Tips on what works!

Hi everyone,

If you have any tips on what you have found helpful in coping with PND, anything you found made things easier please write them here. I am grateful for any advice!
Thankyou in advance for any replies.

x

Aaargh just did a huge post and Fay managed to catch the delete button before i posted it.
To summarise it
!. Wot mel said
2. Got out of the house on a daily basis, even just round the block
3. counselling, even if you can't get hold a a free service it is a small price to pay for your mental health
4. Set goals for yourself small ones like hoovering the lounge this week and bigger ones like not stopping meds for a year
5. Be kind to yourself   easy to say but takes some doing, my counsellor told I could not use the words should must and ought, (as in I must breastfeed my baby, even though I have no milk for her and she won't latch)
6. Join a group, I did a discussion group for new mothers with Mother's Network and there is a PND support group which offers a similar service. there will be something in your area
7. do something as an adult ie mum and Baby movie sessions, at least I had another topic of conversation
Good luck, it does get easier and there is an end to the road, a year ago I could not see that, but here I am weaning myself off my meds and feeling really strong

My Dr gave me a whole plan for PND but I was given another name instead of PND when I met the psychiatrist at MMH which was Adjustment disorder with depression. Whatever it was, I sufferred from mood swing and I felt miserable. I did follow the plan apart from the medication as the psychiatrist at MMH agreed.

Anyway,things that helped me were:

- I ate a lot of fish as fish oil is good for mood swing
- I made effort to go out of my comfort zone to meet other mums, playgroup, storytime in the library etc.
- Reading, it relaxes me and helps me sort out my thoughts and it improves my knowledge too, it is definitely a great benefit
- The hardest part for me is to let things go but you have to when you are out of control

I can't thing of anything else ATM, but will add it if I remember anything.

I would have to agree with the above.
SLEEP, Communication, Healthy diet, Enjoy some sunshine

Maya wrote: SLEEP!!!!! I cannot stress enough how much better I feel when I've had a decent sleep. Pity it doesn't happen often these days

Absolutely sleep is all we miss even though we all know how great you would feel if you have enough of sleep. However, it is just not that realistic once you become a parent.

But u can do things to help with getting more sleep! I wish I had listened to all the advice I got about having a sleep when baby does. I was always like 'Oh no I should be doing xx task" but really it is SOOO important. Also cos Isla was so unsettled and had no routinue for ages, I wouldnt want to go to bed stright after her, so stayed up way to late and night. I always thought "oh I'll be fine, Im not too tire", imagining that in a few weeks/months I would be back haing longer better sleep,...well Im still waiting! Lol! Still getting up in the night too