Scared pnd is back

[alicemac83]

Hi everyone, I suffered badly from pnd when I had my first baby 3 years ago. I had counselling and took anti d's and thankfully I got better fairly quickly. For the last 2 and a half years I've been really happy. I loved my dd so much.
Then last week she started playing up really badly. It was probably the worst she's ever been and it really upset me. Since then I've felt my old pnd symptoms creep back- the main one feeling either indifferent or negative towards my dd. I feel like I'm going through the motions with her, whereas just last week I was full of love for her.
I'm terrified that my pnd is back, my dh says that I'm just worried about it coming back and that's what's making me stressed.
Has anyone else felt this way?
Thanks so much for reading this long post!
Xxx

Hi - if any help, it would not be classed as PND if you have a 3yr old, but would be classed as depression or other mental health issues if relevant. If symptoms persist after a child is about 2yrs old or restart after a period of wellness it is not classes as pnd and usually is treated through different pathways - eg no access to perinatal mental health team etc, but via gp and other services.

Do you think how you are is due to having a toddler/little one behaving in certain ways. They certainly know how to challenge us. If it is due to dd's playing up is it worth asking your HV for a chat, to check all is ok with her and for support with her - as they can be really helpful for reassurance, tips and advice.

Or you can go to your gp if you feel you need more support as well, although they may also recommend going to hv as hv can access different support to a gp. Just because you had pnd when your dd was younger does not mean you have mental health issues now, it could just be anxiety related to your dd? Just wanted to reassure you pnd cannot come back in that pnd is a term not used once a child is past a certain age, so worth exploring what else is going on instead? If you are concerned you can ask to be referred to an adult mental health team for assessment by your gp although this is only usually used for people who are at secondary care treatment of mental health or are at risk to themselves or others so do not worry if they try other care pathways first.

I know when my toddler son is not sleeping, or going through a development milestone and his behaviour changes it affects me, as it does most mum's. May be worth posting this thread on Parenting section as well (maybe without the pnd bit?) to see how other mums cope with challenging 3 yr olds! As they are challenging. For extra support?

Thank you Silverstars, I'm sure you are right. I think with me, it was so bad the first time that I am terrified of it coming back - so that every time I feel any negativity towards my child I start to panic.
I phoned my GP this morning and he said I had nothing to worry about (easier said than done!) and that lots of people feel a bit low in Jan... I think it's more than that, I think I probably do have anxiety issues so I've contacted a counselling centre.
Thanks again for your advice x

Hi, Jan can be difficult so do no be too hard on yourself, with family and people off work to help over Christmas, hopefully nice times and treats. Jan is a hard month. Ad encouraging gp said you had nothing to worry about.

Have you got a supportive HV, as they often run or know of support groups for mums who struggle with all sorts of things so useful to get extra help there as well.