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My husband isnt supportive of my PND

11 replies

Ninaok · 17/03/2011 20:22

Tonight I have just felt that my world fell apart. My baby boy is 4 months old and the most beautiful wee man I could ever hope for. I think I have post natal depression

  • in fact I know I do. I've had it
before. I told him tonight - after a few paranoid incidents with me accusing him of not wanting to phone me when at work- That I have post natal depression and he told me to "go take a walk" and that he "doesn't do post natal depression". Later when we argued further he called me a freak and a weirdo. I have been with my husband for 24 years and This has shocked me to the core. I don't have any family support and don't know what to do.
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BeerTricksPotter · 17/03/2011 22:02

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TheCrackFox · 17/03/2011 22:19

Well he sounds just charming. You have been very brave admitting to your DH about your concerns and it is upsetting to have it thrown in your face like that. Is he always like this? If not then perhaps he is in shock or in denial.

Yes, you must speak to your HV or GP tomorrow. Do you have any family or friends who live close by? Try to gather as much practical support around yourself as possible.

You can and will get better.

BeerTricksPotter · 18/03/2011 11:28

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Ninaok · 18/03/2011 16:22

Hey there. Thanks so much for your replies. My husband is the kind of person who you never know how he is going to react. When I lost my mum very suddenly to a brain clot - I ended up supporting him as he couldn't deal with her death in such a way. This was 7 years ago. I am 37 years old and we have been together since I was 16> we have had very full and sucessful lives since we had our first child when I was 18. She is now 19. I had PND when I had her quite badly - I dont remember the first year of her life. But i was so young and in Ireland I think I may have blocked it all out.
I have ried to contact my GP today but have made an appointment for next week. Told my husband this and he said " no way are you going on anti-depressants!" He doesn't understand. He is usd to me being strong -as is everyone around me. but i need mental suppourt to.

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BeerTricksPotter · 18/03/2011 16:33

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NanaNina · 18/03/2011 20:22

Ninoak - I was wondering how your H reacted to your first bout of PND,but maybe then (especially in Ireland)it was not spoken about as it is now, and you maybe just got on with things. Certainly when I had my children over 40 years ago it was unheard of, but now seems to be affecting so many young mothers.

Do you mind asking if your new baby was planned. You say your H is unpredictable (is this in any event or just in relation to a crisis) He certainly sounds like he is emotionally dependent on you and is panicked at the thought of you not being the strong one for him to lean on. Not saying this is going on at a conscious level but maybe at the root of things.

Whatever the reason I think it is despicable that he has reacted like this - maybe you should tell him "you don't do unsymapthetic men" (sorry that's a bit childish really and won't get you anywhere.

Glad you have an appointment with the GP and please please don't let your H effect your decision to take ADs if that's what the GP thinks is right. HE is not the one suffering and I agree he sounds scared of PND, maybe evenbelieving that people with mental health difficulties are mad. It is amazing how many people still think that and how there is still such a stigma around mental health.

You say you have no family support - none at all? What about your daughter - do you have any friends in whom you can confide.

You will get lots of support on this thread if you need it. SO so sorry your H is saying these things. I had a severe episode of depression last Easter and was in hopsital for 3 months and am still not fully recovered (ups and downs) and I just don't know how I would cope if my DP was not supportive.

Take care of you and your little boy and don't listen to your H's nonsense. Maybe you could get the HV to come round and tell him about PND. Do you think that might work?

CrazyHorse · 18/03/2011 20:27

Your DH probably doesn't know how effective, and non addictive AD's are now. Go see your GP, and if they prescribe AD's, take them without telling your DH. He obviously has his own issues, and isn't able to support you atm.

mamas12 · 18/03/2011 20:35

Well I would seriously not think about supporting him in this because that way madness would lie.
You need to concentrate on yourself and your baby.
He can get his own help. Actually could you not get the gp or health visitor to have a word re: educating him a bit.
Good luck

natsyloo · 21/03/2011 22:00

Hi ninaok I just wanted to say I understand how you feel as I am recovering from a nasty bout of PND and I know how utterly debilitating it can be.

A lot of other mums I've spoken to have said their partners aren't always understanding and I think that is mainly due to a genuine lack of empathy or knowledge of the illness. That said, there is no excuse for your dh to be so negative and hurtful when you are so vulnerable.

If you google the net you will find some interesting info re: partners and how they can best support their other halves and get their heads round the illness. And it is an illness, as much as any physical condition - just because it isn't tangible doesn't mean it's not difficult to deal with.

I suggest you go to your GP, talk to your HV and try and get in touch with other mums with PND who will help you feel a lot less afraid and isolated. MN is a great place for that in the virtual world, but it also helps to get support from friends and others in RL. I've just set up a local group for mums with PND so ask around at your children's centre and see if one exists that you can go to.

You will be ok although I know it doesn't feel like it at the moment. It can feel like your world is collapsing around you but you will get through this and you won't feel like you do now. You've taken a really big step in realising something is wrong so be kind to yourself, try to encourage your partner to see things from your pov and educate him about the reality of PND (Ruby Wax, Sadie Frost, Brooke Shields and Gwyneth Paltrow are just a few 'celebs' who share our experience so your hubbie can in no way brand you a 'freak' or any other foolish label clearly bourne from fear/ignorance!

Take care and keep posting :)

Ninaok · 19/05/2011 09:21

Sorry for not bing on here for a while but I just wanted tothank ALL for thelovely messages of support. Mentally - I am turing a corner thank God...the husband is learning to live with it. He has to or he will lose me...thats what I told him. Thanks so much. xx

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NanaNina · 20/05/2011 16:55

So glad you are "turning a corner" Ninaok - don't however be surprised if things are a bit bumpy for a while, you can go up and down, but the main thing is the overall picture shows that you are on the road to recovery. I expect you know as you said you had pND before. Things are sometimes different though with this deceitful illness. I had a severe bout of depression 15 years ago and made a full recovery in 3 months, and another one last Easter and it is a bumpy road, overall trend is up but still get knocked off my perch at times.

Glad too that the H is learning to live with it. There is no way you can describe the horrors of depression to someone who hasn't experienced it is there. Do you have a good HV or CPN. I have a CPN who is lovely ahd has been a great support to me.

Am sure there will be brighter times ahead for you.

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