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Mental health

Avoiding depression when drugs aren't allowed?

9 replies

LissyGlitter · 22/05/2009 16:14

I have suffered from pretty severe mental health problems since the birth of my DD (so just over 2 years) and was on antipsychotics (aripiprazole) and antidepressants (sertraline) until I got pregnant and came off all drugs. I was fine at first, but can feel myself getting depressed again. I hardly leave the house, don't really look after myself, keep thinking about suicide (I don't think I would actually do anything as I am pregnant, but I kind of obsess about it, it is almost comforting, in an odd way) and recently I have started jumping because I see things running across the room or flying about. Not hearing voices or having any paranoid thoughts at the moment though, which is a blessing. Everything in the house just seems impossible. I am managing to look after DD pretty well I think, but that's about it. I told my mental health team all this, and they just said that being pregnant is hard and they didn't want to put me back on any drugs as it could harm the baby. When I got pregnant at first they kept telling me there was drugs that were safe in pregnancy. I'm terrified of ending up really ill and in hospital again, as apparently I would have to go to a specialist unit that is miles away. So how can I fight this illness,instead of just sitting around letting it happen to me?

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FeatheredHeart · 22/05/2009 22:37

Hi LissyGlitter. Very sorry to hear this but if it's any consolation I am in the same boat though not as severe as yours. I have had this several times before but never for as long.

I also am not on drugs as b/f but am not finding my mental health worker much help. So I am also looking for the same thing as you.

Overall, I think it is trying to change thought patterns from negative to positive...but it is no easy thing!

The thing I have found helps a lot is actually hearing about people worse off than me! I then see i'm lucky compared to some. This only works when I'm there with the people themselves. I actually feel worse and more guilty when I start thinking at home I'm lucky yet I STILL feel the way I do. That's not helpful and if you do this you need to stop and force yourself to do something else. I think part of the trick is to recognise WHEN you're thinking negatively and then find ways to break it and one of those ways is to "get out of yourself" IYSWIM. I find you get so absorbed in how your feeling it gets a bit whirlpool-like and obsessive. I don't know if you feel that? Actually as soon as I start doing things or taking an interest in other people I think less about how I'm feeling.

E.g. It took a lot of effort to get out to a group today but so glad I went because i) it was a distraction from problems and how I'm feeling, ii) I met people someone with worse problems than me which made me feel fortunate, iii) I also met a really nice girl and got a very useful contact through someone else.

There is one really good thing to say about depression in my experience: Small efforts can reap huge benefits and often in more than one way.

I also have the unmanageable house problem. I find it upsets me less if I try and sort something out as soon as i spot it, otherwise it builds up and seems impossible. Little by little is the answer to tackling it I think. If it all gets too much I try to get a change of scene - a walk, a coffee out, or if I'm not up to that, even to do something in a different room and come back refreshed.

I have a lot of anxiety and sleeping problems (plus a newborn) but if you're having problems there I can let you know how I'm trying to address that one.

I have the suicide thoughts too and know exactly what you mean in your description. But I know it's worse when I'm sleep deprived so I try to sleep or if i cant force myself to do a task til i am so tired I have to sleep. I think spending too much time on the computer is not a good thing overall too, even though it appears to be a useful distraction. I think it probably actually fuels the obsessiveness.

Dont know what to say about the flying things as i haven't had that (though in the past I have had the jumpiness thing at any noise, even quiet ones). Did you mention that to the MHW? Have you any intuitions as to what might be causing it?

About looking after yourself, remember that this is one of the most important times in your unborn baby's entire life for development so try to get your 5 a day for him / her. Know also that even a small difference here will help you feel better a) because it's good for your baby, b) because it's good for you, c) because you will feel and know you're doing something good and positive! d) if you're eating well and looking after yourself you are setting a good example for your older child.

Also remember that at the end of all this - you get a baby! And it is all worth it. If you have an older child and you know how adorable they can be you will know this already!

Keep good photos to look at to remind you of this when you forget it. But if you start crying, put them away, take a deep breath and try to do something that is going to improve your life even in a tiny way, like wiping the surfaces or cleaning the loo!

Try not to think about the worse possible scenarios (e,g, I may become really ill). I did this a lot, esp when pg and became really obsessive about things. Consider realistically what the chances are of whatever the scenario you are worrying about at the time actually happening. Better still, remember there are plenty of problems to deal with in the immediate present, so let the future take care of itself for the moment! You have the opportunity in the present moment to influence that future!

These are some of the things that have helped me and hope they do you too.

Another thing to try is go back to your dr and tell them you are not getting the support you feel you need from your team. It sounds to me you are not getting the support - saying being pregnant is hard is not good enough. I am in the same position at the mo but personally have decided for now that as I have a lot going on I would rather try and deal with it alone than fight to make the system work. My job is to make me better, not to make them do their jobs properly! You could try putting that line to your dr & see what happens though (I might too!). Better go to your dr than try to tell the MHT that though and let him sort it out. It's good they know that sort of thing about you and about the MHT anyway.

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FeatheredHeart · 22/05/2009 22:38

God! Sorry - did not realise how much i had written!

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LissyGlitter · 22/05/2009 23:07

Thanks! I wil try what you say. I have to go and see my GP anyway to get a sicknote as I will have to claim benefits as I am in no fit state to work (my mental health team have said for a good while that I shouldn't be working) so i may mention that I don't think they are being much use. Before I was pregnant they were really good, even popping straight out to see me within the hour if I sounded upset enough on the phone, but now they seem to not be bothered.

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FeatheredHeart · 22/05/2009 23:25

good, well say that, and ask why.

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TotalChaos · 22/05/2009 23:30

Lissy - try and get referred to a psychiatrist to discuss the whole drugs and PG issue. some areas have perinatal psychiatrist, so would be use to dealing with pg women.

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LissyGlitter · 23/05/2009 21:08

I am under a psychiatrist. When I first asked what would happen if I got pregnant they said they would refer me to the specialist perinatal unit, but it doesn't seem to have happened. Unless they have sent a letter without me knowing. They are always sending letters to my GP, I only find out by sneaking a look at his computer screen when I go.

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ScummyMummy · 23/05/2009 21:15

Please insist on seeing the perinatal psychiatrist, Lissy. You may well need some medication and more and more evidence is being gathered about what is safe to prescribe in pregnancy. They are letting you down by not referring you on to explore this further.

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BillSilverFoxBuchanan · 23/05/2009 21:15

You need to put your foot down about the perinatal unit referral.

There are drugs that are safe to take for depression/psych symptoms during pregnancy (or at least there were three years ago).

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ouchitreallyhurts · 24/05/2009 09:06

Your MW might make the referral too. When I was 8 weeks with no.4 my MW referred me as their protocol was to automatically do this with anyone who has a history of depression or other emotional illness. I think the NICE guidelines might even have somethign about this.

There are meds safe during pregnancy and its important that you get the care and treatment you need earlier rather than later.

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