My sis has pnd and im just trying to get her some help - she is on sleeping tabs and anti-dep and had one session with a counceller, but she cannot be on her own - gets very anxious and has panic attacks - what is cognitive behaviour therapy and where is there a doc based? - we are dublin

Hi everyone,

Just wondering how everyone is doing these days

Had a really really awful week last week with PND, definately the worst so far. Felt like i was kind of in a hole that i just couldnt bring myself out of, weird as i am supposed to be finished my anti depressants in the next 8 weeks. I doubt the doc will take me off them tho

Due back to work in sept but i am not sure if i will be able to manage it, DS is starting to go to minders for a few hours each week but he hates it and that doesnt help PND, feel like such a bad mother abandoning him but its for his own good i guess

How is everyone else doing, just wondering if anyone is taking cymbalta?

Hey Bridal
sorry to hear you're feeling bad. Try not to worry too much - 8 weeks is a long time on anti-depressants and you'll probably be feeling much better once they kick in properly. On the other hand, if you feel that they are not doing as much for you as you wanted, maybe you could see if your GP will prescribe something else?

JUST WONDERING HOW EVERYONE IS GETTING ON WITH COPING WITH PND,?

Hi Bridal,

I think I've taken a step backwards to be honest, I finished my medication last September and went back to work last November and I've been trying to be convince myself that I'm fine but it's always at the back of my mind and the last couple of months I've been feeling very down and trying to put on a brave face. I'm back to crying nearly every day, I have very low confidence and self-esteem at the moment, in work I look around at all the other girls and wish I had their confidence, I really envy them, I just feel I've gone really serious and I'm finding it hard to engage in trivial conversation and have a laugh with them, I've no interest what so ever.
I've gone obsessed with keeping the house tidy, I get very aggitated when things are getting a bit messy, when people come over, I'm constantly worrying about keeping the place clean, I drive myself mad but I can't help it.
I think way too much about sad things that are happening in the world, children being treated badly, murders, people being tortured, it really gets me down and upsets me and I try not to think about it but it doesn't work, I get upset over the most ridiculous thing on telly, anything could set me off.
I just did the Edinburgh test and I scored 18, I'm thinking of going back to my doctor and going back on medication but I just think this is a step backwards and I'm so upset about it.
How are you doing?

Thanks for responding oct07mammy

I am doing as well as can be expected, i had a very bad week a few weeks ago but was away last weekend and enjoyed the break

I am always forgetting to take my meds tho so sometimes i feel the effects of that. I really think you should go back to your doctor, you might need another stage of meds to finish off, dont feel bad about it, its just the way things go sometimes

I was put on them for 6 months but i would imagine that will be extended for another 6 months.

how is your LO doing

Hi everyone,
Oct07mammy, you may have taken a step backwards but I bet you're not as low as you were when you were first diagnosed. It all sounds very familiar to me. You're right to go back to the doctor, im sure you won't need a strong dose of meds.
Bridal, I'm the same as you - always forgetting the meds! I used to feel the effects of it a lot but not too much anymore.

I was back with the GP 2 weeks ago and I'm starting to reduce my meds now. I'm taking it very slowly and it will be August or September before I'm finished completely.

I really am so much better but I am finding work hard at the moment. I'm back about 7 weeks and it's been very busy. I am coping though.

Dhirdra/oct07mammy

did you or anyone who suffers PND add sick leave to the end of their maternity leave?

Sometimes i feel my maternity is being eaten up by the bad weeks i have and time is ticking away and i will be back at work in no time

I took a little sick leave at the end of my maternity and it made a huge difference to me. My GP wanted me to take longer but I felt ready. I'm not sure if it was the right decision or not.

Hi girls,

Good to hear from you, it's tough isn't it, I remember when I forgot to take my medication when I was on it last year and it did have an effect alright, sure I convinced myself I was fine after taking it for 3 months and stopped taking it and of course I got worse so went back on it for the other 3 months.
I'm going to go to the doctor on Monday, I'm in work now and I just feel on the verge of tears, I feel like the smallest thing could set me off.
Bridal, I went back to work after my six months maternity leave and only lasted 3 days, I wasn't ready to go back at all, had a chat to my manager and told her the situation and I have to say they were very good and told me to take as much time off as I needed so I went back to my doctor and got a sick cert, I was 8 months on sick leave and work didn't mind at all thank God.
My LO is doing great, she is very clingy to me though, always has been and sometimes I find it very tough, like I just want to escape for a while.
I still get that feeling of being trapped and I just want to go somewhere by myself.