We understand your concerns about persistence of your symptoms despite being on medication. However, this is not unusual as most antidepressants take typically 4 to 6 weeks before you notice clear changes in mood, energy, or motivation.
Below are our suggestions:
1. Keep taking the medication as prescribed since you have only used it for 2 weeks.
2. Monitor your symptoms by noting changes (even if they are little) in sleep, appetite, energy, or mood.
3. Do not stop the medication abruptly because this can cause withdrawal symptoms from some medications.
4. Ensure you have support to hold you during this period of waiting for the medication to kick in fully. It is not an easy wait.
5. If you experience new symptoms or worsening of your symptoms, please speak with your doctor.
6. Contact your doctor to discuss how you are feeling after 4 to 6weeks. They can review whether the dose is right or if adjustment is needed.
#antidepressant
#depression
#mentalhealth
#mindmightdoctors
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN POST PARTUM (BABY) BLUES AND POST PARTUM DEPRESSION SIMPLIFIED
POSTPARTUM (BABY) BLUES
Onset: Typically 2–3 days after delivery
Duration: Short, resolves within 2 weeks
Prevalence: Very common
Symptoms: Mood swings, tearfulness, anxiety, irritability, feeling overwhelmed etc
Impairment in functioning: None or Mild, mother is still able to care for baby and herself
Cause: Hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, stress
Treatment: None. Resolves with rest and appropriate support.
POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION
Onset: Usually starts within 4–6 weeks after delivery, but can begin up to 12 months after birth
Duration: More than 2 weeks
Prevalence: About 10–15% of mothers
Symptoms: Persistent sadness, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, guilt, hopelessness, low energy, changes in sleep and appetite, poor concentration etc
Impairment in functioning: Moderate to Severe. Mother is unable to care for herself and/or baby.
Risk: Thoughts of self-harm or harming baby
Treatment: Requires professional help with medication, therapy and support from relevant services.
#babyblues
#postpartumdepression
#mindmightdoctors
Thank you for sharing how you are feeling. What you are experiencing is in line with what is commonly called the “baby blues" or "postpartum blues".
The baby blues are very common and typically begin within the first 2-4 days after delivery. About 70-80% of new mothers experience some form of mood change, anxiety or tearfulness in the first few days after birth.
Typical symptoms of baby blues (like you stated) include crying for no reason, feeling sad or anxious, poor concentration, feeling overwhelmed and fatigued. (often combined with sleep disruption).
Baby blues usually resolves within two weeks without needing specific medical intervention.
Here are some practical steps that often help:
1. Prioritize rest and sleep: While new‐borns do not sleep on our schedule, try to rest when the baby does too. Sleep deprivation worsens mood and cognition.
2. Ask for and accept help: Let friends, family or spouse assist with practical tasks such as meals, household chores etc.
3. Talk about how you feel: Sharing how you feel with someone you trust normalises the experience and reduces isolation.
4. Self‐care: Eating regular and balanced meals, getting some fresh air and relaxation helps.
5. Be kind to yourself: Transitioning to motherhood is a huge adjustment physically , emotionally and socially. Take each day at a time.
NOTE: If you experience suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming your baby, severe anxiety where you feel unable to cope, marked worsening of mood or hearing voices of unseen people, contact your doctor immediately.
#babyblues
#maternalmentalhealth
#mindmightdoctors
PMS Vs PMDD
Severity: Mild–moderate Vs Severe, disabling
Primary Symptoms: Physical > emotional Vs Emotional/mood > physical
Functional Impairment: Minimal Vs Significant (work, school, relationships affected).
Prevalence: Very common (up to 75%) Vs Rare (3–8%)
Clinical Classification: Not a mental disorder Vs classed under mood disorder
Suicidal thoughts: None Vs Can occur
Summary
All PMDD includes PMS-like symptoms, but PMS does not equal PMDD.
PMDD is essentially PMS with severe mood symptoms that disrupt life.
#mimdmightdoctors
#premenstrualsyndrome
Thanks for sharing with us your concern. What you have described fits with what is often called Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS).
PMS is quite common to many females. It is a predictable pattern of emotional, physical and cognitive symptoms that occur before their menstrual periods. Emotional symptoms include mood swings, irritability or feeling cranky, feeling sad etc. Physical symptoms include headaches, breast tenderness, bloating etc. Cognitive symptoms include poor concentration, excessive worry etc.
The exact cause is not fully known; however, hormonal fluctuations are thought to play a role. Symptoms often starts one to two weeks before the period and improves with the onset of bleeding.
Because you can monitor a reliable pattern, it is easier to plan ahead and use some strategies to reduce the impact. Here are things you can try to help:
1. Lifestyle/Behavioural strategies: regular exercise, good sleep, balanced diet
2. Stress management/Relaxation: Relaxation techniques such as mindfulness or breathing exercises can help irritable mood, tension, and emotional symptoms. Proactively build in rest to manage your stress.
3. Timing adjustments: If you know your symptom window, you may adjust your work schedule to suit it and avoid making major life decisions during that period.
4. The use of supplements and diet tweaks should be approached with caution as evidence has not been well substantiated.
When symptoms persists or become severe, it may be more than just PMS. It could indicate a more serious condition called Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). In that case, consult your doctor who will rule out other possible causes.
If there is no organic cause, they may suggest treatment options such as hormonal treatments (e.g., combined contraceptive pill), cognitive behavioural therapy, and in some cases antidepressant medications.
#premenstrualsyndrome
#mentalhealth
#mimdmightdoctors
Thank you for sharing your difficulties with us. This must have been very distressing for you, especially now that it is affecting your career.
From what you have described, you may be experiencing a form of anxiety disorder that we refer to as social phobia. This involves an intense fear of being judged, embarrassed, or negatively evaluated in social or performance situations.
The body triggers the fight or flight response, resulting in physical symptoms like shaking, sweating, racing heartbeat, dizziness etc. You may also experience mental/emotional symptoms like poor concentration, persistent worry and irritability. These symptoms often make people withdraw from social contacts or anticipated sources of trigger.
Social phobia is treatable and many people make significant progress. Here are the things to note:
1. Avoidance does not help. With support, you can slowly practice being in situations that trigger anxiety while you manage your feelings.
2. Regularly practice relaxation and grounding techniques which helps calm physical symptoms when they arise.
3. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment. Medication could also be helpful if appropriate. Consult a mental health professional for further guidance regarding this.
Finally, you are not alone. Many people experience similar fears, and with the right support, they improve and regain their confidence.
#anxiety
#socialphobia
#mentalhealth
#mindmightdoctors
Relaxation techniques are strategies that help calm the body and mind thereby reducing the physical symptoms of stress and anxiety. They work to counteract the “fight or flight” reaction that causes panic or nervousness. These techniques include deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness, which are designed to slow your breathing and focus your attention. Other methods include yoga, guided imagery, listening to music, and gentle physical activities like walking etc. The key is to find a technique you enjoy and practice it regularly.
Here are additional details on some commonly used techniques:
1. Deep breathing (or diaphragmatic breathing): Anxiety makes us breathe quickly and shallowly while deep breathing helps slow things down thereby bringing relaxation.
How to do it:
Sit comfortably, breathe in slowly through your nose so your abdomen rises (not your chest). Hold for a second, then exhale gently through your mouth. Repeat for a few minutes, focusing on your breath.
2. Progressive muscle relaxation: This is the release of physical tension in the muscles.
How to do it:
Starting from your feet and moving upward, tense each muscle group (e.g., feet, legs, shoulders) for about 5 seconds. Then slowly release the tension while breathing out.
3. Grounding techniques: This brings your attention back to the present moment and is helpful during moments of panic or when feeling overwhelmed.
Example: 5-4-3-2-1
Name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste.
4. Mindfulness: This involves paying attention to what is happening right now, without judging it.
You can practice by focusing on your breath, the sensations in your body, or simple activities like walking or eating while noticing every detail.
5. Visualization: This is about our imagination. Can you picture a calm, safe, or beautiful scene like a beach, castle, or quiet room. Engage all your senses to make it vivid including what you can see, hear, smell, or even feel.
Continued in the comment section
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Here are some things to consider when looking for a therapist:
1. Clarify what you want help with: What you are struggling with can guide you toward a therapist with the right expertise or therapeutic approach.
2. Check their qualifications and registration: Look for someone who is accredited by professional body. Their registration ensures they meet professional and ethical standards.
3. Consider the intended therapy type: Different approaches suit different people based on their difficulties. Therapy approaches include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Psychodynamic therapy, Dialectical Behavioural therapy etc.
4. Practical considerations - Think about cultural competence, logistics like cost, format (in-person vs online), distance if in-person, availability, and session frequency.
6. Ask questions - Freely ask everything you want to know, including therapist's experience and goal setting.
#therapistthoughts
#therapistsonline
#minddoctors
Overthinking means repetitive mental ruminations without progress. It is a state of inability to make a decision because you are considering every possible detail or outcome.
Overthinking often stems from a perpetual fear of making the wrong choice and can result in missed opportunities, as one gets stuck in a cycle of contemplation instead of moving forward.
It can be quite exhausting because it is a cycle that feels hard to switch off. The underlying contributory factors include perfectionist traits, multiple options, uncertainty and risk aversion.
Your first task at breaking free is to define what you are overthinking in order to plan the approach to deal with it. To some, it could be replaying past events or worrying about the future while others may struggle with analyzing intended decisions.
Whatever yours is, here are few strategies you may try:
1. Identify and normalize it - Labelling it for instance, I am just ruminating, creates awareness.
2. Time it - Schedule like 15 minutes daily to think. If the urge to think comes outside that time, tell her yourself that you'll stick to the schedule. For example, I'll think it through later at 7pm. This helps you contain it instead of ignoring.
3. Externalize it - Don't keep spinning the thoughts in your head, write them in a book. This makes it less overwhelming and concrete.
4. Challenge it - Reframe your thoughts. Ask yourself if they're just ideas or facts. Do you have any evidence to support your thoughts? If your friend had the same thoughts, what advice would you give?
5. Try grounding techniques - Overthinking shifts your focus into the past or future. Grounding techniques helps you return to the present. For example, the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding (notice 5 things you see, 4 you feel, etc.)
6. Break the cycle - Act now, it breaks the overthinking loop. Those little steps shifts thinking to doing and gets you calmer over time.
7. Manage triggers - Physical and mental stress often worsen overthinking. Support yourself through sleep, exercise and good nutrition.
#mentalhealth
#mindmightdoctors
