Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2013 10:53:35 GMT
Hi Everyone,
I'm Keeley, im 26 and the Ambassador for Post Natal Depression.
I suffered with Psychotic Post Natal Depression in 2010 when I had my son, I suffered with this for around 18 months.
Post Natal depression can be very hard to diagnose, most doctors, midwives and health visitors will first of all write any form of feeling low or down as 'The baby blues' which is very common in new parents and is caused by exhaustion and lack of sleep. This typically lasts for around 2 weeks.
There are three different types of PND. Type 1 is the 'Normal' depression, lack of energy, lack of excitement, little sleep (surprise surprise) or sleeping too much. No motivation or enthusiasm, and thoughts of hatred and or harm towards your child/children, partner or yourself. Don't be alarmed, this is what post natal depression is. It can effect your eating, and your day to day life quite horribly.
Then you have type 2, now type 2 is almost OCD based PND. (If you are unsure what OCD is, Casey, Ambassador of OCD has written a thread in anxiety disorders on OCD. This explains fully what it is for you.) Many parents can 'wrap their child in cotton wool' if you wish, they are constantly on edge about their child/children becoming ill, getting hurt and or dying. This is also followed by the depressive state mentioned above without the thoughts of harm. However personal abilities will be obsessively questioned and self hatred can start should their attempts of keeping their child/children safe should fail. This also includes their child/children catching a cold.
Psychotic PND is type 3. This is a very dangerous type. The doctors describe this as 'False Bipolar'. It is not uncommon. Women who suffer this type of PND have very Erratic behavioural and mood changes, very unpredictable, erratic thoughts and tendencies. Violent flare ups, this can be to adults and children. Aggressive responses to basic questions, Erratic eating patterns, from eating too much to eating nothing at all, thoughts of harm to child/children, and any adult close enough. Sometimes giving the impressions of obliviousness, and an 'I don't care attitude'. But that can automatically change into over protectiveness and awful thoughts of your child/children choking. Argumentative just for the sake of it!! Last of all is Denial.
If you have suffered or still are suffering any type of PND or know someone who has or supported someone who has suffered/suffering PND. Please, tell us your story.
As with any disorder PND Is a very dark and lonely place, you think no one understands why you're doing, saying, feeling and thinking the things that you are. You end up hating yourself for thinking, doing, feeling and saying the things that you do. But please remember you are never alone.
If you think someone you know or you think you yourself maybe suffering from this condition, PLEASE speak to your health care professionals. Most women won't speak to their GP until it's too late because they think that their child/children will be taken away from them. This is exactly how I felt too. But thats NOT what they are there to do, and your child/children will not be removed from your care the only thing that will happen is that you will be given the help and support that is needed.
I'm Keeley, im 26 and the Ambassador for Post Natal Depression.
I suffered with Psychotic Post Natal Depression in 2010 when I had my son, I suffered with this for around 18 months.
Post Natal depression can be very hard to diagnose, most doctors, midwives and health visitors will first of all write any form of feeling low or down as 'The baby blues' which is very common in new parents and is caused by exhaustion and lack of sleep. This typically lasts for around 2 weeks.
There are three different types of PND. Type 1 is the 'Normal' depression, lack of energy, lack of excitement, little sleep (surprise surprise) or sleeping too much. No motivation or enthusiasm, and thoughts of hatred and or harm towards your child/children, partner or yourself. Don't be alarmed, this is what post natal depression is. It can effect your eating, and your day to day life quite horribly.
Then you have type 2, now type 2 is almost OCD based PND. (If you are unsure what OCD is, Casey, Ambassador of OCD has written a thread in anxiety disorders on OCD. This explains fully what it is for you.) Many parents can 'wrap their child in cotton wool' if you wish, they are constantly on edge about their child/children becoming ill, getting hurt and or dying. This is also followed by the depressive state mentioned above without the thoughts of harm. However personal abilities will be obsessively questioned and self hatred can start should their attempts of keeping their child/children safe should fail. This also includes their child/children catching a cold.
Psychotic PND is type 3. This is a very dangerous type. The doctors describe this as 'False Bipolar'. It is not uncommon. Women who suffer this type of PND have very Erratic behavioural and mood changes, very unpredictable, erratic thoughts and tendencies. Violent flare ups, this can be to adults and children. Aggressive responses to basic questions, Erratic eating patterns, from eating too much to eating nothing at all, thoughts of harm to child/children, and any adult close enough. Sometimes giving the impressions of obliviousness, and an 'I don't care attitude'. But that can automatically change into over protectiveness and awful thoughts of your child/children choking. Argumentative just for the sake of it!! Last of all is Denial.
If you have suffered or still are suffering any type of PND or know someone who has or supported someone who has suffered/suffering PND. Please, tell us your story.
As with any disorder PND Is a very dark and lonely place, you think no one understands why you're doing, saying, feeling and thinking the things that you are. You end up hating yourself for thinking, doing, feeling and saying the things that you do. But please remember you are never alone.
If you think someone you know or you think you yourself maybe suffering from this condition, PLEASE speak to your health care professionals. Most women won't speak to their GP until it's too late because they think that their child/children will be taken away from them. This is exactly how I felt too. But thats NOT what they are there to do, and your child/children will not be removed from your care the only thing that will happen is that you will be given the help and support that is needed.