How do I know if its PND or just a bit down

[empen]

Guess that says it all really.

I have issues that I need to address and I don't really know where to start.

[yetihed]

Hi Empen,

Sorry to hear you're feeling down. I'm no expert in the field, but we can't have your post going unnoticed so if I start you off, hopefully someone with more experience may join in...

How old is your LO? Are you still in contact with the HV? If you think you have PND, you need to seek medical advice- there's a lot of support available nowadays. Is this something you think you could do?

I think there's some good threads on her about PND. I'm gonna go hunting and try to come back with some links for you...

[yetihed]

Hello I'm back!

I found these for you...

here

here

or here!

HTH... I will probably be disappearing for the eve now but will check back tomorrow to make sure you got some proper help.

[empen]

Thanks for replying.

Some days I am okay and others - like today - I have been crying on/off all day.
I am going through a really stressful time at the mo with work and relationship and was not sure if it was just the hormones playing havoc with me. My ds is 15 weeks old.
I don't have any negative feelings towards my baby but I know I am being irrational toward my 5 year old dd.

Thanks for the links - I tried to look myself but did not come up with much.

I am not in touch with a HV and my doctor keeps laughing - she is like that one on The Simpsons (I am not kidding - it is really annoying, like she is nervous or something).

[tiredandgrumpy]

I have no real experience and certainly no expertise, but my guess is that if you're feeling like this, then there's something which could help you and it's definitely worth talking to someone about (maybe see a different GP at the practice?). I have a friend whose pnd I didn't spot who did get treatment from her doc & it turned her life around.

(Oh, and it's so tough having a 2nd chld - I remember thinking I needed ds to behave perfectly in order to be able to cope when dd was tiny. It will get easier & your dd is unlikely to be scarred for life!).

[runnyhabbit]

If you get on well with HV, then back in contact with them. I wouldn't have felt comfortable discussing PND with my regular dr, but the HV told me the name of another dr in the same practice that specialised in womens mental health - and she is fab.

I thought I was just feeling down & tired. But I knew something wasn't quite right when I started to lose interest in things that would normally get my attention. And being very very tearful.

I rang my HV, she saw me the same day, and she did was listen to me. Made things seem so much better. This was when ds2 was 4mths (he's now 10mths)

Have you spoken to you dp/dh?

[empen]

dp is particularly un helpful. He keeps critising me and telling myself to have some self respect because I did not put any make up on today. I am overweight too and he keeps on at me about it. My self esteem is at rock bottom and I don't know how to pick myself up. I cannot talk to him about it cause he thinks the only answer is for us to split up. He thinks all my problems stem from being fat and I embarrass him

[empen]

By the way I have only seen hv once and she did some check about depression but she just skimmed through it and answered them for me. I did not feel comfortable talking to her.
Think I am gonna have to talk to someone cause I feel as though I am really on my own and I can't handle it

[runnyhabbit]

Not really sure what to suggest, but please don't keep things bottled up. Is there anyone in rl that you could talk to? And keep coming on here.

Off to bed now - take care

[yetihed]

Morning empen-

I think you're right that you need someone to talk to.

It's not my place to judge your relationship but I can tell you my DS is 4 months and I never wear make up anymore- I barely have the time or energy to brush my teeth!

I would suggest changing GPs if possible- I had a GP who saw me crying 4 weeks after a very traumatic birth and out on my records that I had PND without offering me any support! So that week I moved GPs and haven't looked back.

Do you have a local friend you could meet up with? Whatever happens, try to get some sunshine today- it won't cure anything, of course, but it'll get you some of those vital vitamins. Let me know how you're getting on.