Severe depression during my pregnancy

[fashionlover]

I am not normally a sad person. I have never had any history of depression at all. However, since I became pregnant I am extremely depressed. My husband and I planned this baby and I am so excited to meet her, but I just cannot shake this feeling of sadness. It feels as though a dark cloud is over me. I am fearful all the time, mostly that something bad is going to happen to me and my baby. I have just started seeing a therapist but she is very expensive even with insurance. I am not working at the moment and money is starting to become an issue. I don't have much longer til baby arrives, I am just hoping to be emotionally stable for her.

 

[Andypanda6570]

It is normal to feel like this. You are scared and that is ok. I guarantee once your baby is here, finally, things will get better. You only have a little way to go, so try and stay positive, nothing bad will happen.. if you ever need to talk I am always here.. Andrea XXOXOOXOXOX

 

[fashionlover]

It is normal to feel like this. You are scared and that is ok. I guarantee once your baby is here, finally, things will get better. You only have a little way to go, so try and stay positive, nothing bad will happen.. if you ever need to talk I am always here.. Andrea XXOXOOXOXOX

Thank you so much for your response. I am really trying to snap out of it as I do not like sadness to linger. I am really hoping that when baby comes I will feel normal again Did you have depression during your pregnancies?

 

[Ashla]

Hi there Fashionlover.

So sorry to hear that you have been feeling low lately. I have a long history or depression and know how tough it can be when you feel sad or anxious for no apparent reason. The really good thing you have going for you is that you say you are not normally a sad person. So I assume you haven't had any past episodes of clinical depression which means you have a really high likelihood of recovering from this episode quickly and completely.

Is your therapist giving you practical solutions to help you manage your symptoms? As someone who has been treated for multiple episodes of depression I know that there are many different therapy approaches out there. I also have a degree in psychology so I have a reasonable amount of knowledge about treatments for depression.

It is entirely reasonable for you to explain to your treating clinician that you have limited financial resources and limited time until the baby is born. A good therapist should be able to offer you a pre-agreed number of sessions and a plan for what you will both cover in those sessions. The sessions should provide you with a diagnosis of any problems, a basic understanding of any factors that precipitated the problems (ie brought them on) and the factors that are contributing to their continuation. And most importantly, the sessions should provide you with a practical set of 'tools' that you can use to combat your symptoms.

There are loys of things you can do, with the help of your doctor and/or therapist to make sure that you are as healthy and happy as possible for the arrival of your baby. And they shouldn't cost the earth or involve you talking in therapy for years on end!

GL and feel free to PM me if you'd like.

 

[Ashla]

Sorry about the typos above. I typed this on my phone and I thought I'd done a thorough proofread, but I hadn't!! :/

 

[fashionlover]

Ashla,
Thank you so much for your reply. It helps to know that I am not alone in this struggle. I am trying to wade the waters with as much therapy as I can afford. I am going to try to work out some kind of financial deal with my therapist because I don't know if I can go through this alone. Thank you for your suggestion. I am just praying that once baby gets here my thoughts can resume as normal again

 

[Dream.dream]

Hi , I'm
Bi polar and have delt with depression my whole life. Hormones can have a big effect ing depression so not surprising its just since you were pregnant.

I know its not ideal but if depression has a physical cause therapy alone is not going to get rid of it on its own.

There are safe antidepressant you can use during pregnancy , and it woul be better to get it under control before baby is born because if your still depressed when baby is born your at a huge risk for major post part in depression,

I suggest you talk to you obstetrician about it and see if he will refer you to a psychiatrist an they can work with you to find soemthing to help. By all means keep up with the therapy because it can be a huge help. I just don't think that that alone can work especially since you describe your depression as severe .

Keep you chin up