Do I need to go on medication now that I have such thin skin?

[Blunde]

So since becoming a mum 18 months ago I have developed extremely thin skin. Whenever I hear of a child suffering or being abused I genuinely start to feel unwell and get lightheaded. I was online when I saw a very upsetting article about a child abuse ring (there was a links at the bottom of an article that I was reading about felt!). I ended up reading it just to reassure myself that they were now safe

To be honest I broke down in hysterics and got extremely shaky. I donate to charities to alleviate my guilt but I still feel sick to my stomach.

Of course stories like this would upset me before but now the emotions are SO visceral. I genuinely feel sicked and panicked at the idea of a child suffering.

Before I get accused of being performative I keep these intense emotions to myself and only my husband has really seen me get upset in this way.

What can I do??

This is mental and emotional torture

i do my best to avoid the news etc but I genuinely can’t avoid everything. The ads to donate to starving children In Gaza have haunted me.

i get quite dark thoughts like please God send an asteroid so their suffering would be over

You need to see your GP immediately if you literally broke down in hysterics and started shaking about something you read.

Although quite why you read it, I don't know?

Either way, mental illness doesn't tend to cure itself often so I'd make an appointment as soon as you can

I’d say there’s lots of things I avoid now I’m a mum. It does get easier as they get older but the mama bear instinct is real. Things that are horrific should be upsetting; that’s the right emotion to have. If it’s interfering with your life and preventing you from doing what you want then I’d speak to your gp, otherwise avoid the news. I’d also put any films including children that aren’t comedies can be avoided too.

My dc are 14-17 years old and my mh is good but I’m far more emotional after having dc about upsetting things involving dc.

I think to a certain degree it's normal to be more affected by things like that when you are a new parent. Combination of hormones firing up every protective instinct you've ever had, and being able to relate intensely with a child once you have your own, in a way you perhaps couldn't understand before.

I used to love really gory thrillers and serial killer books, tried to read one after having DD and it just made me feel absolutely sick.

However, I could just put the book down and not read that sort of thing any more. If you're getting this badly affected that you're literally hysterical then you need to talk to someone, and if you're feeling compelled to read things that you know will upset you, then doubly so.

I’ve had anxiety since I was a teen. Did a lot of work in my 20s. Came off my medication prior to ttc. I thought I was doing largely ok. I was surprised that I didn’t really get the baby blues.

This is crap.

I day anyone who does t have this reaction when seeing children suffer and die is potentially the more disturbing one.

What a ridiculous response

The mama bear never left me. I still can't read media, books about violence and murder of children. Watch films, TV programmes.

Stop reading, watching it @Blunde

I think I’ve probably just got used to it as my new normal.

Any adult who doesn't actually 'break down in hysterics and start shaking' when reading an article about a child abuse ring, is potentially disturbing??

And you say my response was the ridiculous one? 😳

Oh dear.

Yep!

So the vast majority of adults in the world are potentially disturbing according to you?

I'd definitely stick to the day job and leave the armchair psychiatry alone if I were you.

I avoid a lot of heavy stuff now but I’d advise seeing your gp too