How to survive postnatal depression

[MumNo2]

I was diagnosed with severe postnatal depression and anxiety a week after giving birth. I also think I may have PTSD from a traumatic conveyancing process that meant we had to move a week before the birth. I'm struggling to cope with it all and I'm in tears almost every day.

I've spoke to my GP and have been prescribed medication which I don't feel has kicked in yet. I am also engaging with therapy and reading what I can about the illness. My family are very supportive, as is my husband. But despite it all, I feel miserable.

And I feel so much guilt for being unwell- I feel like I'm missing out on my newborns first week's and that I can't support my toddler properly. I also feel like my family are tirelessly supporting me but that it's not even touching the sides.

It's not helped by the fact that I have friends who have just given birth who aren't experiencing these feelings. I just want to feel normal and enjoy this time with my babies. Will I look back on this time with misery? Will I ever not feel guilty about not enjoying this time?

What have you done to survive postnatal depression? Years later, how do you look back on that period of your life?

I'm sorry you're going through this. For me one of the main factors was time. Just give yourself time (I mean, in addition to the other strategies). You won't get better overnight but I promise things will feel very different in 6, 9 months.

I was very, very depressed after my first, and kept getting flashbacks of my birth trauma. After 9 months though I was almost myself again. After 2y I was pretty much completely myself again. I know that sounds like forever right now but it isn't really. Time is an amazing healer.

You asked how does it feel looking back... Now when I look back I'm just so proud of myself for getting better and surviving that. I feel like I did great. It was really hard and took ages but I got better, hooray. You will too I reckon

Thank you for this. This gives me so much hope.

I think for me it was a case of getting successfully through each day, rather than looking at it as a big thing to be "conquered".

So each day I would try and get out for some fresh air and a walk, and try and spend time with friends/family/at baby groups. The less time I had to be alone with my thoughts the better. It sounds glib but I can help to have lists you can tick off, then at the end of the day you feel like you've achieved something.

I've got to be honest I don't look back at it and pay too much attention to the depression as a whole - I can recall certain bad days or events but it's become less important over time (we are going back 25+ years)

Sorry you're going through this - I promise it gets better. Just take it one day at a time and try and appreciate the little things.