To ask for your PND tips

[alltalknobaby]

DD is about to turn 6 months and I've just diagnosed myself with PND. I have suffered with depression twice in the past so I recognise the symptoms. Previously antidepressants have done nothing for me and I want to avoid them. I also found going to the GP useless both times. I'd like to try helping myself with (e.g.) exercise and healthy eating first, and then maybe try counselling if that doesn't work.

So as not to drip feed, I'm still on mat leave, going back in January part-time; my partner is very supportive but I haven't told him yet - I've only just admitted it to myself. I will try to discuss it with him later. (I find it very hard to talk about things like this.)

Any other ideas, tips or advice would be very welcome. Feeling a bit lost and hopeless at the moment. Thank you.

Good luck tomorrow. Come back and let us know how you get on.

Great news about visiting the GP tomorrow. Wishing you all the best.

Good for you OP, wishing you good luck x

ADs didn't help me. I focused on what I could take control of as I felt I had lost control of my life. For me it was losing the weight I had gained. I did this in a completely healthy way, logging what I was eating and running four times a week. The running really helped me. It gave me thinking time. I didn't have a supportive partner and spending less and less time stuck in the house with him also made a difference. I made sure I got out and about as often as I could. Even if it was just a walk with DS.

Good luck🍀

Good luck with your doctors appointment tomorrow, I put off dealing with my PND for nearly two years and it almost killed me.
I'm on 100mg Sertraline and it's done wonders.

I was very anti AD's but thank God I gave them a try.
Let us know how goes tomorrow

I didn't go down the AD route, what helped me was...

Getting out everyday. I went to a lot of baby groups and grew to love them. Baby cinema was the highlight of my week.

Starting to eat well, taking care of myself and I swear by omega 3 supplements.

A bit of time to myself.

In the end, going back to work was probably the biggest thing that helped me back on track. Ironically, I'd now do anything to give it all up and spend more time with him.

I was anti antidepressants, but they literally saved me last year when I had pnd.
Just enough so I could feel myself again, hope you find the best thing for you

100% agree on getting out everyday! After I had my first I was in everyday, worried about messing up nap times etc, In the end I didn't want to leave the house and suffered with anxiety and panic attacks!

Even though it's tiring and finding things to do even a walk to the shops helped me, or walk to the park, round the block or sitting in the garden. I think sitting in the house Day in day out can be really depressing. I'd wake up and after sorting dc out I'd think it's to late to go out now if it was past 1pm so would never bother🙄.

Hope you get better asap!

How are things today, OP?

Thank you for checking on me tired. I have seen the GP today - she was very kind and sympathetic. She has prescribed me some ADs and also referred me for counselling. I feel sad and disappointed that this is happening but also hopeful that I will start to feel better soon. I need to tell my family, which I'm not looking forward to. It feels like admitting to a weakness, even though I know they'll be lovely and supportive. Sigh.

DD is also teething right now so our house is a bundle of laughs 🙄 But we got out for a long walk earlier and that helped us both.

It's not a weakness it's an illness. One that you couldn't prevent or predict. You don't have to tell everybody in your family up to to you who to tell.

Really glad the GP supportive. Am sure this is the first day of your journey of recovery and you have done the exact right thing for our DS and yourself xx

Well done OP, things will start looking up soon. And then you will look back at this period and be so glad that you reached out for help.

I'm glad your appointment went well, bravo to you for sharing with your DP and getting in with a GP so quickly!

I'm currently pregnant and have a history of depression, I thought I'd share what has worked for me in the past and also what has been recommended to me for the post-partum period by the various professionals who support me, in case any of it is helpful to you.

Firstly, nothing touches the depression like anti-depressants, I strongly support at least trying them out.

In addition to the ADs, I find the following things help:

• getting outside
• moving my body, however minimally - intense exercise feels good sometimes but I'm not always up for that. Just walking or stretching helps me get out of that "locked in" and closed down depression mode. Sometimes just a big stretch makes me want to cry, because it's scary to be open in that way. I say all this because people often recommend vigorous exercise for depression but often that's so hard to make yourself do. Any movement is good.
• eating "well" (the definition of that will depend on the person, eat what makes you feel genuinely good) and on a regular schedule.
• keeping a regular-ish bedtime and wake up time, even if you're not sleeping
• socializing
• recognizing "depressed" thoughts, acknowledging them, and not clinging to them or wishing them away, just let them be.
• shower regularly
• change the sheets
• splash water on your face and change into fresh clothes every morning :)

Saw this today on my newsfeed.

Thank you for the tips, beach - I recognise some really good points there. And thank you for sharing that tired - it's really hard to know what to say to a depressed person, I speak from experience. But some of those I recognise!

Fruit I know rationally that it is not a weakness. Of course you are right, it's an illness just like any physical one. It's hard to remember that sometimes. I think in society we really need to be more open about depression and de-stigmatise it. I will try to lead by example

Thank you all again. You have no idea how helpful you have been xx

How are you getting on, @alltalknobaby

Hi tired - thanks for checking in 😊 I'm on day 8 of sertraline and experiencing some side effects but nothing unmanageable. I'm
Not up to the proper dose yet so no benefits from them yet but I definitely feel better for having accepted and discussed the PND. I'm getting help from family and OH is being supportive. So things are on the up. Hoping for counselling soon too.