PND Recovery

[Icequeen26]

Would love to hear some PND recovery stories or some advice on how people have dealt with it?

I have been referred for some CBT as mine is more anxiety than depression and would rather not take medication if possible, any natural remedies or supplements that people can suggest?

I just hate it as I feel like I'm not bonding with my baby like I should be, it feels like... and I hate to say it but... more of a chore atm :(

How long does this normally last? I'm hoping once my hormones settle back down that will help too. I'm currently 8wks pp.

TIA.

Do you get time to yourself every day? 30 minutes to just relax and listen to a mindfulness tape or something?

BUMP
Anyone? Feeling quite down tonight and worried I won't get better without medication but really don't want to take antidepressants.

I've just had an assessment done.

Some things I took away from our chat during the assessment:
Prioritise sleep/ rest
What's your diet like?
Caffeine intake?
Alcohol intake?
Are you exercising enough? Are you getting outside enough?
Vit d?
Are you doing one thing you want to do each day?

@ismybabymine thank you for replying. Have you been prescribed anything or are you trying the "natural" route too? I've had a positive day today using mindfulness and positive affirmations. Really hope I can beat this!

@Icequeen26 not taking anything at present. I'm open to meds if needs be, but I know they aren't a quick fix either.

I've been getting out of the house and have reduced my caffeine. Not had a drink either (when I did drink, it made me sleep poorly). When I have a moment offered to me, I take it!

Oh and I've been reading instead of screen time before bed.

It's a start, right??

@ismybabymine

I've just had an assessment done.

Some things I took away from our chat during the assessment:
Prioritise sleep/ rest
What's your diet like?
Caffeine intake?
Alcohol intake?
Are you exercising enough? Are you getting outside enough?
Vit d?
Are you doing one thing you want to do each day?

All these things are absolutely key.

Sorry should've added there are things you have to do every day that need doing, but there are things you need to do to look after yourself, your well being,. I was hugely sceptical.about this, self care as a concept, but devoting time daily to making sure you are well fed, with nourishing food, you are hydrated, 100%prioritise sleep amd rest but get outside for fresh air, exercise if you can no matter how small, not just looking after your baby but looking after yourself with as much care. Neglecting the things you used to take for granted builds up until you're suffering more and ita harder to get it back. Don't wear yourself out, but do things each day for you as well as baby. Maybe go to baby groups, if you fancy the social contact too. CBT is really helpful, also dont worry about not enjoying every second of motherhood, its not all romance and thats ok, its hard, you're learning, you and your baby. You will improve, ita not always going to be how you feel it is now xx

@OakRowan thank you for those kind words. I'm trying to just take each day as it comes right now and celebrate the small wins in each day.

@ismybabymine it's defo a start! Well done you!
I'm starting healthy eating this week, I go for a walk every day and get out the house no matter what. I want to try and fit in some yoga somewhere but is tricky with 2 kids! Trying hard to avoid meds as would rather beat this myself. It's just the constant brain fog/fuzzy head that bothers me the most!
We will get there eventually, time is a great healer after all!

Hi. I have been recovering from PND over the past few months. Sounds like you're getting some help with what you're going through. My hormones took about 6 months to settle.The things that were very important for my recovery were;

1. Having time alone. Even just a quick trip to the supermarket when my partner was free to care for our baby. It's ok to take some time out and your baby will be absolutely fine without you even though I know it feels weird to leave them.
2. Talking lots about how I was feeling and all of my anxieties. I have a counsellor.
3. Nutritious food. I lost a lot of weight as I had no appetite when I was really low but good nutrition really helped me gain some strength.
4. I gave up breastfeeding. I'm not advising this as it's very personal but in my case it really helped that my partner could take our baby and feed him without me. Took some pressure off me as I had felt like a feeding machine as our baby just wanted to feed constantly!
5. Walks. I would take our baby out most days if I felt up to it and walk miles around our local neighbourhood listening to podcasts with him napping in the pram.
6. As you have said, celebrate the small wins. They all really add up in the end!
7. Doing as many little self care things for myself as possible. My counsellor said something once to me about my recovery not being linear and to think of it more as a picture that has gone black and each step forwards helps to light a part of it back up again. I really feel that this is how I am now. Not 100% lit up but I'm well on my way.

I regained a lot of myself 'naturally' and had been very wary of antidepressants as I felt that they weren't right for me or could cause more problems long term. However, my anxiety increased a lot again after a few stressful events. I had also been experiencing insomnia for months which was devastating and I could overcome it. So, I spoke to another GP (I'd initially been prescribed sertraline but never collected it as I'd read insomnia could sometimes be a side effect of it) and she prescribed me one called mirtazapine which suits me perfectly. It's an antidepressant with a little sedative effect which works to help restore all the different sleep cycles you need which then improves mood. You've got to do what you feel is right for you but PND is a major depression which sometimes really needs medication alongside talking therapies so there's no shame in taking them if that's what you decide you need. Best of luck to you whatever your journey to recovery looks like. You've done a very brave thing in asking for help x

@Icequeen26
How are you doing?

@feellikemyselfagain thank you for asking. I've had a good day today thanks feeling really positive. I've also come to the decision that I'm going to ring the docs tomorrow about starting medication as I just can't seem to stop the physical symptoms (dizziness, fatigue, terrible brain fog/ fuzzy head) I just want to get better so I can enjoy precious time I'm losing with my loved ones

@Icequeen26

I remember those days so clearly now. Everything will be alright again! It might not mean much right now but you'll feel so much better with a bit of time and help. Well done on contacting your doctors and doing what you feel is right for you. I have had possibly the best outcome I could have imagined with the medication I was prescribed even though I was so hesitant to try. I'm feeling really good at the moment and I just keep on feeling better week on week. Do let us know how you get on! I struggled to find positive recent recovery stories and info when I was at my worst so I'm always here if you want to chat x

Battled like you for three years, now on medication and starting to improve. Particularly beta blockers for evening anxiety with me. Also recommend Anna mathur if you read. She has a good page and a book about mothering with anxiety. Very honest.

@feellikemyselfagain thank you so much. That's the problem once people feel better they go back to their lives so to speak so you don't hear the positive outcome etc. Can I ask which medication you ve tried? I've been asking around to see which meds have worked well with people?

@Icequeen26
I'm on 15mg mirtazapine. It's very well suited to my specific symptoms: insomnia and bad anxiety. I've given up alcohol which seems to let it do its job fully too. I honestly didn't believe I'd ever get better. Alongside the medication, I can't recommend talking therapy enough. It's helped me to really change how I think about things and how to adjust my expectations m. I was so anxious and catastrophising everything but now I can take a step back and consider things. My brain fog lifted massively with it.

@Icequeen26
A friend is on 20mg citalopram and really rates it. She said she put on some weight with it but she's doing really well on it and says it's so much better than feeling like she did before. My doctor told me I'd be on my prescription for a few months until I felt really stable, then another six months after that before weaning off them.

Hey op. I had PND after my dd came along 4.5 years ago. I didn't get any help (anxiety, assumed everything was my fault, dh also dealing with some kind of PND and was worried if I asked for help it reflected badly on him, I was paranoid that everyone thought I was the worst mum in the world and everyone would judge me). I wish i had earlier. Things did get better slowly and last year I broke and got medication, and I had some counselling/CBT for self esteem/negative self talk and to talk through the PND. I am like a different person now. I see through everything I was going through at the time and see that it wasn't all my fault, it was just an imbalance (and not much sleep!) that did it.

It's brilliant you've asked for help, that is such a huge step so really big yourself up for that!

Like pp have said, take time for yourself. Even a walk round the block or a 10 minute read of a book - whatever you like to do.
Take it easy with expectations on yourself as well - I really did sleep when baby slept. Does it matter if the house isn't immaculate? Nope.

And go for walks. Lean on your partner if you have one - they want to be there for you but when you feel like I did you push them away.

I also found that taking my dd swimming was something that really broke through for me. When they're tiny you really don't get much back from them, but when I took her swimming I was amazed at what she could do, I got out and felt like I was doing something good with her and we bonded that way. Plus the after swim naps are actually amazing.

I'm not on medication anymore and the cbt really changed my mindset on things. I hope it's as beneficial for you. Take care.

I'm going through PND too, I'm speaking to perinatal team soon, my other family members think I am mad for getting help, maybe due to stigma, but my other doctor for my other health condition said it's best I get perinatal mental health help.

@dreamingdream have you started any medication? I'm about to start some citalopram to see if that helps x

@dreamingdream
Good for you for seeking help. So much stigma surrounding PND, usually due to a lack of understanding. I hope those close to you will be open minded and supportive. The NHS website covers PND so it could perhaps help them to read about it in black and white from an authority on illnesses. How long have you been feeling bad?

@Icequeen26
Good to hear from you and I'm sending you lots of good vibes whilst you begin your medication x

I'm currently taking sertraline for anxiety and depression I really suffer too. I try to do small things which feel like a big achievement. Hope the tablets help, nothing wrong with having medication to try sort out a chemical imbalance as they say, stay strong x

How is everyone doing?

Having a few rough days as I've started taking citalopram but trying to persevere as I know they it gets worse before better. Super emotional through out the day, panicky in a morning and struggling to sleep :( just hoping it gets better soon. Hasn't helped my 11 week old has been in hospital on an iv for an infection the past few days. She's home now but just feel exhausted, mentally and physically! Hope everyone else is doing better!!! 🙈

@feellikemyselfagain just realised I didn't tag you! My brain is mush! Thank you for asking btw! 😊