To think I might be having a nervous breakdown?

[KoyKarp]

I have 3 DC's, 18 months, 3 and 6. I'm a SAHM and DH is at home a lot at the moment so I do get a lot of help.

Our youngest two don't sleep well so we are all pretty tired and our eldest DD has quite an intense personality which is very tiring... Normal family stuff I know but the few weeks I have been coping really badly and found myslef exhausted and not wanting to be near DC's.

The last few days I have been feeling really confused and forgetful, doing strange things like phoning people and forgetting why I called, and not even remembering an hour after the call... I feel like I'm not really here and my vision and hearing are blurry and muffled, like I'm wathicng my life through a lens. I feel really confused and apathetic and am much quieter than usual, what the hell is wrong with me, am I having a nervoius breakdown?

Sounds to me as though you're really overtired! Hopefully someone will come on here with some advice x

Sounds like sleep deprivation to me. I remember it well! Ds2 didn't sleep through till he was 2. If you're constantly knackered it affects every aspect of your life.

Are you eating well?

A trip to the doctors wouldn't hurt. Do you feel anxious or is your mood low?

Thanks for your replies guys. Naturally quite anxious so no more than usual.. Mood very very up and down. I did wonder if it was sleep deprivation but the last two nights have been ok and I feel worse then a lat week when I was getting woken up every hour!

Having three children is hard work. I have been feeling down lately, I have been running around taking them to activities, dealing with a toddler and feeling like a general dogs body.

I have no advice really but just know that it will pass and that you're not alone. My eldest two are older than yours as well so you have it twice as hard.

Anyway I'm off for wine and chocolate, it's the only way.

I agree I think you are knackered, I only have one but trying to get up early to walk the dog, do chores, start my own business sometimes I could just fall in to a heap.

You description sounds like when you have to catch a plane at 6am so it means you get up at about 3am to get ready, get to the airport etc. On those ocassions it feels like you could just faint because you have had to get up in the middle of the night, hence knackered = your current situation.

I survive on Snickers and Coke.

It sounds like sleep deprivation to me. Could you try and get some sleep during the day or early evening if your dh is at home?

Perhaps the reason you don't want to be around your dcs is because it just becomes work since you end up running around after them all the time. Would it be possible to have some one-to-one time with your dcs? I find that when I do this it becomes an enjoyment. When you have three dcs to look after it is a lot to manage.

Things will get better. In the meantime sometimes admitting it is hard bringing up three dcs helps because you then become more accepting of the fact it is a lot of work so no wonder you're tired.

I am very sympathetic OP. I read the ages of your DCs and thought "ooh, that's really tough!"

As other posters have said, it sounds like sleep deprivation and stress.

Are you getting regular breaks from the children? Don't ever underestimate how hard your shift is (168 hours in a week)). You're on call day and night to three small people with different needs at different times.

This is very hard and you need breaks.

Get your DH to take over so you get an afternoon off to yourself. I do this sometimes (although I only have 2, but similar ages). I take off to the nearest town on my own and drink coffee, try on perfumes and stare into space. When I come back I feel like I have been on holiday.

I have had that thing you have described - it's a culmination of exhaustion over the weeks. See your GP if you are worried but sounds like you are very tired and have a lot going on. Can you get some more support/help from your family/friends?

Big hugs!

The vision, hearing and forgetfulness are all symptoms I had during a period of depression and anxiety last year-have you been feeling overly anxious or down? mine also followed a period of terrible sleep from my DS so please try and get some rest and any break you can-hopefully it is just tiredness but best not to let it develop!. All the best motherhood is lovely but terribly exhausting!.

Thank you for all your posts. I felt fine when I woke up but by 10 am I was at the shops navigating the buggy and started to feel really strange, like I wasn't really there, kind of on autopilot so I have come home and am trying to rest. Have booked to see doctor too although not sure what they will do, I don't want anti depressants as I don't feel depressed

See what the GP says. Perhaps there is something like anemia going on as well.

Also, fwiw, having a partner at home a lot doesn't always make it easier as there can be an extra person to cook for and negotiate with, and they may be unwittingly dumping other stuff on you, or simply making you feel like yu 'ought' to be coping better. Children can also play up more when there are two of you at home.

Deck- you are so right! My Dh is currently off work and I seem to get less done not more!