Are you on medication for PPP and if so which?

[JosephineFay]

Does anyone else have really bad side effects from their meds? Did anyone not recover from psychosis and now have a diagnosis of Bipolar or similar. Has anyone else been disabled because of the psychosis eg not able to work?

I'm sorry if I've posted a similar message before but am struggling to cope at the moment.

I get chronic fatigue on my medication and extreme depression and chronic insomnia because of that I have become disabled.

My days are spent in bed at the moment with exhaustion as I can't work work currently and this is not a satisfactory way to live my life.

I had a job last year but was sacked when I became ill. My employers didn't know what was wrong with me and I was so ill that I didn't challenge the decision.

I have been looking for jobs since and can't find something that I can do that won't be too exhausting. I also now have a five year gap on my CV which is putting employers off.

I'm ideally looking for some sort of remote work that I can do from home.

If you've had PP and you're now on meds do you work and if so what type of work have you found that you're able to do?

Hope you can help , I'm in a rural location and very isolated and cut off and I don't have any friends. Would welcome any suggestions in what I could try to pass the time ideally that you've tried.

[RachelK_at_APP Moderator]

hi JosephineFay,

I’m sorry to hear you are having such a hard time.

My time on medication was for around a year after pp and my dosage was slowly reduced. Hopefully someone else can help with the side effects to medication.

Perhaps if you are struggling you could speak to your doctor and have a medication review.

I’m also sorry to hear you are feeling isolated. Talking on here can help. Could you try asking for more help with how you are feeling?

I understand that having side effects to your medication can make looking for work difficult, but remember to be kind to yourself.

Take care

Rk

[JosephineFay in reply to RachelK_at_APP]

Hi Rkmummy for your lovely message. If your dose was reduced does that mean that your no longer on meds at all? Thank you, Jo

[RachelK_at_APP Moderator in reply to JosephineFay]

Hi JosephineFay

Yes I am no longer on medication, my daughter was born in 2016 and I was on olanzapine for just over a year.

I briefly went back on olanzapine after the birth of my son in 2020 as a preventative measure.

Hope you are doing ok today.

Take care

RK

[hgallo Volunteer]

Hi JosephineFay, I'm Hannah one of the volunteers at APP. I had pp after having my twin girls in 2016, second episode (not pregnancy related, 2018) and this year a Bi Polar diagnosis. I've been on and off meds and now on quitipiene for the bi polar. It makes me very tired. I find work hard to hold down too. I'm currently studying to be a counsellor and I find that and doing casual work (about 1 day a week) enough for me.

When I was recovering from pp I did an IT course 1 day a week which I found good to put on my CV. It was through workplace Leeds, part of Leeds Mind. Is there something like that that you could look into? An online course or class maybe? Something manageable for you.

Local charities can be good for this sort of support. I'm happy to google some for you if you want to share on here what area you live in or pm me.

I think jobs like copy writing and tutoring can usually be done remotely. I'm not sure what your background is. I've also done invigilation at schools and colleges before as you can generally pick when you want to work and there's no prep involved.

Keep in touch x

[JosephineFay in reply to hgallo]

Hiya Hannah,

Yes I've really got the blues at the moment. As I type it's a Sunday and I have nothing at all to do and feel very low indeed.

With the not working I am incredibly psychologically unstimulated and depressed, very lonely and isolated.

I don't know how to private message you but yes I'd love some help in finding something to do.

I live in Bedford and can't seem to find anything substantial to do. I also can't commute as I don't sleep well so can't travel to London to work.

I have contacted Bedford Community Volunteering service and they have very little and I don't drive to the other villages which have the odd hour of Volunteering per week

I need to be occupied between 11 till 5pm Monday to Friday.

I'd be grateful for anything you can do to help or can help me find.

Thanks so much,

Jo

[hgallo Volunteer in reply to JosephineFay]

Hi JosephineFay, sorry it's taken me a few days to get back to you, bit chaotic here with half term! I found this organisation: richmondfellowship.org.uk/s....

Which help people with mh history find and keep work .

Bedford MIND should also be able to support you. Take care and keep in touch x

[JosephineFay in reply to hgallo]

Hello there, thank you I've contacted mind and they unfortunately have told me that they have too many volunteers so I'm on a waiting list. I'll try the Richmond fellowship. Thanks do much for kindly taking the time and yes let's please keep in touch .

[SammySeal]

Hi JosephineFay

Sorry to hear about the side effects of your meds and how it's affecting you. I'm not on meds for PP anymore as such as my episode was 15yrs ago, but I do have meds for depression & anxiety, which have side effects that are no fun at all, especially when the dose gets increased like at the moment. It really sucks.

I've not exactly been unable to work because of my mental health but it has made me leave jobs before when I've been struggling and couldn't face it, so I have been out of work from time to time. I too live rurally these days and do a tonne of 'micro jobs' to make ends meet, but they're all quite specific to my skills and work background. What kind of things do you like doing or find interesting?

If I have a slow day with my regular work, I use a site called Prolific to make a bit of money on the side to fund my ebay habit! It's where you generally help university academics with their research by answering questions. It's pretty interesting.

In terms of making friends in a rural area, I've only lived rurally about 5yrs but ways I've met people I can say hello to and be friendly with include: Volunteering to help out at things like community events and ParkRun (I literally emailed them and said I was new to the area, lonely and had some mental health issues but I was happy to help, and they couldn't have been more welcoming). I also joined a local women's support group, and a singing class for people who think they can't sing! So there's a couple of ideas.

I'm also really glad I found APP and hope you'll feel connected and supported by some of us friendly folk here too. Maybe try coming along to one of the online 'cafe' groups. You can try it out and keep your camera off even if you like

Keep in touch

Sammy x

[Arabella-]

Sending hugs and love 💕 you can connect with people online and speak virtually 😀 find a forum or group with your interests. There is always ways to make friends xx

[Arabella-]

also, on BipolarUK charity, they have mentors. I used one and they helped me overcome my hurdles xx

[JosephineFay in reply to Arabella-]

Arabella, how do you find a mentor on there? Can you let me know?

[Arabella- in reply to JosephineFay]

bipolaruk.org/

[Arabella- in reply to JosephineFay]

email: [e-mail]

[JosephineFay in reply to Arabella-]

Thank you xxx

[Arabella-]

you’re welcome 😊 head up chick, you’ll be just fine xx