The Signs and Symptoms of Post Natal Depression

So what are the signs and symptoms of Post Natal Depression?

After many years of trying for a baby what a blow it was to find that after the birth of my beautiful daughter I felt utterly useless, had no energy and I was constantly questioning the purpose of life.

I had imagined that this would be the most ecstatic time of my life when everything I had yearned for such a long time (the arrival of my first child) had finally come to pass.

How wrong can you be? Instead I felt desperation and totally unable to cope on my own. My family kept rotas to keep me company and, as they though, sane!

The doctor kept telling me I had post natal depression but I was in denial and insisted something far more serious was wrong with me. For the sake of my family, and my beautiful baby, I eventually entered into a counselling program and started a course of antidepressants. I honestly thought I would never be "normal" again but I'm pleased to say that a full recovery ensued and I also went on to have another gorgeous daughter.

If you are reading this article and can relate to my experience please don't delay like I did. Go to your GP who can tell you if you have post natal depression and seek the treatment that is best for you.

If you think you could be suffering from post natal depression your symptoms could be some or all of the following:

Crying - This can be for no reason at all, over silly little things and can even be most of the time.

Low Mood - You find it difficult to show an interest in anything and you take little or no pleasure in your loved ones or surroundings.

Feelings of Guilt - You feel you are a burden on others and feel particularly guilty that you are a bad mother.

Eating - This can be either over-eating or an inability to eat.

Aches and Pains This can be problems with your eye sight, pain in your abdomen, even headaches and in particular worrying that something very serious is wrong with you.

No interest in sex.

These are only a few of many possible symptoms but do remember this can happen to anybody. Even the bubbly and chirpy Stacey Solomon who won our hearts on the X Factor and became "queen of the jungle" became a victim to this very cruel form of depression.