Our Postpartum Psychosis s01 ep02

[GeorgeKol]

Hello everyone!

First i would like to thank you all for the support, the guidelines, the infos and your kind words!

It means the world to me and you have really helped me!

So episode 2 season 1 ( i try to make some humor here just to cheer up a little.. )

Firstly, i talked to my wife about this forum and how much you have helped me. I suggested her to come aboard but at the time she's not so fond of it. She told me that for now she just want to try and forget everything about it and this will make her think of it more. I guess it's too soon for her. We are on the sixth month of recovery and i can understand why she don't want to think about it just when she has started feeling better. We will see if in the future when time have passed if she will think of it again.

Anyways i kinda like this place so i'm sticking!

So as i said at my previous post, i went for my first session with a psychologist this week and actually i have a meeting again today.

I must say even in the first session i felt better. I already feel more calm which was a very important thing for me as calmness was something lost for the past 6 months. We will see how the next sessions goes but i think i will try to get to the end of the road with this one.

Currently we are discussing about summer vacation. We agreed that we would go for one week with our baby in a Greek island ( were i come from ). We have a house there and everything is set there but she's feeling a little nervous about it. I can understand it. She still has some insecurities but we will deal with it together. And for most of the things she feels anxious about, when we start doing it actually, she immediately calms down as she see that whatever she was afraid of is not going to happen. So this is a good thing i think!

I've just started to understand that this is a very difficult situation for both of us but when this thing is going to be just a memory, it will have left us nothing more than stronger!

Keep it up everyone!

Thanks for everything!

George

[NanaJudith_APP_Vol Volunteer]

Hi GeorgeKol,

I haven't written to you before. I didn't suffer PP, my daughter did. I just

wanted to say, if I may, well done to you in your strong support of your

wife during such a difficult time. It is so hard to watch a much loved one

suffer in such a way at what should be the most joyous of times. I think that the support of family and friends is so very important to the recovery of

these brave mums. I am glad that you found APP, the support and information from everyone here was invaluable to me when my daughter

was ill. It came to be so for my daughter too but not immediately, as with

your wife. Recovery can be up and down, each one different but with your love your wife will get there.

Congratulations on your baby.

This too shall pass.

Best wishes

Judith x

[Pikorua Volunteer]

Hi GeorgeKol,

great to hear from you again. My boys have gone fishing, thus I've got some time out. I am in the middle of studying Reiki 2, another tool for keeping my mental health balanced, but could not resist to reply to you quickly.

It is quite early into your wife's recovery and all in stepping stones. She will find her own way back...healing takes time and recovery is such a unique thing.

It is great that you are going to stick with us and like the forum. I like it, too and it is part of my therapeutic toolkit.

My partner started little outings with me when I came out of hospital. My anxiety issues were extreme and I had to relearn a lot of things, but also gain confidence in looking after my baby. Maybe 8-10 months months into my recovery and still on very strong meds I went out on my own to sure start groups once a week and baby massage. I managed to talk to one or two mums, but not within groups, however, the Educationalists were extremely kind.

Yes, I believe partners and husbands have a lot to think about and take a lot of responsibilities on board when mums suffer such a traumatising illness. My PPP was in the beginning of August 2010 and in the Winter 2011 we went on holiday abroad for the first time. My partner upgraded to a 5 star hotel, because I did not want to stay for two weeks. I remember vaguely this holiday in Lanzarote.

It is great that you are listening to your wife's needs. This always has been important to me. My partner encouraged me to become independent again fairly quickly such as driving my car again or going back on my bike, however, I struggled for a long time to go back into a super market.

Anyhow I better carry on with my stuff,

Look after yourself, too. I am pleased that you are focusing on self-care, too and had a positive experience with your psychologist.

Bye for now,

[Kokoraki]

You sound like a great support for your wife. It's amazing to hear of partners like you and really good to hear that you're getting help for yourself both in here and professionally.

[Lilybeth Volunteer]

Hello GeorgeKol

Good to hear from you .... I'm so glad we have really helped you. I think only six months into recovery is early days for your wife and she is making progress with all your love and understanding. Perhaps as she has returned to work she just wants any spare time to be with you and your baby so is not really interested at the moment? As you say, it's understandable as there's a lot to come to terms with and your wife needs time.

I hope your second meeting with the psychologist went well. I think it's such a good idea to have an outlet so that you can release your feelings and they are interpreted to enable you to feel calmer.

A summer vacation in Greece sounds idyllic ..... such tranquil scenery ..... I have never been but "Mama Mia" is amazing I think everyone is anxious about travelling at the moment but I'm sure with your reassurance, your wife will be comforted. I can understand her apprehension about travelling with your baby but it would be ideal for just enjoying the moment and being proud of how far you have both come together.

You are so right that as time goes on you will feel stronger as a couple because you have challenged what is an awful illness. There are ups and downs to recovery as I'm sure you have read in the Guides but with support from family, friends and the forum you will come through this experience. There are so many happy memories waiting to be made .... you are an amazing strength to your wife and baby.

Take good care of yourself and try to find space in your busy days to unwind .... we are here for you.

[Lilybeth Volunteer]

Hello GeorgeKol

I hope you are feeling positive and your wife is well. Perhaps input from the psychologist has been a good outlet to talk things over? Thinking of you and your family ... take care.