Could this really be PND???

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my daughter is 17 months old, and since she was born I've been suffering from terrible anxiety - I am terrified of flying, of driving, convinced I am going to die, get cancer, or that something will happen to her. I have been depressed as well, but nothing compared to the anxiety. It has been a pretty tough time since she was born and so I just put it down to that.

recently, things have been so bad, I contacted an online counsellor. She suggested that it's possible that I have undiagnosed PND.

Is it really possible that I could have had PND all this time?? That all the time I've been ashamed of how I am feeling, it has been something REAL??

If I go to the doctors with my toddler in tow, and suggest I have PND, would he laugh? And could he do anything?

I would really be happy to know that this is something that is not just me being "neurotic and paranoid" (my husband's description!)

FP

Yes, it could be PND - it can start anywhere up to a couple of years after the baby is born. The GP won't laugh at you; he will have seen it all before and will be able to help you.

Anxiety can be a big part of depression, but it can be treated, either with ads or counselling.

Go and see the GP, don't put up with feeling like this any longer.

thanks WWB for your reply.
It is such a relief to know that this might be something that is treatable.

FP

I was diagnosed with pnd when dd was 18 months, it was mild, i felt a bit like you. The doctor prescribed vit b6 and magnesium, it was miraculous. Wishing you the best of luck, once its got a name, it's much easier to deal with.

Yes, it could be PND.
I was told by a doctor that you can suffer from PND, anything up to 2 years after the birth of your baby.
You may also have been suffering for longer than you realise.
Looking back, I had similar symptoms to those you describe, when my ds1 was around 10 mths.
I thought I had every serious illness going & was forever at the doctors.
I just thought it was that I was overwhelmed with my new role as a mother & it was a fear that something could happen where I would have to leave him.
Could you have a word with your HV, or gp?

hi
does sound like pnd. If you go to gp they will diagnose pnd or general depression..either way treatment is the same. When you go ask to be refered to counselling as even though meds help they dont deal with the issues you have going in your head.

Thanks so much everyone,
I am going to try and work up the courage to speak to the doctor - I am not in the UK, unfortunately, so it is a bit more nervewracking than if I was just going to the GP.

I am scared most of all about my husband's reaction, but perhaps if I have an actual diagnosis he will believe that this is not just something I can just get over on my own.

It does help a little to know that I am not alone.

FP

I had PND for over 4 years before it was diaagnosed. I just diddn't realise how bad I had got and my dd was about 18 months (2nd child) when I had a meltdown at the health visitors and was diagnosed. After I had ds1 I was constantly tired and teary and it just all came to a head one day. I was on anti depressants for 6 months and I was back to my pre-child self. It was like I had forgotten who I was.

I did the Edinburgh test (read about it on another thread) and scored 23. If you are over 12, they tell you to see the doctor

I did talk to my husband the other night. I gave him a list of PND symptoms to read, and he thought I had written it about myself. He was really shocked when I told him I hadn't written it. He asked me what I was going to do, I told him I was planning to talk to dd's doctor. He said Good Idea, and hasn't mentioned it again.

Now that I have realised that have this, and have had for a year, I am amazed I didn't see it before. But I just put it down to not adjusting to a new country, and me being totally crap.

Not sure what to do now, the doctor's appt is not until the 28th. At first I was really relieved that what was wrong with me was not just me being hopeless, but now it has sunk in a little I am really scared. I know I have to get this treated, but it is so hard to admit this to people. I don't know how things are here (in Switzerland) or what will happen.

My mum is staying this week, but I have not said anything to her. I think if she was sympathetic, I would just fall to pieces. I have to keep pretending to be strong or that will be the end.

Thanks again for the support,
FP