Postpartum depression, baby blues, or something else?
My first week postpartum was so amazing. My partner was given parental leave for a week, and I felt a strange, welcome sense of euphoria. I had been waiting 9 months for it all, and I was filled with happiness. Then, my partner had to return to work. And now I feel like I'm coming undone.
It started with an intrusive thought while he was still here. I shook it off and went about my day. They didn't come back, so I assumed it was a one time thing. But now that he's gone, I seem to suffer the thoughts periodically throughout the day. They scare me to the point of anxiety. Sometimes to the point of shaking. I'm afraid to bring them up to anyone. I have become terrified of losing everything - my partner, my baby, everything. I suppose that part makes sense. It happened so fast - us and the baby - that at times, it has felt like a really long dream that I'll wake up from in tears. This fear of losing everything has seemed to drive me to the point where it manifests in thoughts that do not feel like my own.
On top of this, I feel isolated, lonely, and like a chained dog waiting for something to happen. I have a history of depression, so I've been here before a few times. And I'm wondering if the thoughts could be symptomatic of ppd. I have read about ppocd, and that scares me. Depression is familiar to me, but ppocd sounds so unfamiliar and I don't know what to expect from it.
Now. I am only 2 weeks postpartum, so I don't want to jump the gun, either. Can intrusive thoughts occur with the baby blurs, too? I told my partner that if I don't get better I want to seek help. I just don't know of I should wait or not. Deep down, I know the thoughts aren't me, but I'm so scared regardless that I'm afraid to wait. At least if it's the baby blues I'll know there's an end in sight. Otherwise, I'm so desperate I'm willing to try medicine
Achieve your health goals from period to parenting.