is there a post natal depression/anxiety thread?

[MamaLaMoo]

looking for this, will create if not, thanks.

Hi girls - I would like to recommend a book to you which may help you understand depression and anxiety better - its by Dr Claire Weekes and is called Self Help For Your Nerves, it is available on Amazon. It is a bit old fashioned (calls clinical depression Nervous Breakdown etc.) but ignore this and read - It is excellent and really helped me through a very dark time. You will all feel better soon keep asking for help, getting rest and trying to think positively (difficult I know).

Thanks redheads having a bad morning bad bad anxiety panic attacks hard to control only on day 6 of ads seriously considering taking the diazepam the doc prescribed the other day

Hi..does anyone mind if I join??
I'm mummy to 2 beautiful girls aged 5 and (almost) 7 months.
I was diagnosed with PND in July after breaking down to my HV .
Been on AD's ever since...citalopram 20mg, upped to 40mg and recently changed to sertraline 50mg (which is making me feel awful so not taking it like I should)
I don't want to bore you all with the details but things have been awful and not improving. Kind of finding it hard to pretend now.
I'm not really sure why I'm here, maybe just for some support and to be a little more open about stuff that I'm finding hard.
Being normal again would be nice!
Thanks for listening

PS: loving that one of you has a little girl called Alice...its my favourite girls name but I wasn't allowed it!

Hey bells in what way is it making you feel awful ? The sertraline 50mg I mean that's what I'm on and I'm only on day 6 but its not good ATM ?

Thanks I think I need somewhere to offload sometimes.

sassie when I said they're making me feel awful I just meant I constantly feel sick, dizzy, have a headache and feel completely tired and run down.
I guess a lot of it can be put down to not sleeping/eating just seems to be worse since starting the meds.
Thought I'd be well over all this by now. It's scaring me how long it's lasting for.

sassie how are they making you feel??

Tbh bella none of your symptoms really wee bit sick dry mouth run down suppose but I feel the past two days my anxiety has increAsed dramatically especially after I take it in the morning. Have you experienced anything like this? I know I'm only on day 6 but couldn't stop crying today maybe it will get worse before better ?? X

My anxiety's more or less the same. I've not noticed a difference either way. Sometimes I think my 'depression' is worse than when I was first diagnosed and I have days where I seem to cry a lot. Usually when I'm on my own, I don't cry in front of people just cos I don't want to let them know how bad things really are.
I find I get upset a lot too on a night cos I'm usually laid awake for hours and have too much time to think.

If you're just on day 6 maybe give them another week or so and if your anxiety's no better speak to your GP again?? I'm not sure what to suggest really so guess I'm not much help.

Are you ok???

I see a counsellor every 2 weeks and HV every week. Only just started being 'ok' with talking to them though!

Hi all

Sorry some of you are having bad days. I've only been on citalopram but it states on the leaflet for that that it will probably increase your anxiety for a wee while. I was prescribed 40mg citalopram instead of 20mg just before xmas but haven't taken them yet as I feel ok-ish! Touch wood etc.

Have actually had a truly lovely, lovely day today. Child free and with my friends from University. Has really brightened my mood because I never really do much child free. My mums saying I shouldn't have went though and I was wrong to leave the kids (with their dad!!) For so long (9-5). Am trying to let it go over my head...especially since its the longest I've ever left them and my eldest is 5!

Hi all yea I'm ok now calmed down a kit since this morning spent afternoon with my mum and bro who are brilliant. Was supposed to be going to soft play with DH his Sis and all the kids just could not face it especially as I could have easily broken down at any point still I talked and them went for a long walk alone still having bad thoughts but I think this will get better loopy it's good to hear your experiences bella any advice or support at the
Minute is soooo important thank you all so glad you has a lovely day loopy ignore your mum you deserve time out
X

Sorry loopy I meant mistletoes mum in earlier post doh! yea don't let her bully you x

Really bad last night didn't sleep and total basket case this morning. Took half a diazepam 15 mins ago just had argument withDH because I can't face work tomorrow he's usually so good but thinks I'm being defeatist about it. I just feel so bad right now the stress if thinking about work is making it worse

I'm convinced now the mess aren't right for me I can't rest sit still or relax at all all day today. I've had no calm moments at all. I'm going to take another Valium today and then see the doc tomorrow this just doesn't feel right at all. I can't imagine anyone sticking this out for much longer I'd rather go back to sometimes feeling anxious not all the bloody time

Hi, I am hoping you don't mind me joining I don't suffer with pnd but my dd does and I worry about giving her the right help. Her and dgs live with us.

She had pnd the first time when dgs was about 10 weeks had struggled for ages without telling anyone. Ads worked well and she came off them. Approx. 4 months ago went back on them dgs now 3.1 this time pnd was worse - she had thoughts (once) of hurting herself (didn't).

Her main problem is the fear that something is going to happen to her and what will happen to son then she is single mum and terrified exp will get son not a god dad but thats another issue.

When it was windy few days ago didn't want to go out incase something fell on car, tonight she has been to a friends house it is a terraced house so front door opens straight into the lounge she has spent the whole night frightened that someone would put gun through letterbox and shot her. She knows these fears are unfounded but that doesn't help.

She has recently started taking tablets for nerve damage around her ribs, one side effect of these is depression so that could be making it worse. Does other medication interfere with the way ads work? She feels she has been worse for just over a week which is how long she been taking the new tablets.

Sorry long I just want to do the best for my lovely dd.

sassie let us know how you get on at the docs won't you??

loopy you sound really down today. Are you alright??

Today has been one of those awful days that seem to go on forever. Just wanted to go to bed, curl up, sleep (for a long time) and not talk to anyone.
Instead 'had' to go to the inlaws. And had to keep my mask well and truly on all day because I can't possibly let it slip and ~shock horror~ snap at OH or possibly make comment on the fact that he didn't give LO any dinner while I was in the shower because 'he didn't know what to give her' (we've been weaning her for the past 6/7 weeks) so waited for me to come downstairs to do it. Or the fact that if I say the tiniest thing that could cause him any kind of offence, it results in him sulking and moping about the house not talking to me. Or sometimes all I want is for him not to be sat on his arse watching telly when I'm trying to do 100 jobs at once with no help whatsoever.

Anywayyy...I've finished ranting now!! But seriously, just a little bit of support from him would be nice...just for him to say "I'll look after the kids, you go back to bed for a bit" would be amazing. He knows I don't sleep and I'm shattered but it's like he's not even bothered.
I just need someone to be there for me

Hi lovebeinganana
I think maybe you're DD needs to speak to her GP again regarding her meds. Especially if she feels she has become worse since taking these new tablets. It may be coincidence or it may be that they're interfering with each other.

You sound like you're doing everything possible to help your DD it sounds like she can really talk to you and her knowing that you're there for her 100% is more than enough.
I think someone else on here will prob know more about her meds affecting one another so do keep a look out!

Thank you bellaBoo, just wondered are her fears what most sufferers go through. My heart goes out to all sufferers and hope they all have the support/ love they need.

Yes I believe they are quite common fears to have.
Your DD is so scared of something happening to her because of the love she has got for her DS. She is probably thinking that by protecting herself and not putting herself in harms way (not going out in the wind etc) that she is protecting her son and making sure that he has always got his mummy there.
I guess if her anxiety levels weren't so high then things like going out when its windy wouldn't be a problem. She wouldn't even think twice about it.

There are some breathing techniques that can be quite helpful when thinking these kind of thoughts. They really help reduce the anxiety because you're concentrating on your breathing instead of your thoughts.
It's basically deep breaths in (for say a slow count to 5) and out (slow count to 5)
I've had to do them in all kinds of situations and it really does work.