Postnatal depression or just an excuse

[DeePressed]

Hello, hope it's OK for me to post here. DH thinks I might have PND. Looking at the symptoms on the NHS website I identify with nearly all of them

Key symptoms are:
a persistent feeling of sadness and low mood (yep)
loss of interest in the world around you and no longer enjoying things that used to give pleasure (to an extent)
lack of energy and feeling tired all the time (fatigue) (yes, but I have young kids)

Other symptoms can include:
disturbed sleep, such as not being able to fall asleep during the night (insomnia) and then being sleepy during the day (yes, yes, yes)
difficulties with concentration and making decisions (yes)
low self-confidence (yes)
poor appetite or an increase in appetite ("comfort eating") (very much so)
feeling very agitated or alternatively very apathetic (can?t be bothered) (very much so)
feelings of guilt and self-blame (yes)
thinking about suicide and self-harming (a bit)

However I wonder whether this is just an excuse for me being a lazy caaah - being unable to get out of bed and get out the house etc - and I just need a bit more discipline. Isn't life supposed to be hard with 2 young kids? I do have some times when I'm happy as well - particularly if I get out the house and see people, but then I later get very anxious and ashamed about stupid things I've said, or faux pas I've made.

Also I've had friends who suffered from depression and they were really sealed off in their own world, iyswim, I don't feel like that, and I think anyone other than DH would be really surprised to even hear me think about the possibility of PND. I can remember being told that if you read the DSM then you would think you have all manner of disorders but it's a question of degree and how much it affects your life - is PND the same?

I know you all can't diagnose over the internet, but any advice would be appreciated - I don't want to be a drama queen and waste the doctors time...

[RubyrooUK]

I think depression can affect people in different ways. It need not make you feel sealed off but saying that you think about suicide/self-harm and you feel anxious after social occasions doesn't sound much fun.

I don't think you are being a lazy cow. If you are depressed, it's an illness like any other. And if it's not depression, perhaps you are low on iron or something else like that. Either way, it's probably worth a visit to the GP to chat it through with them.

It sounds like your DH is supportive (and doesn't think you are a lazy cow; looking up PND suggests he thinks you aren't feeling well and it's not being a lazy cow). Talk to the GP and see what advice they have.

[Hassled]

You're right, we can't diagnose over the internet, which is all the more reason why you should stop fretting about time-wasting and talk to your GP. If your DH is worried, and if you can acknowledge that you tick a lot of boxes, then that's justification enough to seek proper help. You know something's up, don't you? And that's all you need to warrant trying to fix it. Good luck :).

[DeePressed]

Thank you Rubyroo, your response made me cry (in a good way!) I went to the GP about insomnia once years ago when I was a student and was out in 2 minutes with some pills, which I think has also put me off. It does help just not being told I'm being silly and to pull myself together...

[DeePressed]

Hassled Thank you too. You're right - there is something up, I've just slipped into it slowly and it feels like it's always been this way - it took DH saying that I hadn't for me to realise if that makes sense.

[RubyrooUK]

You're definitely not being silly Dee. Hope the GP is helpful for you so you can feel better.