Hi Vicky,

It sounds as though you have had a real tough time over the past year.  However, I do think that you are doing all the right things to help yourself. 

My little boy is now two years old, but two weeks after he was born I was diagnosed with major post natal depression and puerperal psychosis and had the most dreadful time.  After various tries with different medications, stays in a mother and baby unit, I was finally better, after about 9 months and am fully back to normal (whatever that is!!).  Throughout this time, my husband, friends and family were amazing and stood by me every step of the way. 

One of the things that I really believe helped me was talking to a Psycotherapist.  She was amazing and helped me learn to firstly understand my thoughts and see them for what they are - just thoughts and that they don't have to become an action, no matter how scary or silly they are.  After that she moved to disecting some of the other issues I had  and helped me to change my thinking on these too.  I see from your message that you have gone on a waiting list to see a councillor - great stuff - keep on at your health professional to make sure that you get seen.  It would be a miracle if that National Health offered councillors as readily as they do tablet!  Also, to me it sounds as though you may have post traumatic stress disorder.  My cousin had a very difficult birth wth one of her children and it resulted in the baby having a stroke.  For months she could not tal about the birth and was eventually diagnosed with PTSD.  Once she had seen a councillor and had the appropriate help - she fully recovered and got her life back. 

Keep talking about things to your husband, friends and family and seek their support until you see your councillor.  Tell them all the things that come in to your head , no matter how silly or scary - they will help you to see that things you are feeling at the moment are not real at all, but just part ofa very cruel illness.

Keep telling yourself that things will get better because they will.  PND is not a life centence and itwill go away with time, help and love.

as for periods i relapse most times it your stupid hormones running around just adding to the hormonal imbalancement xxx have a chat with your gp bout this xxx

hi hun i to suffer with pnd and by the sounds of it you have been through alot. its hard when it comes to family and friends some understand some dont my parents think im seeking attention and just say pull yourself together so i keep my feelings to myself.

have you tryed conselling or talking therapys xx

pmif you want

Hi all. I have a 7 month old daughter and a 2 1/2 year old daughter. I was diagnosed with pnd in Oct and have been on meds since. It took me a long time to tell people I have pnd and still haven't told everyone. I had a lot of problems during pregnancy. I had hyperemesis, was off work almost all my pregnancy, had marital probs which in a way has mad us stronger but I find it hard to deal with and to top it off I had my daughter at home on my own with my 2 year old downstairs. I didn't realise I was in labour until just before my waters went. It was scary, everyone says how amazing it is and how brave but I had no choice but to go on autopilot and it still doesn't seem real.

I am due my period this week and each time I am due I get extremely emotional again and find everything coming abck and hard to deal with(is this normal).

Today for some reason I have been scaring myself about going back to work(prob in March), as I take 999 calls and I had to ring 999 myself, today I got upset as I feel I will crumble on the phone to the public as in the back of my mind all I can remember is my surreal call to the ambulance service. I'm dreading my daughters 1st birthday as I think I will just sit there in tears. It scares me when I think about it all. She is so wonderful but I can't get over all I went through the day I had her and blame events that happened in my life before her birth for me not realising I was in labour and not telling husband to come home from work.

Any advice someone to chat to will be great as I don't really have anyone in same position that I can speak with and find it hard talking to friends as feel there is a stiggma attached to pnd and people will judge me.

I have received my letter for counselling but have to go on the waiting list.

Thanks. Vicky