Have your emotions gone a bit weird since having a baby? Mine have!

[JacqueslePeacock]

Since having DS 18 months ago, my emotions seem to be all over the place. I cry at next to nothing (especially if it involves children). I can't read upsetting news stories or even sad novels if they have children in. I even cry at happy things, in a way I never used to.

It's really bothering me. I guess I expected to be a bit emotional after giving birth, but a year and a half later seems excessive! The worst part is that my job involves researching some distressing situations, often involving children, and I am struggling with it. For example, today there is a news story on a topic I'm working on at the moment in a major newspaper, and I can't even bring myself to open it because the subheading is upsetting enough. I can't go on like this!

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Or give me any hope that this will soon pass?

[JacqueslePeacock]

Anyone?

(Did I pick the wrong forum for this? It says "mental health" but the URL says "feeling depressed" so I wasn't sure. Apologies if so!)

[JacqueslePeacock]

A few years, you say? Oh no! I can't be like this for a few years!

[YokoUhOh]

I've been told by all the mums I know that this feeling lasts forever! DS is 6mo and, although I got over the initial baby blues tears, snot, wailing after a few days, I can find myself crying at a song, switching the news off and refusing to watch violent films. I don't envisage this ever changing! I'm sorry it affects you in your job, that's really tough (I'm a teacher, so I'm hoping my strict dragon skills transfer to parenting).

[JacqueslePeacock]

!!!! I didn't like the first answer but that's even worse! Are you seriously telling me that all human mothers are an emotional mess on the inside, who can't read sad novels or watch the news? I was so hoping you were going to tell me I'd be over it in another 6 months, say.

[sydlexic]

I only got over it when I took AD's. My depression always starts like that.

[bonzo77]

Yup. Same here. Especially any news stories about children. Which now means anyone younger than me. I'm 35! Oh, and it's worse after my 2nd baby. Despite ADs. And I spend far too much time playing out "what if" scenarios.

[YokoUhOh]

Sorry Jacques :( I'm glad I read Jude the Obscure when I was pregnant, I can't even look at it on the shelf nowadays!

[JacqueslePeacock]

God yes, I couldn't read Jude the Obscure again now. Well none of you have helped me a bit, damn it! And if it gets worse after DC2 then there's no way I'm having any more. I can't function properly like this at all. I preferred being a rational human being with an appropriate sense of distance and the ability to do even the distressing bits of my job in a calm and collected manner. Now even some of the baby's bedtime stories have me sniffling (and not just at having to growl like a Gruffalo for the 15th night in a row).

[stella1w]

I can't watch violent films and whenever i see news footage of a horrid murder i think about that person's mother.

[MarianForrester]

Yep, sad news does it for me too. Ever since DN came to live with us ten years ago... Ds is four and am no better :-) Sorry!

[JacqueslePeacock]

[Mnetter111]

Yep definitely happened to me and I can't stand losing control and crying. Anything with kids, and don't even mention any of the charity adds for save the children, that gets me down for hours if I think about it for a second...