Anxiety, sadness, just can't cope!

[Kirst]

Hi, my baby boy is 8 months old and I still haven't managed to snap out of the constant sadness, worry and feeling churned up that I started feeling when he was born. More recently Ive been having anxiety attacks and have been sleeping terribly. Ive started relying heavily on my family to talk me round from my hours of crying. Advice? Im already on antidepressants snd do a perinatal group chat with a nursery nurse. I feel so guilty for being so miserable when my boy is so ace!

[monica]

Hi

Welcome! I’m so sorry life is so tough for you. Pni is a horrible, debilitating illness. Try not to feel guilty - you’re not to blame and you didn’t ask to feel this way anymore than a diabetic asked or deserved to have diabetes. Often there is no rhyme or reason and it’s down to you that you have such a wonderful son! Now that’s a huge achievement!

You said you’ve felt this way since you had your baby. Can I ask how long you’ve been in the Antids? Have you consistently felt this way? Have there been moments when you’ve felt better? Have things turned for the worse recently? Sorry for all the questions...

Please please don’t give up hope. I felt like you did after my second child and couldn’t imagine getting better but I did and so will you. It’s great you have a fantastic family to support you and the nursery nurse. Is she part of a perinatal mental health team?

I would go back to Drs and tell them how you are feeling. It sounds like you need more support. If the meds arent t working maybe it’s worth looking into tweaking them /or even changing them. Do you have any support from your health visitor?

There are little things you can do for yourself too. Exercise - even walk round the block can help. Are there any things you used to enjoy that you might consider trying again?

Please keep talking x