Jan Perkins, 2 months [Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment.]

I am a Life Coach, I have four children and I suffered severe Post natal depression after the birth of my second child. There are many factors that contribute to this condition, and varying symptoms, Irrational thoughts such as morbid thoughts of those around you being dead, panic attacks feeling down/sad, feeling overwhelmed, frightened for no apparent reason, mood swings, insomnia, loss of apetite. Post natal depression can be brought on through trauma during birth, It can be related to hormone disruption, relationship problems, circumstances at home, not having enough help or support in the early days after birth. As we know there are anti-depressants and counceling among other things that can help, and these should not be ruled out, however getting down to the cause and finding ways to manage this condition are extremely helpful in making a swift and full recovery. Coaching is a very effective way of dealing with personal Life issues and is worth exploring, I am happy to offer two free sessions to women suffering from post natal depression as a start on their road to recovery. E-mail Jan at janis.perkins@lifematters4u.co.uk or visit www.lifematters4u.co.uk There is light at the end of the tunnel.

sonia norman, 11 months [Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment.]

Hi Gail I have just read your email, I am sitting here crying hysterically talking to my sister trying to make some sense of my life. I don't know what to do with my life, I have been ill with post natal depression since my son was born nearly 4 years ago. I am still struggling so much, I resent my son because I love him so much and because I love him I have to be responsible for him. If I didn't have to be responsible for him I wouldn't have to be here. I just find it all so pointless, I do not have a faith so I really struggle to see the point of continuing to struggle if it is all just to end up as worm food. I feel guilty at having brought my son into this world when I know that I will have to leave him one day and hurt him. We as mohers are meant to protect our children from hurt aren't we? I have just been made medically redundant from work and I am still off sick. I am now on invalidity benefit and just don't know what to do with my life now. Physically I am capable of anything but mentally I have lost my confidence and just don't know what I want to do anymore. It is so hard to keep fighting this illness every day and would be so easy to just give in.

lynda, 11 months [Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment.]

Hi Gail i have just read your comment. I know how you feel. I have no children so cant say mine is post natal but 2 years ago out the blue i started having panic attacks for no reason what so ever, i felt down and my panic feelings were making me feel like i was goin crazy. i was petrified. I went to my doctors 3 times in a week freakin out an crying, they then put me on antideprressants which i was against at fist but had no choice but to try them. i started takin them an felt better within 2 weeks. i had no side effects what so ever an felt my normal happy self again within a month or so. i stayed on them for a year and a half then came off them but unfortunately the panic attacks returned so im back on them again and i feel great. I hate the thought of being on antidepressants cos there is so much stigma attatched to it and im a nurse as well and people think nurses dont suffer with this kind of thing. But they do and so do alot of people. The wasy i look at it is, if you have diabetes you would take insulin, if you had high blood pressure you would take medication to lower it so why not take one tablet a day for depression, as long as you can get through a normal happy life who cares?

Gail, 12 months [Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment.]

I too have suffered post natal depression. I had my daughter six years ago, the first few weeks went fine i felt pretty much ok, then my partner was with his friends most of the time and out at the pub and i was left to it, I felt trapped, down and started to resent both my daughter and my partner, it even came to the point I would tell people I was going to give her away. I filled out a questionnaire with my health visitor I scored pretty high for depression to the fact that they offered councilling and anti depressents, I declined both, but gradually after a split with my partner and been around my friends and doing things I enjoyed plus the added bonus of getting out on a saturday night I felt so much better and started to enjoy life and my daughter. After a few years I met my partner I am with now, I knew I had never got over the depression completely and a year into the relationship I felt panick attacks and anxiety attacks to the point I didn't want to leave the house and felt fear every where I went, I felt that bad I felt suicidal because I hated feeling so bad. I then became pregnant again and was dredding the arrival in case it made everything worse, as usual first few weeks everything was great I felt top of the world and my partner was great as soon as he went back to work I felt lonely, anxious for no reason, cry, unable to sleep as too anxoius to sleep, then to wake in a panick. my second daughter is now 11 weeks. I have been offered anti-depressants but I don't think that is the answer, I hate feeling so down, weepy, anxious and to the point I have stupid thoughts. I know it puts strain on the relationship and I know I can be short tempered with my oldest daughter and I know I am so lucky to have two beautiful children that love me and look up to me, the thing I don't know is why I feel like I do and how to fix it