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Mental health

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What next?

3 replies

Raisingwildanimals · 14/11/2019 21:13

So as a bit of background I’ve suffered with depression since around 16/17 but never medicated. I was offered antidepressants but decided I would rather do without. Fast forward to having my first child, my mental health took a bit of a dip but like all mums I just pulled up my socks and got on with it. I fell pregnant quickly again, maybe too quickly, and I had a breakdown, my anxiety was through the roof and I just could not cope. I finally swallowed my pride and accepted I need help and I was prescribed sertraline, it didn’t help. I was then prescribed mirtazapine, it didn’t help. Then I had citalopram and I’m currently on 40mg. My depression is under control (I think) but my anxiety is still sky high and I’m having panic attacks a few times a week. I went back to the doctors today who suggests counselling but I’ve got two children under 3 and no support (my partner works away during the week) so I don’t think counselling would be doable for me at the minute with regards to childcare. So she told me that she didn’t know what else to suggest and to just keep taking the citalopram. Is this it for me? Do I just accept this is who I am now? What do I do?

OP posts:
tumtitum · 14/11/2019 21:48

Could you manage telephone appointments whilst kids sleep etc? Are you in UK? You should be able to refer yourself to a service called IAPT. Google it for your area. You can refer yourself. They do online CBT too. Hope you feel better soon x

Raisingwildanimals · 14/11/2019 21:51

They don’t sleep at all during the day but I could look into it anyway. I could put a film on and give them some snacks and they’d be two happy little lambs I’m sure. I’m in Wales so I’ll have a google and see what I can find. Thank you x

OP posts:
RippleEffects · 14/11/2019 22:12

So many potential areas to explore, it's great that you're open to trying. I think that being open is part of the battle. Here is a bit of a list on things currently working to improve things for us...

DH like you is on citilopram and it helps but isnt a magic cure. We work together on monitoring things that make a difference and things that don't.

At this time of year 20 mins daylight and fresh air is high on the essentials list. It can be sitting with a cup of tea in the garden but a walk also helps.

Avoiding caffeine after about 4pm, he has night kalms tablets which help with relaxing at bedtime - good sleep (harder with little ones) has an effect.

Eating small regular meals also helps regulate things as does not eating cheese after 8pm and nothing heavy in the run up to bedtime. Keeping hydrated and nourished seam like silly and obvious things but when running round after young DC it's easy to let this slip.

Taking the citilopram within the roughly the same hour everyday also helps.

Alcohol in moderation in the evening helps him unwind. After years of being uptight about alcohol he now has a glass of wine maybe 4 times a week (that's one medium/large glass 150mm sort of size). Occasionally he has 2 glasses but more than 2 and it has a negative knock on on his sleep and anxiety.

Writing down his worries and ranking them out of ten for severity, reviewing past anxieties to try and rationalise can help.

Busy tasks like doing the laundry, ironing, vacuuming - we have a list of jobs we work through, so even if it doesn't conquer the anxiety it moves life forwards gets essentials done and creates a nicer environment to be in. Being happy in the space you're in helps.

Slightly different scenario to your situation but I was a single parent to my eldest two when they were 1 and 3. Our local health centre did off peak gym/ swimming/ exercise classes with childcare so you could get a little bit of child free time.

As I get older I realise just how common anxiety is and how little we really talk about it. If you can find the strength to try some mum and tot/ baby groups you may find the company some support and even build your own support community.

Another thought is If you're in an area homestart operate, would you consider having a volunteer? If they are in your area, volunteers have received basic support training and come once a week for a few hours and can do things like go with you to baby groups so you don't need to go alone, or in some cases help you access services like counselling by going with you and the DC.

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