Desperate to connect with someone with lived experience. In need of a supportive ear.

[Purpleguinea]

Hey. Would love for somebody to reach out. I'm not having a good day today and am in need of talking to someone with shared experiences rather than just getting told to 'go have a bath' or 'make yourself a warm drink' Please reach out via chat if you're able to

[Jocelyn_at_APP Partner APP]

Hi Purpleguinea,

I'm sorry you're not having a good day, they can be really hard and so draining. It really made a difference to me being being able to talk to others who had had similar experiences. The peer support was my lifeline, knowing I wasn't alone.

Thinking of you xx

[Purpleguinea in reply to Jocelyn_at_APP]

Thanks for your reply.. Awaiting my pairing. Hopefully it will be soon. I can't take any more of today so going to try and get some sleep x

[Jocelyn_at_APP Partner APP in reply to Purpleguinea]

Hope you manage to get some rest and that tomorrow is better for you xx

[Purpleguinea in reply to Jocelyn_at_APP]

Thank you. Fingers crossed x

[hgallo Volunteer]

Hi Purpleguinea, sorry to hear you're having a tough day. Anything you want to talk about.?I've had 2 episodes of psychosis, last one being in 2018. I've got twin girls who are 6. How about you? x

[Seasky18 Volunteer]

Hi Purpleguinea

Thinking of you and hoping today is better...

I remember how alone I felt when I was recovering, it wasn't until a couple of years later that I spoke with someone else who had been through pp, and four years before making it to meet others in person. Just please know you're far from alone, there are lots of us out here and we're all with you, willing you on.

I feel so much for you as I remember that for me, the depression I suffered after my pp was such a tough and draining stage, it felt like there was no light, I felt completely broken, so much grief and it was one of the biggest challenges of my life to simply get through each day.

All I can say is I put one foot in front of another (literally, my amazing partner supported me so much and I remember so clearly going for a run every day just thinking 'put one foot in front of another you WILL get up this hill, you WILL get through this').

Just in case it helps, these were things that helped me (even though, at the time, I really felt like I didn't want to do any of them):

- Walking or running outside

- Hugs, dancing, music

- Yoga

- Chopping up vegetables to make soup or a meal

- Baking

- Talking

My doctor also found my iron levels were low, addressing that helped, and my partner worked well hard to ensure I was eating really good food (even though I completely lost my appetite).

Sending you positive thoughts and strength xx

[Purpleguinea in reply to Seasky18]

Thank you for your reply. I'm already just not feeling it today but can acknowledge the positive steps I have already taken this morning too. (Chopping for meal preparation being one of them haha)

Funnily enough, my foliate levels are low so this could also be a contributing factor.

The loneliness is like nothing I have ever known. It's that part at the moment that I feel a huge struggle with (I'm sure tomorrow it will be something else) xx

[Seasky18 Volunteer]

I was 46 when I had pp, in all those 46 years I'd never felt so low and alone than I did when recovering. It might not feel it, but every day is another day of healing... keep taking those steps and try to be kind to yourself when you can't do so much... you're still moving forwards. xx

[Purpleguinea]

Thank you for your kindness. It means a lot x

[Control1234]

hello Purpleguinea, I am so sorry to hear you are having a hard time. I totally get what it’s like and it can feel so demoralising but here is what I am trying to do to feel better. Deleted social media, just putting my face in the sun, took the kids to the beach yesterday. Reading positive books. Praying and talking to God and asking him to guide me. Listening and singing to music. Being grateful and telling people how much I love them. Being silly and having fun with my kids. Talking to my husband. Trying to help others. Challenging my thoughts. Hope some of this helps. Sending you so much love and peace. You can do this, I believe in you x

[The_Wes_Anderson_Fan Volunteer]

It's great that you have connected on here because we all have lived experience of the same condition. I hope the replies have given you some support and made you feel a little less lonely. APP offer one to one support so hopefully that is being organised. X

[Purpleguinea in reply to The_Wes_Anderson_Fan]

That's being sorter behind the scenes. Awaiting for my pairing.

All replies I've had have been nothing but kind x

[Pikorua Volunteer]

Hi again Purpleguinea,

I did not feel too confident writing publicly and have had support on a one to one via APP. It was something I appreciated so much and still nowadays my gratitude is immense!

There is a kind of complexity and authenticity to every mum. PPP and recovery can often affect us in many different ways. Healing means learning coping strategies and being eventually in acceptance what has happened. Inner peace is something I cherish so much.

Wishing you well xxx

[Ellie_at_APP Partner]

Hi Purpleguinea

My name is Ellie, I don't think I've replied to you yet on here. I'm one of APP's national peer support coordinators. I know my lovely APP colleague Jenny is connecting you with one to one support too. I'm so glad you've found us and are reaching out on here too.

I had PP in 2011 after the birth of my son. It was such a traumatic and difficult time, and I had depression afterwards. Being out of hospital and back home, trying to get through the days, and come to terms with everything that had happened, was very hard. Finding APP, and this forum (which was the main support we offered at the time, we were a new charity then), was massive for me. It was such a relief to find others who had been through it, and suddenly I understood that everything I had experienced, and was feeling was actually 'normal' for having experienced PP. I hope connecting with us all helps you in the same way.

I hope you have a good weekend this weekend, do take care, and write here whenever you need to

Ellie X