Postnatal depression and antidepressants

[Collienova]

I went to my GP last week to get help with how low I've been feeling since my DS was born 8 months ago. He was very good and took me seriously, which was a relief.

He suggested no alcohol or coffee for the time being, keeping a mood journal and making time for myself more... I'm doing well on no alcohol and coffee, but writing down my feelings has only helped me see how messed up I am at the moment and making time is easier than it sounds with two kids, work and a husband who works a lot himself. It's stressing me out trying to make time for myself...

Anyway, I'm considering trying an antidepressant such as Sertraline to help me over this hump so I can actually focus on the other tools available such as exercise and cbt. Husband thinks it's a bad idea, but he will support me in what I need.

I'm concerned about side effects and how long I would need to be on the medication for and issues with stopping.

Any advice if you've been down this road? I just feel they could really help short term to get me even-keeled again.

First of all for you. It's very very hard having pnd, and you've already taken the big first steps of admitting it to yourself and going to the gp.

What are your symptoms like? Is it purely depression or are you having anxiety too?
Do you have any background of having either of those before?

I have always been an anxiety sufferer but when my daughter was about 3 months old I fell down the pnd black hole and simply upped my dose (with help from gp) I too was on sertraline. It's apparently the best one to be on for pregnancy/ breastfeeding.
I would say depending on how you are getting on (ie are you still coping Day to day?) try cbt before medication because it does have withdrawals coming off it, it needs to be done very slowly. BUT if you feel you need the medication then there is NO need to be ashamed or anything by it. It's simply a chemical imbalance in our brains that needs a little help adjusting.

Hope you are doing ok

I would advise taking them, I did. I struggled for a until my DD was around 5 months old telling people I was just tired and putting on a brave face. When alone I lost count of the times I sat sobbing over everything, I was horrible to my DH when he was so supportive and helpful. I felt so low and can't believe now some of the things that went through my head (I wanted hurt myself, leave my DH but never anything against DD).
Initially I was scared I'd end up on my 'crazy pills' forever but I've been taking Citalopram for 6 months, I had no side effects. They have helped me be less anxious so I've felt able to go out more to children's groups which have helped with my moods, my moods are better and DH appreciates the difference. I still have some low times but nothing compared to how I was 6 months ago.
Hope this helps a little

Thanks for your responses - I can really relate to what you're saying! I'm coping day-to-day, but it's wiping me out physically and emotionally. I'm just so angry and resentful to anyone who has a 'life'. I just want to sleep when I can't and I can't sleep when I could. I'm anxious in the sense that i constantly need to do something because that's the opportunity to (when DS is happy and I can just get on with stuff or when he's finally sleeping at night.
There's a history of depression in the family (my mum) and I have struggled in the past with low moods and hormone imbalance, but I've never seen anyone about it. I just accepted that's how I was. Now I'm thinking, maybe that's not how I am and medication might help with that. Or am I just clinging on to a quicker relief? I'm just so fed up with being angry and trying to hold it together somehow. We went through so much (miscarriages and IVF) to have DS and i feel I've made a mistake as i clearly can't cope with 2 children...

Of course you can cope with your 2 children, no one says that and is a bad Mum. The good mums worry. It does sound like you are feeling rather down about everything so maybe trying out some medication would be a good idea? They will take a week or so to get over any initial symptoms if you get any, and a good 6 weeks I think my gp said to get fully into your system so may be worth bearing that in mind if you've got anything big coming up soon.
Really hope you start to feel better soon, it's not a nice place to be x

Thank you! It means a lot x
I've got another appointment with my GP on Friday so I'll discuss it with him x