You may feel:
- guilty and ready to blame yourself for everything
- exhausted and lacking in motivation
- unable to enjoy yourself
- trapped in your life
- rejected
- irritable
- tearful
- lonely
PND sometimes makes it hard for you to function in your daily life, as your energy ebbs away. You may not able to concentrate or remember things, so making decisions becomes a real challenge. PND often affects sleep. You may find you can't get to sleep, or are disturbed by early morning waking or vivid nightmares.
If you have PND, you may also suffer from:
- panic attacks that cause a rapid heartbeat, sweating, sickness or fainting
- stomach pains, headaches or blurred vision
- a loss of appetite or the urge to comfort eat
- suicidal feelings
- a low sex drive
PND affects everyone differently. But if you are experiencing many of these feelings, and they are constant or getting worse, talk to your health visitor or GP. Don't try to cope on your own. The first step to feeling better is to recognise that you have PND. Then you can seek the help and treatment you need to recover.
Signs and symptoms of postpartum psychosis
Postpartum psychosis is a rare, but extremely serious disorder that can develop after childbirth. It is characterized by loss of contact with reality. Postpartum psychosis should be considered a medical emergency. Because of the high risk for suicide or infanticide, hospitalization is usually required to keep the mother and the baby safe.
Postpartum psychosis develops suddenly, usually within the first two weeks after delivery, and sometimes within 48 hours. Symptoms include:
- Hallucinations (seeing things that aren’t real or hearing voices)
- Delusions (paranoid and irrational beliefs)
- Extreme agitation and anxiety
- Suicidal thoughts or actions
- Confusion and disorientation
- Rapid mood swings
- Bizarre behavior
- Inability or refusal to eat or sleep
- Thoughts of harming or killing your baby
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