Treatment options

@Mumof2inblue Hi Mumof2inblue and welcome to the forums 🙂 . It is years ago for me now but I suffered from pre and post partum depression and I remember it as being hell. What I found to be helpful was finding a fabulous gp who was willing to talk to me once or twice a week in counselling type sessions. I didn't want to take medication although in hindsight I think it would have worked well for me considering where I am today I have bipolar and schizoaffective disorder and one of my medications is anti depressents and that works well for me. The key is to find the right dose and stick to it as it takes time to have a full effect .... weeks sometimes.

I also met up with women at playgroups etc and that really helped knowing that I was not alone. Those three things really helped me through the worse of it. It takes time though so be kind to yourself :). greenpea xxx

Hey there @Mumof2inblue thank you for posting. PPD being Paranoid Personality Disorder? It may be Post Partum Depression as well - will link resources to both below 🙂

I can definitely imaging being rural may feel hard at times in accessing treatment, you'll be pleased to know you're amongst friends here 🙂 A lot of our forum members are familiar with the disconnected feelings of numbness and emptiness, the body's way of coping no doubt.

You're not alone, and there are treatment options available. If it is PPD - In addition to our forum you could get in touch with the team at Project Air to see what's available rurally/online, SPECTRUM also has a lot of info on their site. I know a lot of these orgs focus on BPD and other disorders, but they should have the insight professionally to assist with linking you into treatment options.

If it is post partum, PANDA are a really great service!

What are you finding most difficult at the moment? Some of our community members may have some decent insight from lived experience too. I'd recommend as you are new, having a quick look through our community guidelines as well. 🙂

Hi Greenpea, I have been going to mothers group and meeting up with friends etc. But I dont tell them how I feel.. I’m very good at putting on a happy face. I have had depression in the past and was medicated. But I’m breastfeeding so I’m not keen on meds. I just feel like I’m hopeless and a terrible mother.

@Mumof2inblue yes talking about how your feel when you are so sad can be nigh to impossible I completely understand but you are not alone I am sure many in the group have feelings similar to what you are experiencing but are too worried to express them. Motherhood is hard on the body and the mind so make sure you spend some time on yourself that is very important.

Having coffee out with the girls without children if you can only for an hour once a week can be good for the soul or just having a simple cup of tea or coffee in a special china cup can be something little but special too. Think about the anti depressants honestly if I had known then what I know now about how helpful they can be when you are so sick you can barely get out of bed I would have tried them at least.

Thank you cheerbear, I have 2 children and felt like this with my first but didn’t reach out for help in fear of losing them. But this time as my first child is older he has asked why I’m sad and what he did wrong which is awful because it’s not his fault at all. It’s so strange because I actually feel more distant with my older child than I do with the baby.

My partner works long hours and my baby feeds all I’ve the place so it’s really hard to go out alone.

I make plans a couple times a week just so I get out of the house because otherwise I’d stay in pjs all day everyday.

I guess im scared to talk to anyone face to face because when I’ve had mental health issues in the past and have spoken about it, people pull that face. You know the “I feel sorry for you, but are you crazy face” it’s hard to explain. But I hate being judged and due to my previous mental health issues I hate people knowing I’m struggling.

I had a thought as I posted @Mumof2inblue . Mindspot may be something worth looking in to given your options for support are limited. They are a Government funded organisation and there is an online wellbeing course that might help. When I tried Mindspot it also involved contact with a mental health professional while I was doing the course. I'm not sure how suitable it would be given you're experiencing postpartum depression, but it might be worth having a look and contacting them.

Here's a link for you https://mindspot.org.au