PND Book - help

[ac51]

:wave: Hi.

I am putting together a book that will contain information about Post Natal Depression (PND).

I NEED CONTRIBUTIONS!! - not money, but stories, experiences.

I NEED TO GET THE WORD OUT - the only way this book will come together is from people telling their story

It will contain collections of stories/journeys through PND from mums, dads, family members, friends to help bring more of a honest and true account of how this illness affects.

It will also contain positive tips & affirmations about what some people did that worked for them and their families through to recovery of PND.

I am also hoping to have information about medication/treatment for this illness ranging from what is available, how it works, side affects, tips/personal accounts of treatments, ect.

I am also hoping to have information regarding support networks in all the Australian states from the small communities to the larger cities.

Please help me to form this idea into a resource that so many are asking to be availalbe now...i am aiming for it to be in print and available by the end of next year (that is my goal).

I have had wonderful support from so many already, the book is already up to 33 pages and counting so please help me complete something that i really think would have helped me through my darkest hours when i too suffered with it. It may also have helped to inform my husband and family more about what was happening with me also.

WE ALL HAVE THE POWER TO INSPIRE OTHERS...

Amanda
email me at ac51@bigpond.com or send me a msg through bubhub..cheers.

[a1b2c3]

i'm 22, expecting no. 3, fine with bub 1, lost the plot with no.2, petrified with no.3,

being young and so concerned about everyone elses opinions made it so much worse, it took a lot of courage to admit i had a problem, it didn't help thjat my husbund at the time didn't believe me, he blamed my doctor, my mother me, but it turned out, he was my major factor, i took 6mths on anti-depressants for me to realize he was the problem, i spent 12mths thinking it was me and that i should be able to cope with my own kids, but everyone needs support and i had none, i left him and within 2mths was ready to fly solo, give up my magic happy pills, only i wasn't alone, i'd told friends and family what was realy going on, it turned out eveyone understood, my story even inspired 2 friends to get help, i was so scared to tel the man i was seeing about my problem, but when i finally did, he cried, he felt bad for me, my suffering and he was so proud of what i had done, we're now expecting our first child together, i'm worried about pnd, but reassured as i know i have a support network,

my email address is jjzally@gmail.com if you would like to know more about my story
alyson

[ac51]

Hello Alyson.

I have sent through an email to your address you posted.

Thank you so much for supporting this project, it is with stories like yours and so many others that i hope to help spread the word about how PND affects us all.

Thanks again.
Amanda:wave:

[ac51]

Just a bump us... still in need of stories from mums, friends, family members who watched their loved ones struggle through.

Even if you have a tip to add.

Thank you to everyone who had contacted me with support or their stories.

Have a lovely day.

Cheers,
Amanda

[ac51]

:) Hello all.

Just letting you all know that the book is coming along wonderfully!!

So many are supporting this so please, send in your story be it that you have had PND or someone you loved has been through it and how you dealt/helped with it.

Please, keep those stories, anonymous or know coming in.

This will help so many people.

Thanks.

[mad3under3]

just letting you know i sent a email through to you with my story, i didnt want to post it hear incase it scarred mums or frigtened them, but didnt know if you check this or your emails regualary

good luck
jasmine

[ac51]

Thanks Jasmine.

Your story is just a true account of how PND affects so many so thank you for sharing your journey, you are an inspirational and strong woman.

All the best.

Amanda

[ac51]

Thanks Jasmine.

Your story is just a true account of how PND affects so many so thank you for sharing your journey, you are an inspirational and strong woman.

All the best.

Amanda

[ac51]

Hello all.

Just a quick bump to let you all know that i am still in need of stories for my book.

The responses have been fantastic and hopefully the end draws nearer and nearer to final draft.. i am hoping that by February next year i will have enough to finalise the book.

Please send through any tips of how to cope, from either sufferers/ex-sufferers, family or friends and partners especially. All information is relavant and a wonderful tool to help others.

Again, just email them straight throught to me at ac51@bigpond.com.au or via this forum. You can remain anonymous or put you name and state to your contribution.

Thanks again to all who have responded and showed their support.

Amanda :thumbsup:

[AM]

Great to hear you are going strong on this! I would love to contribute, I will try to get some words down on paper.:thumbsup:

[Mischief]

I'll do my best to get some words down too. :) Goodluck with your book.

[becca74]

Hi! :wave:

Just curious, I was diagnosed with PTSD after my 3rd son's birth by a clinical psychologist, but this went on to become misdiagnosed as PND by the hospital about 6 months later. Had I not already had the diagnosis from my psychologist, I would have been wrongly treated (probably with drugs etc) for PND. It was lucky I knew better *phew!*. Will your book address PTSD? I know a lot of women are misdiagnosed with PND, as there are some similar symptoms to PTSD. I meet a lot of women at the Birthrites meetings I attend, who have been misdiagnosed - IMO, the misdiagnosis seems epidemic.

thanks :) Sounds like a wonderful thing you are doing!

[ac51]

Hi everyone..

Would be great to get some more stories.. only way book will come together :thumbsup: so thanks.

Becca in reply to your posting, I am concentrating on Post Natal Depression mostly. There are so many different diagnosis for us mothers that can and are mis-diagnosed in regards to PND and other ailments that are similiar in symptoms that I am trying to get a book together that describes the affects of PND and how similiar yet individually it affects its sufferers.. by reading it through 'their' eyes..

I hope that makes sense??..

All the best.

[lil miss]

have emailed you my experience with pnd- hope it helps

[ac51]

Thank you so much for sending through your story.

It is stories like yours that will help so many either recognise pnd within themselves or assist them through that they are not alone.

With your help this book is actually coming together... thank you

All the best and take care
Amanda

[ac51]

Hi all..

Just a quick update to let you all know where the bookand I are at.

At the moment i am still in need of stories so please please keep sending them through.

Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me and sent through their stories.. you are all amazing.

An event has just occurred in my life that has put it to a stand still for the moment... I decided to go back to the workforce which as a single mum was wonderful and stressful all at once.

Last week, my place of employment was held up by some awful human beings. This has caused me to cease what my life was before while I tend to my own recovery from this stressful event.

So to all those people who have sent through their stories.. it will go to print.. it will happen.. i just need to recover from this event to get back on my journey with the book.

Thank you for your patience and support.

Regards,
Amanda

[QTB]

Thanks for the update Amanda, i really hope things pick up for you soon :hugs:

[ac51]

Hi there..

Sorry for being away for a while but have had alot of personal issues happening at home..

The book is still going forward and I am still on the lookout for more journeys from mums and their family members about how they walked through PND in their own words.

The support thus far has been overwhelming and inspirational so please keep spreading the word about this concept.

Please also note if you wish to remain anonymous or to receive any further correspondence (as I am attempting to keep those who have contributed and supported this concept up to date on how it is going).

Thanks again for all your help with this idea.

Amanda :flowerz:

[cakester69]

Hi There When I was pregnant with DS #1 I was involved in a study on PND though I was low risk they wanted to study both spectrums of the scale those having it and those who were low risk. I found this very helpful I was given a booklet with question and scenarios to think about and write things down and every week a lady would call me and talk about my anwers. It was great to have someone to talk to even though I didnt suffer from PND. In the end of the project I offered some advice that I might share here. I think that every expectant mother be given a card that has numbers you can call and information on PND alot of people less inclined to read a book as such but if it was say wriiten on a card in point form symptoms and contact numbers that could be put on the fridge or even card size to put in the purses people may read them and can act on what they are feeling. I hope this can help you thanks

[ac51]

Hello,

:iagree: Your idea is brilliant and you would be surprised how many mother's have come up with an idea like yours.

It would be fantastic if a card with support networks plus signs and symptoms could be put into our take home packs as new mums. They pack so much in there already, why not put something that could have the capacity to helps so many.

I am still looking for story contributions for the book so if anyone out there wants to send it through, please pass it on.

All the best and have a great day.:)

Amanda

[sydneybubhub]

Hello Amanda,

The info bags that are handed out at maternity hospitals are a wonderful source of products and information, but what you mightn't know is that it literally can cost 1,000s and 1,000s and 1,000s of dollars to include something in there. :thumbsdown:

Last year, we designed a stylish FREE Parent Helpline Print Off that mums can put on the fridge, in their diary, by the phone... where ever they want - and it carries all the information on a state-by-state basis to cover most emergency contacts they'll need. There's space on it for extra numbers, so whilst we didn't include a listing specifically for PND, any mum can add their preferred support network themselves.

Check them out here: http://www.bubhub.com.au/fridgehelplines.php > just select your state and then choose your design. They're really cool in their style, free (you gotta love that!) and they are an easy way to access quickly all the important numbers a parent needs in an emergency.

All the best for your book!

[ac51]

Thank you so much for your post.

That is great that the card is in the take home packs for new mums and that you can design your own.

We are definetly moving in the right direction to help those new mums out there.

I am still in the process of putting this book together and the further I go the more important this book is becoming.

I am still taking story contributions and REALLY REALLY need the father/partner/husband's story to add to another side of the families journey.

Please, please feel free to contact me if anyone has any questions or wishes to share directly to my email if you like at ac51@bigpond.com.au .

If you wish to remain anonymous, that is fine.

I cannot thank this forum enough for allowing me to access so many wonderful women who have contributed their stories or just shown support for this book... thank you to everyone... my goal is to have this in book stores soon so keep a look out!!!

:flowerz: