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Mental health

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Post natal depression or sleep deprivation or something else?

2 replies

colajay11 · 01/07/2021 10:00

It’s really hard to put down in to words how I’m feeling but I will try.

DD is 6 months old and the best thing to ever happen to me.
The love hit me like a tonne of bricks and i still can’t quite believe she’s mine and I get to keep her.

Some of the thoughts and feelings I’m having….

Constant worry about something happening to her, I almost imagine my life without her on a daily basis and have told myself I could not go on if anything were to happen

I’ve never left her, not once, with anyone else (exclusively bf so that’s my excuse when really I just can’t bring myself to)

Anxiety about the inevitable return to work, it breaks my heart to think about it and is on my mind daily

Feeling like I’m a bad mum (even though I know I’m not) and that she deserves better than me

Anxiety around everything from money to long car journeys to DD’s health and well-being - constantly every day worrying about everything

Concerns around relationship - even though I know we are solid I seem to be suddenly for the first time in our marriage concerned that DH will have an affair and leave us (completely unfounded!)

Specific worries about sending DD to nursery, picking the right one, allowing someone else to care for the most precious thing in my world

Getting upset at baby growing bigger, want to keep her small, I know most parents feel this but it’s really quite upsetting… she’s growing so quickly I feel like I’m missing it even though I am right here??

I think the best way to describe where I’m at is an intense love that has overcome me but is completely making me irrational and unable to think with a clear head.
Im not tearful and am managing to function (though I do have to force myself out of the house some days when all I really want to do is sit and cuddle and play with DD) but the overthinking and anxiety about everything is really consuming.

I don’t feel depressed and do have very happy days and moments but then it’s like a cloud of anxiety comes over me to tell me that I should enjoy these moments as anything could happen and that’s just a horrible way to think about things.

I’m absolutely rambling and just getting my muddled thoughts and feelings down but wondered if anyone had any help or advice for me.
I’d really like a clearer head to embrace and enjoy the next 6 months of my maternity leave without being an anxious wreck!

Is this normal new mum stuff?!?

Thank you :)

OP posts:
mummymummymummummum · 01/07/2021 10:35

Hi @colajay11 😊

All that sounds pretty normal to me 💜 The question is: is the anxiety over the things you've mentioned stopping you from doing things? Like, you feel anxious about long car journeys, does that mean you've chosen to not do a journey that you'd have otherwise made?

I did some CBT for anxiety when my youngest was about a year old. The biggest take away for me was that anxiety and negative thoughts are completely normal, it's what you do about them that's the issue. My CBT was all about recognising the negative thoughts and how to push them away rather than letting the anxiety prevent me from doing things.

colajay11 · 02/07/2021 09:55

Thank you so much for your response.

I may look in to some CBT xx

OP posts:
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