Social services referral due to mental health help

[Catnoise]

I have just been diagnosed with post natal depression. It is more anxiety than depression. I'm coping well with the baby but my anxiety has reached a high which has resulted in me being snappy with my husband.

Having tried to get a GP appointment for a week and being unable to, we ended up in A&E this morning and I have seen a psychiatric nurse who has said she thinks I have PND. She also said that a&e have to refer me to social services as there is a child involved.

I am beyond devastated and wish I hadn't come here now and had just kept trying for a GP appointment as then I wouldn't have been referred. Can anyone offer me any advice or guidance on this please?

I meant to add after 'snappy with my husband' 'and tearful with fluctuations in mood'.

I'm sure someone more experienced will come along in a minute, but I've read a lot of threads along these lines, and wanted to say that social service involvement isn't a bad thing, or something to feel guilty about.

They might be able to offer you more support and help make sure your child isn't affected by everything. Or they might just talk to you and decide you both have it in hand.

Hope you feel better soon. Are you going to start some medication soon?

Thank you sloper. I will be starting on seetraline as soon as they can find someone to prescribe it for me! We are still at the hospital at the moment and they are currently talking to my husband in private.

I just feel like such a failure. Ive been coping absolutely fine with DS. I've found the transition to parenting surprisingly OK.

I know they have to have these systems in place but it just feels like such a kick in the teeth and I'm so scared of what the process will be and also how long it will take. Having been quite ok this afternoon (ironically) I'm now really distraught that social services are going to have to be involved with my beautiful baby boy because of my anxiety. And now my anxiety feels really acute again.

Please don't think that this will be a huge thing. They have to inform SS for safeguarding. A few weeks ago I was dealt with by the Crisis team for severe depression. They supported me for about 3 weeks as an outpatient including coming round to my house and they brought a social worker with them - I have two children, 7 and 9. They were never anything but kind and supportive and never made me feel judged in the slightest.

Good luck, you will make it through this.

sign I'm so sorry you have been having a tough time. I hope you are feeling better now.

That is reassuring. I think it's the fear of the unknown which is what a lot of my anxiety is always around.