First time writing on a forum

[Emtravwill]

I am a 24 year old mother who was diagnosed with pnd about a year after I had my first son he will be 5 this June I have been on medication ever since. I am about to start a new job after not working for nearly 5 years and I have been having anxiety attacks and feeling really depressed that I can't and won't be able to cope and do it not only that I have just been feeling really down for a while like I am constantly doubting myself and feeling worthless and I just can't handle it a lot of the time. I end up with knots/butterflies in my stomach and they don't go away then I start feeling really stressed and have a lump in my throat. Please help I just don't know what to do anymore

[Starwolf]

Welcome to the forums, Emtravwill.

Well done for taking the plunge and reaching out. These forums are the right place to vent your feelings and share your concerns.

As an ex anxiety sufferer, I can understand how it throws a spanner in the works and infiltrates every area of our lives. After 5 years, this is indeed a daunting transition for you so a new wave of anxiety has been triggered.

Perhaps a talk with your prescribing GP could help adjust your medication till you're back on track. You may need an extra "something" to ease you over this rough patch.

Please try to keep in mind that agonizing over what is to be done is often far worse than actually doing it. Our worst fears seldom make it into reality. So why not give it a go and see what happens ? It could change your life for the best. You could always back down later on medical ground if you feel you are not ready to rejoin the work force.

There's a useful mindfulness app you could download : Smiling Mind. Other coping strategies you could look into are Relaxed Body Scan and Relaxed Breathing.

Meanwhile, please feel free to keep "talking" with us. Writing down your thoughts is a good way to clarify them to yourself. Better cast them out there than keeping them churning inside you and eroding your self worth. Being a parent is the toughest job on earth. Obviously, you have been doing it while struggling with pnd. Not an easy thing to do. You must be stronger, more resilient than you think.

Kindest thoughts.

[Emtravwill]

Thank you very much for your kind reply. I'm not big on talking to many people around me because not everyone understands what it's like and just say things like "you'll be fine". Which isn't very helpful. I will definitely be taking your advice as I really just felt a sense of relief when I seen that you had written that reply thank you so much 😊

[Starwolf]

Not only being told that we'll be fine is not helpful but it can also be infuriating. It can make us feel misunderstood and very much alone.

Mental conditions are difficult to understand for those affected. No wonder they're even more difficult to fathom for those around. They can't be explained in terms of logic and reason because they're outside the scope of both. So people end up saying/doing unhelpful things...or dismissing it because they feel out of their depth. Of course, it doesn't mean they don't care. They just don't know how.

Struggling alone is not always necessary. Having support can make it so much easier ! If you want to give it a go, copying this link into your browser has great tips on discussing mental illness :

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/have-the-conversation/tak-about-it#findwords

Handing over printed info also helps when spoken words fail. Some can be ordered free of charge (see the Get Support section, top left of this page). The written word is harder to dismiss. It could help others gain better understanding of what you are up against.