Positive experiences of starting sertraline or other SSRIs in early motherhood

[Hana89]

I am just wondering if anyone has any good news stories about starting sertraline/Zoloft or other SSRI to help manage the demands of motherhood? I had PPD quite badly when my DD was born, probably through until she was 2 years old and finally slept for longer stretches through the night. Over the last 18 months, I have got a little better, but I am still not myself and I am so irritable all the time! I just want to be left alone and find it really difficult to engage meaningfully in family activities without mentally counting down to my next 'break' when I can check out and be alone or look at my phone or whatever.

I've contacted my GP today, and I hope to have an appointment soon, but I just feel a bit like a failure. Like I have this gorgeous, happy family so why can't I enjoy them more and will the medication, if I get it, even help or am I just a bit broken?

So good news stories would be really, really welcome from anyone who is going through the same thing or has been through it. Thank you!

I had PND after the birth of my son. My daughter became quite difficult and by the time he was 4 months old I was in a terrible state. I started the sertraline on 22nd Dec and within a couple of weeks felt so much calmer. Honestly the difference was amazing. I had energy to do things as well as look after the kids.

My advice would be start on 25mg for a few days as you feel strangely "wired" when you start them.

My son is 31 now so a long time ago.

I had used it years ago pre-kids for about a year or so and started taking it again when my youngest was a bit over a year and my eldest was 4. It did help as I had really struggled with dark thoughts and negative self talk and feeling unable to pull myself out of that. It felt like it regulated me a little and sort of smoothed out those very dark places- I can’t say that I exactly know how it works but I feel like it did.

The main downsides for me was I did get some side effects of sickness and headaches while getting used to it and when I forgot to take a dose I would notice I felt a lot worse so you need to avoid that.

I took it for around a year and recently felt strong enough to phase it out (went to see my GP and she advised going down to a daily half dose for a few months before stopping) and I still am much better.