| Post
Natal Depression
 It
is estimated that 1 in 10 women suffer the misery
of Post Natal Depression, although many health
professionals believe that the number affected
is much higher. Indeed, the title Post Natal Depression
is, in itself, confusing, as often depression
is NOT the symptom that drives the sufferer to
seek medical help.
Symptoms
include - fatigue, aches and pains, loss of concentration,
irritability, panic attacks, headaches, insomnia,
and bouts of crying. Such a varied list explains
why the problems experienced at this time are
frequently put down to an inability to cope with
the new arrival, rather than a very real and treatable
illness.
What you can do:
- First and foremost,
the most important way you can help yourself
is to go and talk to your G.P.
- Be honest with your G.P./Health
Visitor/Community Psychiatric Nurse - assuring
everyone that you are fine when the opposite
is true helps no one!
- Take your medication as prescribed
- if confused return to your G.P. Please do
not throw your tablets in a drawer and refuse
to take them! If you are unhappy about your
medication go back to the G.P. and voice your
fears.
- Accept all offers of help
- don't be a martyr! Getting over tired will
only make you feel worse!
- Don’t take on too much
– learn to pace yourself, we all deserve
‘me’ time – even busy Mums!
- Look at your diet - too much
caffeine (found in tea, coffee, fizzy drinks,
chocolate, and some pain killers) can leave
you edgy and irritable. Missing meals is another
'no no' and we actively encourage our members
to eat 'little and often' (a method of eating
that can really prove helpful to both P.N.D.
and Premenstrual Syndrome sufferers) - details
available in our booklet 'Post Natal Depression
- Your Questions Answered'.
- Get informed - the more you
know the better able you are to help yourself.
You can request books on P.N.D. from your local
library for the price of a stamp, while various
organizations exist which can provide help and
information (details available).
- Don't blame yourself - no
one asks to suffer from P.N.D.
- Remind yourself daily that
your P.N.D. will pass.
Our booklet ‘P.N.D.
Your Questions Answered’ contains further
information on Post Natal Depression and is available
by post, priced £3.00 (Includes P &
P).
P.M.S. & P.N.D.
Support Telephone : 07769801941
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