Low confidence/anxiety after baby

[xoguineas]

Has anyone else experienced this? Had my first child in January and feels as though I'm slowly losing my ability to do things.

I've struggled in the past with anxiety and depression but in the year before falling pregnant I started to feel like me again and very confident in myself. I managed to come off my antidepressants whilst pregnant as it just felt like a huge blessing and like I truly had a purpose and reason to get better and for a while I did feel amazing. Since having my daughter though, it feels like I'm reverting back.

I have 0 body confidence and feel fat, frumpy and horrible. I have wobbles now and then thinking that my partner no longer loves/fancies me (which I know is ridiculous) but I can't shake those feelings when they start.

I also can't do simple tasks on my own anymore - go to the supermarket, take my daughter out by myself to an actual place (soft play, restaurant), make phonecalls etc. It's only been recently that I've managed to go for drives in my car which is strange as I used to love driving around pre-baby. I also keep feeling very anxious about things, especially going back to work in 2 months. I have been having panic attacks when I think about it and recently nightmares have started where I feel like I won't be able to cope and won't fit in anymore.

I just feel like I'm reverting back. Preciously, at my worst, most anxious times I struggled to go out and do things. I hated shopping alone and would even have panic attacks when out with my partner at the cinema/out for dinner as I just felt so uneasy out of the house. I feel so horrible as I adore my daughter and genuinely look forward to waking up every day to see her and spend time with her but outwith our time together I feel like a shell of a person. Recently I've been losing my temper over the smallest things, in a way I never had before, and sometimes I have with my daughter which leaves me feeling awful. I also get tearful over the silliest things and feel like I have to defend myself when I can't do things like before, or make silly mistakes like forgetting to wash a plate. I'm not really sure what is happening to me but I don't feel quite right anymore and I just wondered if anyone else has ever felt like this?

Anyone?

Sounds like post natal depression. Get to the docs and be totally honest and open about the way you feel. Be open to counselling and long term treatment.
You will feel better one day.

@Tallula386 thanks for replying. I will make a doc appointment, thanks. Just so confused because I do feel ok some of the time as well. Just feel a bit all over the place.

Having a baby completely changes your life, your outlook, your hormones, the way you see every single thing that happens in this world.
I could guarantee that almost all new mums have felt this way.
You will be ok, take small steps to find your new normal x

@Tallula386 thank you, it's been a whirlwind few months x

I meant *previously not preciously

I was the same. GP and some meds. Hope you feel better soon OP. Enjoy your little one.

OP definitely sounds like a touch of PND so as others have said make yourself a GP appointment and tell him/her everything. It could mean going back on the anti-depressants for a bit or perhaps some therapy would help - or both? From my own experience, I found that I felt I had totally lost my identity after having my children (twins) and was failing at everything. Anti-Ds helped my get my head back over the parapet and therapy helped me to find who i was again and recognise all those other strengths which had been masked by the focus on motherhood. Good luck with it all- it will get better.

Thanks for the replies. I will try get an appointment but likely won't be for a few weeks. Bit worried about it now as I was desperate to come off ADs and feels like I've let my daughter and myself down if I had to go back on them, not sure why.