablets she started on because the 2nd lot didn't work.

She can't sleep because she has awful nightmares about being chased.

Should she ask for a psychiatric assessment? I think she'll be too scared about what that means. She's scared she'll lose her son (although I don't see why she would, despite feeling crap all the time she is a great mum).

[catsareevil]

It would be really rare to have a child removed. It will only happen if she isnt able to care for, or is presenting a risk to the baby. The GP would also be obliged to refer to SS if they felt there was a risk, so a psychiatrist doesn't really introduce anything new from that point of view.

[stripeyZ]

Sorry to hear about your cousin. I used to work in mental health services & have looked after lots of women that have had similar symptoms post natally.

I would contact your local community mental health team (CMHT) and have a chat with them. You can find them on google. It sounds as though she could do with seeing a psychiatrist, starting some anti-psychotic medicine and being supported by a specialist community nurse.

She will need to tell them specifically about the voices as these are key. Her baby won't be taken away, she has an illness that needs to be treated and they will support her with this.

HTH

[KellyKettle]

Thanks stripey that's great advice thank you!

[GrownUp2012]

It sounds to me like she may have some issues that need further attention from the local CMHT team. Anti-depressants don't sound enough for someone who is hearing voices, I would have thought she'd need anti-psychotics for that, it is certainly what I was prescribed when I went through a similar experience anyway.

[stripeyZ]

No problem. It must be so difficult for you all. Feel free to PM me if you need anymore info.

[nkf]

I'd say she probably needs to see a psychiatrist. It sounds mire specialist than gp

[OTTMummA]

I suffered from pnd, and then later when ds was around 10 months, i was diagnosed with psychotic depression, and paranoia, i remember phoning this morning about a piece they had on PND, and could only cry down the phone about 'not wanting them to take my baby away'.
I have been in care, tried to commit suicide, been sectioned and my mum and dad both have schizophrenia, and i was worried that they would just remove him from me because of this.
However the first time i had a home visit from the MH team they reasured me that they don't routinely snatch peoples babies away just because they have MH problems, and she always commented on how well looked after ds was, how healthy he looked etc, which put me at ease.

I saw a psychiartrist and was put on anti psychotics, and also had home visits from the local mh unit, because part of my problem was i believed someone was going to snatch ds if i went outside.
They offered to take me to hospital for treatment, and i could of taken ds with me, but i couldn't do that, so the home visits were a great alternative.

She needs help, and really if she is hearing voices, she needs to see a psychiatrist, they are less than likely to remove her baby if she has adequate support at home aswell, so please reasure her, and her family.

[readysteadymummy]

Sounds like she's really struggling. I had my first appointment with a psychiatrist last Wednesday and I felt better after that one appointment than I've felt for 5 months on anti-ds.
I was suffering from hideous nightmares, getting angry all the time and was forever fearful they'd take my son from me. It's the scariest feeling in the world, having this new baby and suddenly feeling like this.
Try your best to support her, but it doesn't sound like meds are enough- her GP should have realised that by now, so it needs to be pushed! x

[Conflugenglugen]

Yes, I would also opt for a psychiatrist. The first thing I thought when reading the title of your OP was post-natal psychosis. That sounds like a harsh label, but really what it describes is anything that is situated 'out of reality' - hearing voices being one of those.

Psychiatry combined with psychotherapy would be ideal, imo.