Comments on: CONFESSIONS OF A MENTAL MOTHER http://stolensleep.com/2014/05/17/confessions-of-a-mental-mother/ An antidote to baby sleep advice..... Wed, 01 May 2019 12:10:36 +0000 hourly 1 By: Emily-Jane http://stolensleep.com/2014/05/17/confessions-of-a-mental-mother/#comment-5485 Sun, 05 Jul 2015 08:58:39 +0000 http://stolensleep.com/?p=384#comment-5485 In reply to Gem.

Oh i felt that too. I used to constantly say sorry for feeling low. Just remember it is NOT your fault but an illness. I found a local support group through Homestart that helped me feel like I was less alone. Hang in there. You perhaps need to go back and see your GP. I found CBT really helped. Hope you find the light soon my friend.

]]> By: Gem http://stolensleep.com/2014/05/17/confessions-of-a-mental-mother/#comment-5454 Mon, 29 Jun 2015 14:50:37 +0000 http://stolensleep.com/?p=384#comment-5454 Oh god. This is so true. Except my son is 2 and a half now. And despite taking antidepressants since he was 5 months, and changing brands – I still feel like I’m just pretending to be okay. I’m a terrible mother. My husband just can’t understand why my PND hasn’t gone away, and I feel I have to apologise constantly for the strain it puts on him, despite his never complaining.

]]> By: Emily-Jane http://stolensleep.com/2014/05/17/confessions-of-a-mental-mother/#comment-4877 Thu, 14 May 2015 15:18:55 +0000 http://stolensleep.com/?p=384#comment-4877 In reply to Jane.

Thank you so much. I know everyone is different but these are the things that I know would have helped me when I was really ill. It sounds like you are doing all the right things. That ‘feeling like a failure’ is the depression talking! You are far from a failure my friend. Keep talking and hang on in there. You WILL get better. xxx

]]> By: Jane http://stolensleep.com/2014/05/17/confessions-of-a-mental-mother/#comment-4871 Thu, 14 May 2015 08:03:02 +0000 http://stolensleep.com/?p=384#comment-4871 Hi, I just wanted to say that your ’16 things…’ article in the Metro really brightened up my day.So it led me on to read this post.It is like you are describing my life over the last 5 months! I had my little boy in November and the first couple of months are a blur of crying (me more than him!). I finally started taking anti-depressants in January, but had to stop due to aide effects. I have been in the ‘pretending’ to be ok’ phase for a couple of months now. However, had an extremely bad argument with my husband last week and know I need to get help again.Have an appointment with the doctor and Mind next week, which I felt like a failure for. Your article has made me feel this less intensely, particularly what you say about depression being an illness that you need help for.Thanks for sharing!

]]> By: Emily-Jane http://stolensleep.com/2014/05/17/confessions-of-a-mental-mother/#comment-4828 Tue, 12 May 2015 19:04:55 +0000 http://stolensleep.com/?p=384#comment-4828 In reply to Yvette @ BigTrouble.

I know. You are so right. I think the only thing we can fight this government with is kindness. We need to support each other through the tough times – in whatever small way we can.

]]> By: Yvette @ BigTrouble http://stolensleep.com/2014/05/17/confessions-of-a-mental-mother/#comment-4819 Tue, 12 May 2015 13:01:07 +0000 http://stolensleep.com/?p=384#comment-4819 In reply to Emily-Jane.

Yes I’m sure it can make such a difference which Health Visitor you are assigned – great yours was supportive along with your family. People need people. Despite what the bloody government are trying to do with their very ill-thought out funding cuts.

]]> By: Emily-Jane http://stolensleep.com/2014/05/17/confessions-of-a-mental-mother/#comment-4818 Tue, 12 May 2015 12:54:02 +0000 http://stolensleep.com/?p=384#comment-4818 In reply to Yvette @ BigTrouble.

Ha why thank you. I was one of the lucky ones. I live in an area where there was lots of support (at least until the bloody government recently made a lot of cuts) and I had a great health visitor and parents near by. It could have been much worse.

]]> By: Yvette @ BigTrouble http://stolensleep.com/2014/05/17/confessions-of-a-mental-mother/#comment-4817 Tue, 12 May 2015 12:50:23 +0000 http://stolensleep.com/?p=384#comment-4817 I’ve just had a little cry at this, you’ve been through so much and it’s really incredible that you’ve been able to tell your story and help others who have been through similar difficulties. You rock!

]]> By: Emily-Jane http://stolensleep.com/2014/05/17/confessions-of-a-mental-mother/#comment-2646 Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:22:48 +0000 http://stolensleep.com/?p=384#comment-2646 In reply to Kelly.

Thank you Kelly. You must be one strong lady. The fact that held him 24/7, fed him and gave him what he needed shows you were a good mum despite feeling desperately ill so it definitely would not have damaged him. Some babies just cry more than others, my second baby was a crier..now at two she is a bloody chatterbox! I know you are ok now, but it may still help to talk to someone about what you went through. It is a traumatising experience. It may help with some of that guilt that never quite goes away. Thanks for sharing.x

]]> By: Kelly http://stolensleep.com/2014/05/17/confessions-of-a-mental-mother/#comment-2642 Tue, 03 Feb 2015 01:05:19 +0000 http://stolensleep.com/?p=384#comment-2642 Thank you for sharing your story. I too had post partum depression. It was horrible. I hated myself, my baby ALWAYS cried, he never slept, I never slept, everything seemed to bother me. I couldn’t eat and I couldn’t remember to brush my teeth which resulted in many cavities. He also wouldn’t allow me to put him down. I literally held him 24/7 and he HAD to be jogged. I couldn’t even sit and hold him. I looked like a skeleton with huge breasts from nursing so frequently. I felt guilty for not being able to help him, I felt guilty for wishing I wasn’t a mom, I felt guilty for being a terrible mom, I felt guilty for feeling guilty, etc. etc. It was a downward spiral. I too felt like I was just a bad mom and I didn’t need help. This went on for almost a year without any help. I never did get help but my wonderful husband stayed by my crazy side and I eventually lifted the cloud by myself. It was of the hardest things I have ever done. I can’t remember much of his baby days and when I look at pictures and he is smiling and I can’t remember the times he was happy. I can only remember the times I felt miserable and like a failure. Sometimes I worry now that I did something to damage him developmentally because I couldn’t help him when he was an infant. I just thank you so much for your honesty. It is truly helpful to know that I am not the only one.

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