PND - why the need to go out?

[beakysmum]

A good friend of mine had severe PND about 10 days after her baby was born and her mother looked after the baby and her DS for about a week as she just couldn't cope. She was put on emergency medication and counselling and is now much better a few months down the line.

However she says she just HAS to go out of the house all the time and can't face being home with the children at all. I have also felt like this when I have (much milder) PND. Just wondered why this is? What do others think?

Yes I was just going to say that Pippa if you have a hv you like mention it to them. The fact that you are wondering might be a sign or it must just be that you are a kind of person who considers these things. Having had depression previously is one of the factors that makes it more likely (others are mother or sister having had pnd and lack of support around you). You may just have a mild case that only needs a little help to get over.

That's one of the problems I think that 1st time round you don't know what its normal to feel about being a mother.

Polly I would say PND takes many different forms and it is not always easy to recognise, especially as has already been said, when it is your first baby you don't know what is normal for a new Mum to feel. I would say read up on PND and keep an open mind. Most people around me would have no idea that I have PND (and prob PTSD!) and if I tell them they are really surprised. You might even work with me! The website Associatin for Post Natal Illness is useful as it looks at symptoms wider than depression, such as irritability. Though I don't think it mentions the compulsive need to go out every day, hence me starting this thread

Albrecht what's emdr and ads??

anti depressants - I can see that my need to NOT take them was probably another symptom of my anxiety rather than a sensible choice.

emdr. I chat to my therapist and she says ok I want you to think about that phrase (something I've just said) and I put on some headphones and listen to some tones beeping in the headphones for a minute or two while thinking about it. Then she asks how I'm feeling and we keep talking. And repeat. See I said it sounds kooky!

Thanks Albrecht !

I definitely had to go out every day when I had PND both times. As others have said, it was the fear that if I didn't go out then it might become a habit.

Quite frankly I could have easily slipped into a bit of agrophobia if I hadn't made myself leave the house at least once a day. When I was at my very worst I couldn't actually go out without someone with me but thankfully that only lasted a couple of weeks.