Anxiety Post Reply

[Mummy1944]

Can anyone recommend a professional to see regarding anxiety, which could be linked to PND? Was thinking of looking for some CBT as need to tackle this. Ideally somewhere sw18 or nearby would be easier to fit in around being a busy mum.
Many thanks

[anxiety]

I've been battling with severe anxiety for the last 12 months. Could I ask what type of anxiety it is?

[tooposhtopush]

Can I ask what sort of anxiety and how extreme?

There are a number of people in the area who can offer psychotherapy and the like but if it is extreme can you go to your GP and get a referral to a psychiatrist? If it's PND I wouldn't want to take it too lightly so I'd go for the most help possible as soon as possible.

[zozodarling2011]

Hello
Have had PND very severely and suffered serious anxiety with it in the past - crippling and unable to function, leave house etc.

The only person who fully cured me and is a specialist in this area
is Jeanie Speirs (specialist PND psychiatrist). Based in Priory Roehampton and has consulting rooms in Oakley Street, Chelsea. She is now like an old friend!
Please pm me if you need further advice.

Also, talking therapy with local charity The Cedar House Support Group
www.postnataldepression.com
Pls get in touch if you need to. It was the most horrendous thing but with help you can get better.

[zozodarling2011]

PS if your little one was born Chelsea and Westminster there is a perinatal team of psychotherapists on hand to help. Look up on hospital website.

[Mummy1944]

Much of my anxiety concerns my children. They both have health issues and it seems to be constant guess work regarding allergies/ food issues / health issues.

My sleep is terrible and I often wake in the night and spend hours analysing and looking for answers.

I do not get sweats, racing heart, feeling of dread, but I feel like I am constantly under a grey cloud and just want some answers. However, I also wonder if I got the answers I need concerning my children whether I would then find something else to worry about.

I know I am not very pleasant to be around at home. My husband is being amazing and is very supportive, but I feel things are taking their toll.

I just can't switch off and I am exhausted by it all and so realise I need to get things back on track. I was planning to go to gp, but in terms of a referral I just wondered if anyone had any recommendations.

[anxiety]

I went to see Dr Jeannie Spiers only yesterday and I'm so not sure. She immediately offered me anti depressents ts and I've read such bad things about them.

Just out of interest does anyone have any good experiences with anti depressents?

I suffer with health anxiety and I have to say a mixture of the Charles Linden method and meditation has been very good. I'm still not right but know what I have to do.

[zozodarling2011]

Please do not be afraid of anti depressants. They have saved many lives and helped thousands. Diabetics need insulin - it is just like any other drug.

Jeanie Speirs is brilliant on this medication front. I saw countless people until my family became very aware that I needed urgent help.

The statistic is that nearly 20% of new mums have depression. You are in Nappy Valley, according to my GPs, many women are walking through their doors with depression and anxiety but are too scared to share with family and friends as they need to be smiling all the way with a bugaboo on the Northcote Road.

[zozodarling2011]

PS I was on very strong medication for 2.5 years with PND and now off them. They saved me and I really mean that.

[jimisayo]

I'm sorry to be reading about how anxiety is affecting you.

Please check out Havening, a psycho-sensory therapy at www.havening.org It works swiftly and effectively on anxiety, ptsd, etc. I'm a certified Havening Practictioner and going to be giving a talk on Havening in general and Self havening in particular as part of the annual Little Big Peace event in Streatham this September.

[Bondmummy]

I highly recommend Jeannie also... When I first went to see her she recommended a course of CBT, which I tried for a few months. It was only after trying that and my anxiety wasn't improving that she prescribed anti-depressants. I was really reluctant to take them but have to say they have totally transformed my life. It took a while to get the right pill (changed from one to another as I felt spacey all the time), but now I am so much happier. Looking to reduce the dose and come off them after Christmas all being well, and feel they have been a real life saver for me (and my marriage!) too. Good luck, anxiety is a horrible thing but is manageable

[silver]

I too had crippling anxiety with PND. The Cedar House Support Group and my GP saved me. I was prescribed anti depressants, I was very scared of taking them at first but they made a huge difference and along with the talking therapy at Cedar House I am fully recovered and happier than I have ever been. The next course at Cedar House starts at 9.30am, Friday 18th September in SW12. Please look at their website and contact Liz Wise for a place. There is a creche there so don't worry about childcare. It's a charity so no fees. In the meantime see your GP and or a private therapist. Good luck - you WILL get better!!

[kfk101]

Hello,

If you live in Wandsworth you can self-refer to the Adult IAPT service which is part of South West London and St George's NHS Trust. They offer CBT amongst other interventions and can offer you a stepped care approach depending on your needs. The phone number is 020 3513 6264.

Or your GP can refer you but it might be better to call yourself and talk to one of the wellbeing practitioners who can give you an idea of what you might need.

Sounds like you have lots of good reasons for how you are feeling, there is nothing more anxiety inducing than sick children.

Good luck.

[DavidT]

Hi Mummy1944 and everyone on this anxiety thread.

A few thoughts on this …

We all get anxious sometimes, so don't forget it's a normal human emotion, often a rational response to fear. Simple tactics like talking to friends and family, taking exercise, using deep breathing, meditation and mindfulness exercises are a good first line of defence.

After that the GP is a good port of call, but many will only prescribe anti-depressants or anxiety medication. Others may refer for CBT. Both of these interventions work on symptoms rather than causes but can help make you feel better. If you are lucky the GP might refer for counselling, though waitlists are often long for this and CBT.

If these avenues don't appeal or are not available, or if you want to work on causes rather than symptoms, I would seek out local talking therapy options - someone describing himself or herself as a counsellor or psychotherapist.

Mummy1944 you say that if you “got the answers I need concerning my children” you might “find something else to worry about”, this might be a good question to look at in therapy.

Feel free to contact me if you'd like any further information.

And remember you are not alone!

David
MBACP Registered Counsellor/Psychotherapist

[LaLadie]

Hello, Mummy,

I cannot recommend Danny O'Shea at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital enough. He helped me enormously through two very dark years. My GP could only offer CBT, but having been through it before, I knew that it wasn't what I needed with PND. I just needed someone to talk to. It's not easy to find that on the NHS.

I found out about the C&W programme through my health visitor and got referred from there. Not sure if you can get a referral yourself. My daughter was born at C&W, which may be the reason I could. It's all a blur ...

I was seeing Danny at the time that a Wandsworth mother killed her two young children. He was horrified that no-one had offered her help before it had happened. In fact it triggered a major review of the services available in Wandsworth for the likes of us, so I hope things have improved.

I hope that you do find someone, because I don't know how I would have got through it without Danny.

Best of luck and a big hug. Xx