To think that a CPN should

[TruthSweet]

offer better help than 'just cheer up'? I have post-natal depression, post-natal OCD, generalised depression, ordinary OCD and trichotillomania (hair pulling). So yes I am barking.

I feel like utter shit and just can't cope today. CPN didn't offer any help or advice, just asked me DCs names/ages (for the 6th time) so she gets them right when she hands me over to my new CPN (she is retiring) and said 'do you often cry when the children are naughty?'. DD1 was getting in DD3's face and generally bothering her and wouldn't stop so she went on the step. I cried whilst DD1 was on the step. Her parting words as she went to her next appt were 'just cheer up'. If only it was so easy.

If she wasn't retiring, I would be advising you to put in an official complaint. However, I suggest you simply look forward to the new one!!!

Well if it was that easy!!
Hope you have better luck with your new CPN.

Mine just seems to sit there. As much as she's nice she is rather cold as well, so I don't feel able to talk to her.

Hope your new one is better.

YANBU.

I got on better with and felt I had better help from the OT rather than the CPN. She encouraged me to make appointments with her that weren't necessarily in the house, or that were during times when I had soemthing else to do, and she would accompany me - to the park, to the kitchen, wherever! It worked very well.

Perhaps the new CPN will be better for you. Perhaps you might like to discuss a different strategy with her?

That is really odd. How does she think she has helped you. In any way. fingers crossed for the new one.

ErikaMaye - mine does this too and seems to want me to unburden my soul to her but if I say what intrusive thoughts/feeling suicidal I get 'oh but your girls are so beautiful and look at how well dressed they are'. Obviously that will cure me . Not very helpful is she?

Prettycandles - she just sits on my sofa with her diary out so she can write down when she will next see me. I wish she would do something with me. Going for a walk would be brilliant. Can we clone your OT (is that occupational therapist?) and turn her into a CPN as I wouldn't qualify for a OT as I don't work (apart from the house & 3 under 4)

Ime, a lot of cpns are utter crap.

There are notable exceptions of course, but I have nad lots of rubbish experiences with them and with mental health nurses in general.

You need to be refered to someone who knows what they are doing. Bloody ridiculous!

But TruthSweet, I didn't work either! I was at home with 8mo ds1. The OT (yes, occupational therapist) was part of the peri-natal metnal health team who came to assess me. I was puzzled why she came, especially as she didn't seem to do anything (visions of basket-weaving). Perhaps they thought I wasn't severe enough to warrant the CPN visiting? Tho OTOH, it was the CPN who visited after dd's birth, and I was far better after dd than I was after ds1.

i actually see a mental health social worker as opposed to a cpn and i think itshe realised i have some major problems and knows they are not going to go away overnight.

ive started a thread myself
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/904930-to-want-someone-to-listen-properly-to-m e

it seems like this happens to alot of people.