What would you do?

[Jen79]

I have had pnd since kate was born last november. My main symptom was total lack of sleep (about 4 hrs a night or so) and because I was so tired I felt like I couldnt cope - it was horrible.

I decided to wean myself off the medication a few weeks ago, under the doctors guidance. I stopped taking my tablets about 3 weeks ago, and basically ever since I have had the sleeping trouble again, I am up at 5 every morning and I am exhausted!

I am now starting to make mistakes at work, losing my appetite and worst of all feel i have no enthusiasm for life at all, its a total grind. I am seeing a cognitive behaviour therapist for the pnd and she says not to take the antidepressants again, that i dont need them etc. The thing is, I really think i do as i am slipping back into my old ways again. Would you go with your heart and start taking the meds again or would you take her advice and try and 'ride it out' so to speak? Any advice....please!!

 

[muppetmummy]

I'm not sure hun. Maybe you should have a chat with your gp about it, and tell them exactly how you are feeling? I'd have thought a behaviour therapist would be reluctant to recommend medication.
I hope you're feeling better soon

 

[trixipaws]

i think u mightve weaned urself off the meds too quickly or b4 u were ready. anti-d's are meant to really complement CBT arent they? dont it work better if ur on the meds too
im not qualified 2 advise u tho hun, thats just what i think. x

 

[katyk]

I took myself off my anti-depressants (with help from my GP) a year ago but have not been right since so am going back on them. I have long term problems with mood and my consultant never wanted me to come off them, though he understood that some people would prefer not to take them.

PND is mainly a chemical imbalance and while some people might be ok with just counselling, this can be mainly a chemical problem. I would see your GP or psychiatrist and ask their opinion and support. In the end, this therapist is just not as qualified as they are It may be that the CBT is doing you good but you need medication too, at least for the time being.

I hate not sleeping, it makes life horrible. Especially if you have a young baby, don't put up with it. You know you don't have to.

If you don't feel you can be assertive with her yourself, you could get your doctor or consultant to write to her with their recommendation.

 

[Jen79]

Thanks everyone for your advice, I did decide to take a tablet last night - i slept 10 hours!! Feel so much better today, I know it was the right decision. Much as I dont want to take the antidepressants I think that I do have some sort of chemical imbalance (prob off all the dope I smoked as a teenager!). Thanks again, hope eveyone else is keeping alright x

 

[mdsremos]

If you are worried about taking medication have you considered something like St Johns Wort (just be careful if your on the Pill) or I take Rhodolia which I find is very good, although I did start at the middle does of two tablets a day but cut down to one a day as it made me too laid back to the point that I felt too mellow....