Lied about Post-Natal Depression?

[MamaButton98]

Has anyone ever been asked by the HV or family if they’ve been struggling or need help in any way and you’ve just put up the walls and said you were fine every time??
My HV asks the usual questions they say help them recognise when someone needs help but I just always say I’m fine. I guess I’m afraid they’ll take my little one if it looks like I’m not okay, a silly notion but you know how it is. I have a long history of depression and an equally long history of not asking for help with it.

I just wanted to know if anyone has ever just said they were fine and tried to get better on their own?
Also anyone know how they notice it without the questions?

Yep. With DC1 I looked like I was fine and told them I was fine. I was not fine. I did not get better by myself. It was the worst year of my life and I regret not accessing help. I feel like I lost the first year of my son's life and I'll never get that back.

With DC2 I was hammering on the GPs door for help the second I recognised my symptoms and got amazing support. As a result I've had the most wonderful year with my daughter.

See your G.P. They won’t take your baby away from you.

I had the opposite problem, I don’t like hospitals and couldn’t wait to get out when I had my baby via c section (so had to stay in).
Docs thought I had PND and made me stay in. Had to see a hospital psychiatrist to get out! No idea to this day what I did/said/acted to warrant this) neither does my family or hubby. Still freaks me out when I look back on it.

I did this OP. Was with my second child so I didn't really expect it and I think wasn't willing to accept it or didn't really understand it so thought it was within the realms of 'normal'. It took me years to admit/realise how bad it was - I barely remember the first year. It was part of a bigger picture for me too - I have struggled with very anxious feelings for most of my life but again thought it was normal. Turns out I'm really quite dysfunctional in many ways! And only in the last couple of years am I able to accept and access help - through medication, counselling, exercise and amazing open conversations with friends.

For me it didn't affect the care I could provide my children so outwardly I probably wasn't high risk. But I was an emotional void inside. And if I was in a more isolated position or had other challenges - poor impulse control or history of destructive addiction - I am sure my children would have suffered. I still have terrible guilt about it sometimes. I hope you feel able to get support. I am so glad I have taken better control of my mental health. It feels very empowering.

Glad I’m not alone in this. I have been thinking about going to my GP and getting help, it’s not a nice feeling to have.
Apparently DS is putting on weight slower than average, I’m hoping he’s just got his dads metabolism and it’s not me having breastfeeding problems. His dad can eat and eat and not put on much weight the lucky bugger .