Post Natal Illness
Symptoms of Post Natal IllnessThese symptoms can be very different for everyone.
There are too many symptoms to list all but they can include:
Panic attacks and anxiety
Feeling physically ill and having physical symptoms that are
unusual for you such as chest pains, breathing problems,
headaches, dizziness, many minor illnesses and stomach upsets.
Worrying constantly about the health of yourself your baby, other
children or family and friends
Obsessive thoughts or repetitive, chanting thoughts or voices
Thoughts that you will harm your child or another member of
your family either accidentally or deliberately.
Fear or thoughts that you may sexually or physically abuse either
your newest baby or your other children
Many women with PNI describe a feeling of having 'fuggy' vision
or a 'mussy' head.
Having worries that everyday objects such as knives, stairs, play
equipment, even your car or bus are dangerous and could harm
your child yourself or your family
Having 'what if' thoughts about what could happen if they did
Feelings that you are a 'bad' mother or a 'bad' person
Obsessions about either your own health, your child/rens or
partners - fears that you or they will die
A constant feeling of doom or dread - as if something really
horrible will happen any minute
Having a constant need to discuss and revisit the birth because it
was so horrible and you felt things to be out of control
Or not being able to think or talk about the birth
A feeling of great sadness and a feeling that since the baby, life is
not worth living and nothing gives you joy, not even your new
baby
A feeling that if you just disappeared out of your families life
everything would be OK for them - that you causing your family
unhappiness by just being around
A feeling of numbness and lack of emotion - which also might
extend to a lack of feeling for your baby
Hiding how you feel and putting on a 'brave face'..
Actual self harm or feeling you would like to harm yourself that
you either never felt or did before or has come back.
Difficulty getting to sleep or waking up in a panic or feeling ill -
either in the night or early in the morning.
Feeling overwhelmingly tired all the time even when you do get
enough sleep
Drinking too much and/or abuse of recreational or prescription drugs
There are too many symptoms to list all but they can include:
Panic attacks and anxiety
Feeling physically ill and having physical symptoms that are
unusual for you such as chest pains, breathing problems,
headaches, dizziness, many minor illnesses and stomach upsets.
Worrying constantly about the health of yourself your baby, other
children or family and friends
Obsessive thoughts or repetitive, chanting thoughts or voices
Thoughts that you will harm your child or another member of
your family either accidentally or deliberately.
Fear or thoughts that you may sexually or physically abuse either
your newest baby or your other children
Many women with PNI describe a feeling of having 'fuggy' vision
or a 'mussy' head.
Having worries that everyday objects such as knives, stairs, play
equipment, even your car or bus are dangerous and could harm
your child yourself or your family
Having 'what if' thoughts about what could happen if they did
Feelings that you are a 'bad' mother or a 'bad' person
Obsessions about either your own health, your child/rens or
partners - fears that you or they will die
A constant feeling of doom or dread - as if something really
horrible will happen any minute
Having a constant need to discuss and revisit the birth because it
was so horrible and you felt things to be out of control
Or not being able to think or talk about the birth
A feeling of great sadness and a feeling that since the baby, life is
not worth living and nothing gives you joy, not even your new
baby
A feeling that if you just disappeared out of your families life
everything would be OK for them - that you causing your family
unhappiness by just being around
A feeling of numbness and lack of emotion - which also might
extend to a lack of feeling for your baby
Hiding how you feel and putting on a 'brave face'..
Actual self harm or feeling you would like to harm yourself that
you either never felt or did before or has come back.
Difficulty getting to sleep or waking up in a panic or feeling ill -
either in the night or early in the morning.
Feeling overwhelmingly tired all the time even when you do get
enough sleep
Drinking too much and/or abuse of recreational or prescription drugs
6 Comments:
What a wonderful site. Now I know i'm not alone. I have been suffering for 9 years. 9 long years. but i am still holding on, Alhamdullillah. And I am not going to give up..even if my husband has..by taking another wife, my own ex-friend..this is OUR personal battle and Allah's handhold will never break..unlike men's...
May Allah reward you with Jannah.
Ameen. I am in tears because this describes me. I have been battling depression for most of my life, but it got much worse after the birth of my children. Alhamdulillah, I was blessed with them. My marriage is falling apart. My other relationships are falling apart. I have horrible anxiety and paranoia at times. I feel insane. But I have no one here to help me who knows about Islam. Insha Allah, you can help me.
Salamu alaykum Dear Sister,
I am sorry to heart that you have been suffering so long without any help. Have you been to a medical doctor at all to see if they can recommend any type of treatment? Post natal illness and depression can affect all of your relationships especially your marriage. You are going to need a lot of support from your muslim sisters and family to get through this. The muslim community has become so defragmented these days that we no longer give even our neighbors their rights be they muslim or non-muslim. Sometimes it helps to just have someone to talk to these issues about who won't be too judgemental. Are you able to talk about how you feel to your husband or a close friend. They can always fill the role that a counselor would fill if they are open minded and understand what you need. Let me know how I can be of support inshallah.
May Allah cure you of your illness. Ameen.
Asalaamu alaikuum. I so greatly appreciate you responding to my comment. I have seen psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, ect. before and after I became a Muslim (5 years, alhamdulillah). My ob/gyn gave me meds after the birth of my second child. I hate taking meds and I really didn't see a change for the better. I am too ashamed to talk to any of my Muslim friends and my husband. The things I contemplate are just evil and I cannot even utter them to anyone. It just eats away at me. Besides, no one else around me has had many problems post natally. I am just told to think positively, but it is so much more than that. I can't even get to a point where I can be positive. It is all just negetive and horrible thoughts the majority of my day. And, you are so right about the defragmentation of the community, both Mulsim and non-Muslim. I barely know my neighbors, let alone socialize with them. We are the only Muslims in our neighborhood. I don't know how you can help me. Anything would be appreciated on your part. If there is anyway you can email me or I can email you or whatever you think is best.
I am not a Muslim woman so you may not publish this.
But we - women who have had Post natal Illness - run a forum for any sisters of any religion or culture that do. http://veritee.proboards7.com
And many of us have had theses unspeakable thoughts ranging for fears that we or our children will become ill or die through to thoughts that we will harm our children or even kill then or are paedophiles and will abuse our children.
Theses thoughts are awful - but they are thoughts NOT actions and you will not do them.
They are very common when you have Post Natal Illness, but very frightening to experience and women often feel they can not talk to anyone about them.
You can on our forum! We will not judge and you can be completely anonymous
We also have a Muslim woman member who has started a Yahoo group for Muslim women with PNI- it is here: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/MuslimPNDsupport/
With love
Veritee
Salamu alaykum Umm Aminah,
I'm sorry for the delay in response my computer is out of commission with viruses and spyware so I'm borrowing my husbands. I'm sorry you haven't been able to find anyone in the muslim community that can support you in this. A lot of muslims are affected by this and the Prophet Muhammad prophecized that there would come a day when the increase of mental illnesses would come to a point where people would kill their own mother. So this is all real and there are islamic solutions that can work in conjunction with modern medicine, counseling, etc. If the medicine didn't work then it is always good to go back to the doctor and let them know and they can prescribe something else a bit stronger. They usually start off with a lighter dose as many of these medications do have side effects.
Veritee, welcome to the Yusra blog and thank you so much for writing and giving such great advice. I went to your forum and there is a wealth of information on PNI there. I haven't had a chance yet to go through it but I will later on today God willing. Thank you for referring us to the yahoo group for muslim woman as I definitely think Umm Aminah and anyone else reading this post with PNI should join and check it out. It always helps to be with people who are experiencing the same thing as you and who can relate and elaborate on their own coping mechanisms. Please make sure to check out Veritee's group as there is so much information on different aspects of PNI and something is bound to be of help.
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