So fed up! Does CBT work?

[bex8250l]

Hi mums,

I have a 4 month old daughter called Esmé, and i've just been diagnosed with moderate post-natal depression and anxiety. It started off with me getting upset and anxious whenever anybody (apart from my husband) held my baby. Initially i assumed this was normal, but these feelings have not gone away and are gradually getting worse - to the point where i want to scream at people to put her down and leave her alone! I have even started to avoid seeing people (including family) for this reason :-( . I also get upset when i think about Esmé growing up, i just want her to stay as she is - i think that's because i feel like i'm missing out on enjoying her; as this illness is holding me back.

I seem to have good and bad days, and there doesn't seem to be any pattern as to when or why i have "bad" days, but when i do i feel so down and alone (even with the support of my wonderful husband and mum), it feels as though i'm never going to feel ok again. I feel extremely guilty for feeling this way as there are people out there who can't have children and i've got this amazingly beautiful baby but i'm still not "happy" :-(

I have decided to try Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) instead of anti-depressants; although i am willing to try anything to get past this crippling illness! Has anyone had any success with CBT? and how long did it take to recover? I'm so desperate to feel like "me" again, and i'm very aware that i'm missing out on enjoying life and my gorgeous little girl.

Sorry for the essay! Just wanted to get it off my chest, and i'm hoping that there is someone out there who understands how i'm feeling and can give me some hope for the future.....

[fideline]

No personal experience, sorry. Have heard lots of positive things about CBT, though. Hopefully someone will come along soon who can give you the benefit of their first hand experience.

Also wanted to say; you are only four months in and presumably still a bit short on sleep. I was never diagnosed with PND but did feel anxious and fully-stretched when mine were very small (I recognise the not wanting anyone to touch my babies thing, but at the time I took it to be normalish and gritted my teeth through it) - I felt so much better generally once mine were sleeping through every night; much less on edge.

I am not saying you don't have PND, I am saying PND can be multi-factoral, sleep deprivation will always make depression/anxiety worse, that the early months are sodding hard work and things do get easier generally.

Good Luck

[bex8250l]

Thanks for replying Fideline, I appreciate that it's bloody hard work looking after a little one - I fully expected that! But didn't expect to feel like this (no one warns you!). She sleeps through the night (for 10 hours), so I don't think sleep deprivation is a factor here; plus my counsellor has ruled that out.

[fideline]

10 hours a night at that age is quite impressive. Hope you don't have to wait too long for a more helpful response.

[Fairy7]

I tired CBT before going on anti depressants and it was brilliant. What CBT allows you to do is cope with depression. It gives you strategies to use based on your individual circumstances. It's helped me so much from just every day things such as getting out of bed to helping me deal with negative thoughts. It's a coping strategy and one that worked for me as I've got better but I still use the CBT strategies as I find them still helpful. Just to add that I was really against taking anti depressants before I started CBT but as the therapy was going really well both my GP & CBT therapist agreed that if I took the anti depressants and continued with CBT it would speed up my recovery. And it did! The anti depressants took the edge off the depression and the CBT gave me strategies to cope and over a few months I was back to my old better self! I stayed on the anti depressants for a year and came off them no dramas. Hope this helps you with your decision:-) Ggod luck and hang in there, there is light at the end of the tunnel:-)

[ithoughtofitfirst]

CBT is very effective. I'm not scared of getting ill again because i know how to kick it's ass.

Find a therapist you like, give it a go and it will start to work if you put the work in.

[puppythedog]

All the best evidence says that psychotherapy coupled with pharmaceutical therapy has the best results.

On a less sciencey basis, yes CBT does work, all psychotherapy word, the best results occur when the person trusts and gets on with their therapist.

[tznett]

CBT didn't work for me. Antidepressants have brought far better results. It just depends on the person so it's worth persevering until you find what suits you.

[PerpetualStudent]

I was prescribed computer-delivered CBT for depression/anxiety at uni. I don't know how common this is via the NHS. It did help to an extent, but obviously just being an online computer programme I logged onto & worked through it required quite a lot of self motivation - I think even with a therapist the thing with CBT is you have to really make yourself stop & pick through your thought processes etc.
But, like I say, I did find it helpful in the end. Really sorry to hear you're feeling low. Hope you find some support to get through this soon - Im sure you will!

[NanaNina]

You've had good responses here but you might find it better to post on the Mental Health thread.