PPD/PPA AIBU

[Peach0123]

I have been thinking for a while and a thread today has me wondering about how informed we are as parents/family members and friends on PPD & PPA.

My son is nearly 5 months old and I'm suffering with PPA. It's horrendous. All triggered by something happening with a close family member that I considered to be an intrusive thought. It happened and it kind of cemented the anxiety. Never held against the person, just made me think the 'what if' is more likely.

I didn't realise I had any kind of post partum issues due to the fact I wasn't sad all the time. Which may be common, as we know a bit on PPD to a certain extent. Never really educated enough about other signs of PPD/PPA. My first baby was 16 years ago and I did everything the way older family members advised which was not great for many reasons. This time my DP and I are doing it our way, and what's recommended by professionals. This is something that helps my anxiety.

Not many people are aware of my PPA and even had some comments that after 6 weeks you should be fine and getting on with everything as normal.

I would be interested though to hear other people's experiences, that of women and also the family members affected.

AIBU to think that we don't speak of these things enough

a thread today has me wondering about how informed we are as parents/family members and friends on PPD & PPA

I had never heard of the acronym PPA outside of teaching. Have obviously heard of post natal depression though.

Sorry I should have said, it's Post Partum Anxiety.

I thought this was going to be about teaching too!

My baby is 5 months and I had horrendous anxiety the first 4 months which is starting to settle down now. Intrusive thoughts, not wanting to leave the house etc. I used to take medication for anxiety a few years and although I feel just as bad as I did back then, I feel like nobody takes it as seriously and I'm just expected to get on with it. I guess unlike before, I have a reason to be anxious.

I am in the middle of this too. DD is 12 weeks. She’s our second baby. I have a history of anxiety anyway but somehow managed to sidestep this with DS6. This time round the intrusive thoughts and health anxiety about her, DS and myself are something else. I’ve restarted therapy and today saw a GP and got a prescription for sertraline although still in two minds about taking it. I feel as though its something I sort of knew could happen to me but it has swallowed me before I even knew it was happening.

Yes! I totally get it. I'm so organised but leaving the house is a mission. It feels like I can only do one thing at at time. Like visiting relatives, one at a time not going round everyone in same day. It's stressful. Most of the time I go quiet, trying to focus on the positive but it creeps in and totally exhausted when I finally get home. Sure that might come across as rude to some people but don't think they realise what's going on.

So glad to hear your feeling a little better 💐

It's a hard one, I understand your reasons for not wanting to take sertaline though. But you have taken the first Steps and that has to be admired.

Take care 💐