I had psychiatrist until july 2007 then I was discharged. Thats all I've ever had, and it was a nightmare getting that!

It is a very sad state of affairs

I will get the CPN out after the birth etc. It was the same when I had Elinor.Unfortunately as far as help for bipolar etc goes here in Dundee it is pretty shit. I know a few men and women who I met through a bipolar group and they all say the same thing. They are all still waiting for help. 2 of them have been hospitalized recently for suicide attempts but have been released and have no further extra support from their CPNs or anything.

I wasn't even really offered support this time on meds. I went to see my GP and told him I was struggling and asked to be prescribed Venlafaxine again as it had worked well last time. As far as I remember he just handed me the prescription and told me to come back if I didn't feel some improvement. I was seeing a counsellor at the university at the time so I wasn't without support entirely but I was surprised that they didn't seem bothered about monitoring me. I saw a psychiatrist once at some point after being but on them after the duty doctor asked if I wanted to be referred. It was a long appointment at the end of which she just said I seemed to be coping well and she would refer me back to my GP for follow up.

The previous time I had been on meds I was seeing a counsellor through college and was also expected to see a psychiatrist regularly to check how my meds were agreeing with me but I was a lot more poorly that time and on 225mg which I believe is about the highest dose they'll let you have without admission.

I don't know that I really need that much monitoring at the moment but I do worry that I might be more at risk of PND and then I think I probably will need all the support I can get.

Hi ladies, feel stoopid posting this but
its just i have been feeling really down in the dumps for about a year or so now, i feel as though i have changed, i used to be happy go lucky always smiling and laughing and now ive been getting really upset at the slightest thing,
i don't like doing some of the things i used to love
i hate having to go out on my own to crowded places
i feel really anxious too...
in 2004 i self harmed when i was 17-18 then i done it just the once last year, havent done it since but i do get bad thoughts sometimes although i don't think i would do anything stupid.

this is soo not the way i was before and i hate it, i try so hard to be 'the old me'
i thought i might of been suffering from depression but somebody told me that sufferers are down all of the time... & i do have my 'up' times but feel down most of the time,
i don't know why tho, i mean i have the most fantastic partner,family home etc,
just wondering if any of you girls have any advice for me because i don't know anything about it really.

MizzK ....dont feel sorry for posting. And sufferers dont necessarily feel depressed all of the time.

I would say if you are feeling this way then speak to your GP about it. They might be able to refer you to a councilor to speak to and try and find out whats causing you to feel this way. Up here in Scotland the GP refers you to the mental health side of things...although the current waiting list up here for any kind of help is 9 months minimum. I am unsure how it goes down south tho sorry.

There are many reasons people suffer form depression. Could be a chemical imbalance in the brain... could be something inherited. Could be anything related to your circumstances IE surroundings, social environments etc. But speaking to someone who deals with mental health can help you try and sort out whats going on inside....give you an idea of what could be causing the depression.
1st step tho would be to speak to your GP about it.

I haven't found a med that suited me or helped me as of yet.... and so I have opted for alternative remedies such as CBT, and councilling and my psycho therapist. Was not only my choice to try but also all my case workers decisions too. I was happy to try it although I find councilling etc very uncomfortable. Still unsure how its all going for me and its been canceled now until after bubs has came and my hormones are back "to normal". So for now I sit on the fence I guess

i guess i should post in here! i have ptsd and serve anixety linked to this!
it was a bit better last year but seems to have come bk really bad at the mo!
im on a waiting list for cbt AS i dont really like meds! ive been on it a yr my oh wants to pay to go private! but im not sure!
hows every1 today xx

Thankyou for the reply

im the kind of person who really just wants to try and get on with life and be positive y kno and try be there for other people, i feel kinda selfish getting help going to my gp, probs scared of what they would say or do but i know it would be for the best, ive just been trying to get on with it myself without telling anyone, i spose i could class this as a start, we are ttc nxt month and im scared how i will react with all those hormonal changes! maybe it would be a good idea i get help and also let them know about ttc and take it from there? xx

Jenny, if you feel this bad then something needs to change. Taking meds for a few months will NOT make you dependant on them. I use homeopathy and Bach flower remedies to help control my mood swings and would highly reccomend you look at them to help your PND and your bipolar.
Meds work for me, it took a while to find something that worked well but not every med works for every person and you have to be patient and give things time and be honest if things arent working, dont just stick with something if it doesnt help.
Coucilling I am sure will help, being able to talk through exactly how you are feeling and all your concerns often helps make them seem more managable.

Although you dont have to try any meds at all try and keep an open mind. You dont have to suffer.