Pnd recovery stories

[Amy869]

Hi
does anyone have any pnd recovery stories to give me some hope.. is there light at the end of the tunnel soon, I’m on meds but waiting for them to start working. Thank you xx

Hello 🤗
Yes it does get better 🙂 I felt the same after my son was born and it felt so blank and bleak but little by little day by day I had more happy days than sad. Hang on in there - you've done the right thing by getting help

Having a baby is hard and exhausting without feeling so low yourself so you're definitely not alone there! I lost count of how many times I randomly burst into tears! Others shared what helped them feel better and some of those things helped me! I made a list of things I wanted to do when I felt better, some of them just everyday bits but I felt so accomplished when I could tick something off like go for a coffee with friends. I also tried to get outside for 10 minutes each day either walking or just sitting in our garden and that perked me up a bit.

The small things helped the mountain climbing feeling. My day job involves organising and leading events for thousands of people so I was really cross with myself at the time that couldn't get it together to look after one tiny baby! On reflection I wish I had been kinder to myself so I hope you will be kind to yourself too!!!

☺️ wishing you all the best. Here to chat if you need anything

Thank you so much for your reply. Yes I’m the same at work and feel like I’m falling apart when I should be happy! How long did it take you to feel better from when you started meds (if you took them)? X

@Amy869 I took the meds for a very short period only a few months because I didn't feel they worked best for me but I also had CBT alongside it and some parent/infant therapy from a local charity which was fantastic for helping us bond. I think it was a gradual change over a few weeks but I remember about 3/4 weeks in I started to have more good than bad days and it just slowly got better from there. I remember speaking to the health visitor about 5 months in and I didn't recognise myself from the beginning. Getting help was the best thing ever though it felt so hard!

Thanks for sharing your story. I’ve been on these meds 7 weeks and not seeing anything yet but just increased dose so guess I’ll have to wait xx

Not sure where you are based but have a look for local peer support groups, they are invaluable!

Are there particular things that are affecting you? I found getting over the physical effects of childbirth a challenge, as well as the loss of work identity/work social life and having to try to make new friends at baby groups a challenge.

Neevo- yes I am on an online
support group and it definitely helps! Thank you x

Jennylamb1- mainly high anxiety and numb from depression, that is the most distressing symptom that I can’t feel what I want to feel for the things I love the most and it’s crushing me, I’m doing all the things I should be doing but I think until the meds are helping I’m stuck. I’m lucky that I have friends with children, I don’t feel well enough for baby groups at the moment x

I’m sorry to hear that you are feeling this way. I felt similarly after having my son, it sounds as if you are doing all the right things, perhaps counselling or therapy might also help.

Thanks Jennylamb1, yes I’m having counselling each week too which helps me to just be able to express how I feel and she reassures me I will recover, it’s just so hard to believe when you’re in the thick of it. How long did it take you to get better? X

It does get better !!

I suffered severe PND and PNA after the birth of my eldest child . Was on cloud 9 for the first 5 months of her life then wow overnight hit me like a ton of bricks ! I also took medication which took a few weeks to kick in but slowly I started to feel like myself again . Like you I thought it was never going to get better . Be kind to yourself during this time , everything will be ok xx

Thank you ScoobyBooby, it helps to hear from people that have been through the same awful illness that it gets better xx

A few months, I didn’t realise that I had PND until coming out of it, seeing things that made me feel happy. You are not going through any of this on your own, many mums have felt the same.

It does, I was terrified to have another child but I’ve now got 4 children ! , I suffered again with DD2 but not to the same extent . My boys I didn’t have any issues after their births ! I do wonder if my body just couldn’t cope with the extra hormones .

Feel free to PM me if you need someone to chat too x

How interesting! I’m pleased you didn’t get it again with your boys. Thanks for your support x