PND - is it really? Ideas & Advice.

Where to start....lol :P
My son was born 20/08/10, and I have an awesome toddler daughter, an amazing husband. a cool dog, no money worries, and a whole lot of stuff to look forward to.

I sorta noticed after the earthquake I was feeling out of sorts, funnily enough. To be expected with a newborn, aftershocks, and a terrified toddler keeping us up at nights.

Since then though, life is going back to normal. The toddler sleeps through the night again, and so does the baby on occasion. I eat and sleep well, and I've had time out with just me and the hubby.

So why can't I shake this damn mood and anxiety?

It makes me feel guilty, we can out of the quake with such minimal damage and I genuinely do have a sweet as life. I don't have the right to feel this down, and I am really looking forward to the future.

I just don't know what to do. I feel like I am on a slippery slope down, but it seems to be more a chemical balance, I'm not in a rut or having trouble bonding or anything like that. But then, I don't feel bad enough to take medication either, I don't want to while I'm bfing anyway, even if it is safe.

Help?

Thanks amme_eilyk :) My husband said something similar to that last bit lol

I probably will try and track down someone to talk to, we live in a small rural township but even one of the church pastors or something.

IDK.....I don't feel like the earthquake effected me that much. Sure it was a heck of a fright and aftershocks sucked, but my house is standing and nothing inside broke except for one ornament. The trucks can tip their loads at the yard now without me jumping.

Maybe earthquake + newborn + supporting DD through the aftershocks combined is enough to make me feel a bit wrung out 24/7. But then why aren't others feeling like this? Thats the other thing - I should be leaving the counselors for the rest of Canterbury - I imagine Psych services are stretched atm with ppl who really need them

Trauma affects people in different ways, so it could be a case of PTSD rather than PND. I agree with the other girls that having a chat to your Dr or counsellor may help. Dont feel like you shouldnt use their services, thats what they are there for

flake other people are almost guaranteed to be feeling the same as you but they arent talking about it and are just suffering with it rather than dealing with it.

Just re-reading what you've posted about being on a slippery slope down (and seeing how old your newborn is) ... wanted to add my bubba was about 5 to 6 weeks old when I got diagnosed with PND. The couple of weeks leading upto it I felt like I wasn't coping and that I was starting to fall apart.

Someone mentioned rescue remedy. I was so depended on it, that I kept a bottle by the bed for during the night, and one in the nappy bag ... I went through 3 bottles in approx 2 weeks. It's great stuff.