Difference between hormones and actual depression..

[ruthiestar]

Hey all, was wondering if anyone else has been feeling down at all? I'm sure you all have periods/days where you will be feeling down/depressed, but how do we tell the difference between our hormones playing up or if it is real depression?

So far, I have been very lucky to have had a great pregnancy, no health complications, I am over the moon to be having a baby, and so is my fiance, it is the greatest thing ever, and we have a fantastic relationship but today and last week, I am getting very depressed and anxious about the baby coming along, worrying that something could happen to my fiance, stressing over how we will cope and will I like my life changing in such a dramatic way...... I am starting to take this out on my partner now and picking on any little thing! I'm crying alot, have no interest in sex, or anything else for that matter and feeling pretty stressed and ill with it all....

I don't want to worry my partner with all this as he is a worrier and I don't want him to think I am being weak...

I have only had one midwife appointment so far and the next one is next week, I will mention all this to her..

Anyone else like this? x

 

[heidi-hi]

Hey... Sorry im not gonna be much help and ive not really got much advise but just wanted to reassure u that your not alone with some of the things u have mentioned. I am quite a laid back person usually and just think well I will deal with that when the time comes but this pregnancy is making me very anxious at times.

I especially worry about something happening to oh... it's terrible. I get myself so worked up i really do have to find things to do to take my mind off it... Like right now he is on his way back to Devon from here in N.Wales so I've just decided to empty my underbed draws full if old uni work and I'm sorting it into folders. I could really drive myself insane thinking like I do sometimes. As for taking things out on oh I've read on here of alot of people doing this... It is most probably hormones, massive changes are happening to our bodies that we have no control over.

As I said before I'm not really much help, but I'm sure somebody on here will have some better advise for u on recognising depression etc. Like u said, I'd defo mention it to your midwife. I really hope u start feeling better about everything soon xxxxx

 

[Merfairy]

Hi, I think it is hard to know the difference and certainly when pregnant as we are already hormonal; I have days where I feel down and days where I am okay... it so varies!! I guess if your feeling down loads.. then maybe speak to a GP, but it could still be hormonal xx

 

[Miss]

As a suffer of long term depression - I find it hard that people say "I am depressed" off the cuff. However depression is different for everyone so I cannot tell you what it is - I can however tell you what it is not - at least in my eyes. It is not brief periods of feeling low, it is not being sad because you have no money or because things are not going your way etc and to me it's not something that you go get signed off for 2 weeks for and that makes everything ok.

Now this will turn everything I have just said on it's head lol Most depression is a hormone imbalance! please note - I said most depression not most mental health issues!

Now being pregnant means that your body and hormones go haywire! Feelings like you are experiencing should not go unspoken about hun - pre natal depression (depression in pregnancy) is very common and prolonged periods of feeling very down and anxious are not things you should go thru yourself. Please speak with your OH, Doctor or Midwife - you would be suprised how much having someone to talk to can help.

Remember you also have us on here and as Heidi has mentioned keeping yourself busy so that you do not over think things can do wonders! I have been an avid gamer from early teenage years for this very reason! xx

 

[megsmeadow]

Hiya, I just want to echo what Miss said, there are some things you can look out for, this link might help to see if these feelings sound familiar to you. Either way you should discuss it with your midwife or GP, who should be experienced in depression, and of course pregnancy.
http://www.babycenter.com/0_depression-during-pregnancy_9179.bc?page=1 (there are four pages to it)
We all have mental health and mental illness just as we have physical health and physical illness, neither should be ignored.

 

[nmf1987]

i again have suffered with depression for quite awhile.

like miss said it isn't just oh iv'e got no money etc.

i would talk to your midwife etc like the others said. i told them about my depression at my 1st appointment as they say if you have suffered previously then you are more likely to get post-natal depression.

its not all easy for our pregnant women is it. bloody hormones. lol. xxx

 

[amandapanda]

I've suffered from depression and I've struggled with hormones during pregnancy. I've had complete meltdowns about having this baby - how will I cope? Will I be a rubbish mum? etc etc - and taking it out on your OH and being a crazy moody bitch is all part of pregnancy as far as I'm concerned, lol. I consider this to be normal pregnancy hormones - but none the less it is really horrible to live through! Recently I have dipped dangerously close to depression though and I know the symptoms - crying all the time, not sleeping well, waking up in the night and crying, losing all joy and interest in everything, cutting myself off from everyone and feeling angry at everyone and everything! I'd definitely say keep an eye on things and go easy on yourself - and it certainly wouldn't hurt to mention it to your GP or midwife xxx

 

[xx emma xx]

Hey all, was wondering if anyone else has been feeling down at all? I'm sure you all have periods/days where you will be feeling down/depressed, but how do we tell the difference between our hormones playing up or if it is real depression?

So far, I have been very lucky to have had a great pregnancy, no health complications, I am over the moon to be having a baby, and so is my fiance, it is the greatest thing ever, and we have a fantastic relationship but today and last week, I am getting very depressed and anxious about the baby coming along, worrying that something could happen to my fiance, stressing over how we will cope and will I like my life changing in such a dramatic way...... I am starting to take this out on my partner now and picking on any little thing! I'm crying alot, have no interest in sex, or anything else for that matter and feeling pretty stressed and ill with it all....

I don't want to worry my partner with all this as he is a worrier and I don't want him to think I am being weak...

I have only had one midwife appointment so far and the next one is next week, I will mention all this to her..

Anyone else like this? x

Your post sounds exactly like me! I've suffered anxiety a lot in the past but since becoming pregnant I have got increasingly worse. Everything you say is the same as me. I have irrational worries, once I sort one worry in my head another one crops up. I'm actually off work because of it and don't think ill be back before baby arrives. I spoke to my midwife about my problems and I am being referred to speak to someone who deals with anxiety/stress/depression in pregnancy. Just waiting on an appointment being sent out. My midwife said its probably best I at least speak to them once at least because if I don't speak to someone I may slip through the net when baby is born and then if I get postnatal depression it may go un noticed by them. So I am going to speak to these people so they at least know of my problems. As I am terrified I will get postnatal depression. If you ever want a chat private mail me as I know how you feel xxx

 

[ruthiestar]

Sorry for the delay ladies, been having laptop problems! It would take forever to reply to all your post but thank you so much for your replies.. I am starting to feel a bit more positive, I haven't told anyne how i'm feeling yet as I don't want people to worry ( as in family) I shall certainly mention these feelings to the midwife next week ..

Thanks again xxx

 

[emmadown]

I am feeling so much like this i am usually on anti depressents they took me off them when found out i was pregnant i am not on my anxiety tablets anymore but am back on depression tablets to try help, so far no good and the anxiety can really get me down