Postnatal depression, advice please?

[Mum2Lil13]

Hi everyone, I am only a casual poster on these forums but I really need some support right now from other mothers and mothers that may be going through what I am. I usually have to be the strong and composed person but at this time in my life I feel like I am falling apart. As some of you know I have a nine month old daughter and I love her to pieces, she is my world. In the last three or four months my personality has started to change, I can see this but I feel like I can't stop it. I have been feeling really sad and angry at things which would never usually phase me or make me upset. If my daughter doesn't sleep enough I get upset or if my husband just says something stupid to me I just fly off the handle. I don't usually cry at all but lately I cry all the time, sometimes out of anger and sometimes out of sadness. I have a great family support network and my husband is great, I am not alone and I know they will support me no matter what but I feel like I am slipping as a mother and am not coping as well as I would like to. I spend more and more time at home and don't feel like socialising like I used to, I am a fairly outgoing person most of the time and enjoy talking to people but lately I just don't feel like interacting with people. I have thought about harming myself and not so much suicidal but more of a harm just to release tension iykwim. In my heart I know that I am suffering depression but I suppose it is hard to come to grips with it. I am going to see a gp on monday finally and hopefully get back to my normal self. I suppose I am just trying to get some answers or talk to other people who feel like this or understand what I am going through. Thankyou for reading if you have gotten this far, it just feels really good to finally get it out in the open.

[Hokey Pokey]

[Mummy2aandh]

I'll PM you x

[duckduckgoose]

Big hugs. I have just been diagnosed, good on you for seeking help. I hope you start to feel better soon

[jadee22]

hope this first step sets you on the road to recovery xoxo

[SalsaMama]

Hi everyone, I am only a casual poster on these forums but I really need some support right now from other mothers and mothers that may be going through what I am. I usually have to be the strong and composed person but at this time in my life I feel like I am falling apart. As some of you know I have a nine month old daughter and I love her to pieces, she is my world. In the last three or four months my personality has started to change, I can see this but I feel like I can't stop it. I have been feeling really sad and angry at things which would never usually phase me or make me upset. If my daughter doesn't sleep enough I get upset or if my husband just says something stupid to me I just fly off the handle. I don't usually cry at all but lately I cry all the time, sometimes out of anger and sometimes out of sadness. I have a great family support network and my husband is great, I am not alone and I know they will support me no matter what but I feel like I am slipping as a mother and am not coping as well as I would like to. I spend more and more time at home and don't feel like socialising like I used to, I am a fairly outgoing person most of the time and enjoy talking to people but lately I just don't feel like interacting with people. I have thought about harming myself and not so much suicidal but more of a harm just to release tension iykwim. In my heart I know that I am suffering depression but I suppose it is hard to come to grips with it. I am going to see a gp on monday finally and hopefully get back to my normal self. I suppose I am just trying to get some answers or talk to other people who feel like this or understand what I am going through. Thankyou for reading if you have gotten this far, it just feels really good to finally get it out in the open.

Hey hon,

Good on you for identifying that you need some support. That's often the most difficult bit.

I could have written your post word for word a few months ago. I'm an outgoing, confident person too, and had a total personality change. Just remember that it is your mood that's making you feel this way, and you as a person haven't changed. That's something that used to really worry me - as I didn't recognise the person I saw in front of me.

I'm so glad you're seeing a GP to get help. I would highly recommend counselling - you can get a massive Medicare rebate on sessions if your GP does a mental health care plan.

Feel free to PM me anytime. There's also a great PND support group on here - I'll ask the group mod to PM you the password, as I'm not sure if it has changed.

[jennibear]

I could have written your post word for word when mydaughter was 8 months old. The hardest thing for me was accepting that i needed help. I too, am a very outgoing, bubbly person and i fould myself sturggling to find the 'good' in things...when usually thats all i can find. I too had plenty of family around, a loving husband and i just didnt understand why i was feeling this way!!
I struggled for a couple of months before i realised this wasnt just 'baby blues'. I woke up one morning and couldnt find the will to get out of bed. Id woken up crying for a few days but that day was different...i call my child health nurse.
The nurse wasnt there but i leaft a message...something along the lines of 'im struggling, i need help'. I couple of hours later the nurse rang me back and later that afternoon she was at my house.
The best thing i ever did was make that call.
I spent a couple of days at my mums house and made an appointment with my GP just to have a talk. I didnt end up needed medication but i personally believe it was because i made the call when i did...while 'I' was still in control. Too many women (and men) leave it too late ad things just snow ball.
. Remember your not alone!! Do you have a child health nurse you've seen?? If so, please give them a call, making that call was the best thing i ever did!!

Sorry this is so long, this is just something i feel very strongly about (i have a few members of my family who suffer from depression).

[Mum2Lil13]

Thankyou to everyone who has replied and have given their support, I really appreciate it. It is reassuring to know that I am not the only one who feels this way and that I am not a bad person for behaving the way that I have been. Thanks for the hugs Hokey. MH, I know we have had the same issues with our babies, thankyou for the support, Jadee thankyou, Jensen thankyou for the pnd support group info I really appreciate it. I told my mum and husband today and it has been a really difficult day acknowledging how I am feeling and getting it out in the open, I am still in control but I feel it slowly slipping away and I know I need to grasp it back before it is too late. Today has been a hard day but now that it is over I feel better for it and am glad I have taken the first step to getting better.

[Mum2Lil13]

Hey hon,

Good on you for identifying that you need some support. That's often the most difficult bit.

I could have written your post word for word a few months ago. I'm an outgoing, confident person too, and had a total personality change. Just remember that it is your mood that's making you feel this way, and you as a person haven't changed. That's something that used to really worry me - as I didn't recognise the person I saw in front of me.

I'm so glad you're seeing a GP to get help. I would highly recommend counselling - you can get a massive Medicare rebate on sessions if your GP does a mental health care plan.

Feel free to PM me anytime. There's also a great PND support group on here - I'll ask the group mod to PM you the password, as I'm not sure if it has changed.

Thankyou Jennibear, I will give my chn a call this week and have a chat to her as well