Positive Mental Health- I suffered from Post Natal Depression,

[helensullivan]

When I first had PND it was put down to the stress of pregnancy as our first child was still-born and we fell pregnant again straight-away. Anyway no2 was perfect except I was frightened and scared and tired all the time. I couldnt get any routine going and felt out of control. Exercise and friends saved me, finally I felt safe enough to leave her with someone as on the balance of number with 4 kids at the creche she was bound to be ok. Then no3 was coming and everything that I had struggled with before was so much worse as I had a todcdler to deal with and no time to be back & forth at clinics for re-assurance. No3 fantastic baby, slept thru at 5 weeks even though breastfeeding, things fell apart at 10 weeks and even though solids introduced early it took 6 months of antidepressants for me to get on track. 1 house move later and I was back to falling apart, begging health visitor for nursery places and managed to get back to exercise, one year of antidepressents on and I forgot to take them on hols. I decided I couldnt keep going thu a cycle of slowly getting worse then getting drugged up to go on, I started looking at alternative therapies at took a course on Reiki. I am now running my own complementary therapies business on a mobile basis in Glasgow. This focus on myself has helped me in so many ways, and I would urge anyone with PND or anxiety issues to enlist the help of a trusted friend and fit in more exercise and relaxation - you will sleep better, feel happier and put the colour back in your life.

My girls are off school & nursery for the summer, and for the first time in 4.5 years there is no trip abroad. We are having fun in the sun at home, playing in the garden, baking and running to the park - yes its hard squeezing everyhting in but I jog 3 times a week, and we try to walk somewhere every day so we all get lots of fresh air and exercise and hopefully all sleep as much as we need each night.

take care

[mollyroger]

helen, it was very good of you to share your positive story. I'm glad you feel so well now.
Some of the people I work with worry terribly about ''never feeling better'' so it's always good to hear positive recovery stories

[Louise76]

What a great story, Helen! I have been on antidepressants for 4 months and am having counselling. I am starting to feel better and want to wean myself off them asap. I will try to take your advice.

It's great to hear that you can come out of the other side of pnd.

[mollyroger]

louise - don't attempt to wean yourself off ADs, please speak to gp bout it first...seen too many people set back because they felt 'better' and stopped taking them.

But good luck and keep smiling!