Anxiety and being a mum

[Stepb]

2 years ago when I was 9 weeks pregnant we lost our house to a house fire which began a whirlwind of stress ( moving with animals, insurance, first pregnancy, now legal battle with insurance, traumatic birth, daughter sick when born etc) my daughter is now 11 months old and we are planning on moving back to our old home. I believe I suffered post natal depression ( undiagnosed) but as my daughter was colicky, she wouldn't sleep for the first 6months ( which heightened the depression due to lakkcnif sleep) and still struggles to nap at times. I find I am getting anxious and stressed at every nap time and not sure if this has just manifested form everything that has happened and continuing to happen. My daughter is happy, healthy and beautiful but I just can’t seem to allow anything to mess with our daily schedule in fear of her missing a nap and not having the oppprtunity to nap as I stress that she will start waking at night and this won’t allow me to sleep and rest. Any advice or anyone who has experienced something similar.

[PamelaR]

Hi Stepb and a very warm welcome to our community forums

Thank you for sharing your story here. Life is sounding very difficult for you at the moment. From what you've said, it's understandable. You have been through so much in a very short period of time. It's not surprising you are feeling the way you are.

I've not had children, but there are many in our community who have and I'm sure will add their thoughts here for you. Also, if you want do a search on the BB webpage (search field is located at top of the page) to find threads that are similar to yours. Feel free to join in the discussions.

As a thought, have you contacted PANDA Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia? I understand this is a very helpful organisation for people experiencing post natal depression.

Hope some of this helps Stepb. You're not alone!

Kind regards

PamelaR

[Stepb]

Thank you for your support and suggestion about PANDA definitely an avenue I will go down

[PamelaR]

Good to hear back from you Stepb. I hope PANDA can give you some helpful tips.

Let us know how you go.

Kind regards

PamelaR