Comments on: Mood Swings

By: Josie

Josie — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:22:53 +0000

@Kelly, Thanks Kelly - it's funny but I wondered whether to try EPO. Will definitely give it a try I think xx

By: Kelly

Kelly — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:51:46 +0000

I have been meaning to pop over and leave a comment on this post for a few days.

I don’t know if this will help at all but pre baby I used to be a hormonal nightmare until I started taking Evening Primrose Oil and Starflower Oil capsules. Boots and Tesco do a combined version I think. Taking these really helped me deal with my hormones and really reduced the ups and downs.

I have no idea if they would make a difference but I am sure they wouldn’t make anything worse so perhaps worth a try
.-= Kelly´s last blog ..It’s a mystery =-.

By: Olivia

Olivia — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:21:35 +0000

Has anyone heard of trying bioidentical hormones? I have been having mood swings and not sleeping for what seems like years!!

By: Cave Mother

Cave Mother — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:30:54 +0000

I think the persistent poor sleeps really do sap your energy and affect your mood, and hormones can't be any help either. I know exactly how you feel - being tired makes me emotionally rawer. I can weep as easily at a beautiful swaying tree as I can at a dinner spilt on the floor. I know the return of your period is not that welcome, but at least it lets you know that your body's OK and ready for business, as it were. I'm kind of hoping mine makes an appearance soon, just so I know that everything's all right in there. .-= Cave Mother´s last blog ..Thoughts On Weaning =-.

By: Vegemitevix

Vegemitevix — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 23:33:32 +0000

Oh Josie, Big hugs flying through cyber for you! I think everyone’s completely right – tiredness, mania of Christmas, intensity of raising a small one, hormones….I am a bit like you though, I’m either really up or really down and I absolutely obsess over whether what I’ve written is good enough, that not as many people read my blog as some of the others, that the pagination didn’t work out or no PRs are knocking my door down for features etc etc Writing does open you up and makes you feel increasingly vulnerable. Just a quick thought though – I developed post natal depression after my second child was born. I didn’t think I would suffer because I was such a strong minded independent person (as if that has anything to do with it), and because she was already six months old (I thought for some reason it happened very early on). I was wrong the doctor who diagnosed me helped me to realise that I have a personality that is predisposed to depression (long periods of low mood is how it’s medically defined) and that the pregnancy had kicked it off. Maybe have a word with your doctor next time you see her to get her take on the situation. Big hugs anyway irrespective of the cause. Hope you feel a little more in balance soon. xxx

By: Rosie Scribble

Rosie Scribble — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:25:43 +0000

Oh, I hope you will be feeling better soon. It is probably a mixture of everything – sleep deprivation and hormones combined, plus a lot of us seem to be up and down, reading the rest of the comments.The dull weather seems to add to the glum at times, for me at least. I try to tell myself it will pass, but eventually it does, but it can be a rollercoaster at times certainly.
.-= Rosie Scribble´s last blog ..Blogging, taboo topics and the issue of self-disclosure =-.

By: Platespinner

Platespinner — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:12:14 +0000

Hi Josie. I too can sympathise and say you are certainly not alone. It sounds like you have a good idea what is going on – probably a combination of all the factors you mention. I really tipped into PND after I finished breastfeeding, so that may well have something to do with it (not suggesting you have PND by the way). Tiredness will make you very irritable and down too. Sometimes I find I go through the tiredness barrier and get a burst of fairly manic energy but that can make me more exhausted in the long run if I’m not getting enough sleep.

The things I do to help include writing, taking baths and trying to calm my mind by being in the present and not letting my thoughts run off with me. As I’ve had an episode of depression, I’ve also been in psychotherapy which is helping me a lot, although not everyone has the time or money for it. You might want to check out the mindapples website for ideas from others on simple things to look after your mental well-being. And cut yourself some slack too…

I do hope you’re feeling better soon – keep writing about it if it helps.
.-= Platespinner´s last blog ..The Language of Firsts =-.

By: fun mum / glum mum

fun mum / glum mum — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 09:33:48 +0000

i am the queen of moodswings! russ can leave the house with a happy smilie mum and baby and by the time he gets home from work he has a frazzled mum and a screaming child! which of course is all his fault! i try really hard not to take it out on him but its inevitable since he is the only adult i see sometimes for days on end!

if im up then im sky high! funny, personable and i think, a joy to be around. if im down then i could give the monsters from hell a run for their money! the worst thing is i never know how im going to be. so the annoyance of suddenly finding myself snapping, crying and generally being a bitch, actually makes me feel guilty and then even worse! its a vicious circle and although i have no advice on how to handle these feelings and mood swings i can say with 100% certainty that you are definatley not alone!

please please keep up with the writing as even if you have a day when you think its not helping you much, i can again tell you that it is 100% helping someone somewhere! usually me xxx xxx xxx

By: geriatric mummy

geriatric mummy — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 09:05:06 +0000

Oh Josie. I really do know how you feel…I’ve felt the same since Star was about 4 mths old. Whilst I’m not qualified to comment on your writing theory I absolutely agree that sleep deprivation and hormones are likely culprits.

Sleep is so important for mental health…sleep deprivation is not a form of torture for no reason. Does Kai nap in the day ? If he does, take a nap yourself…the housework, blog, etc can wait. This is my primary coping mechanism…sleep comes first. And hormones…it will take a while for your bocy to readjust…it’s been a long time ! You can take a Starflower supplement which will help with anything hormonal enormously, as will a reflexology treatment…

It’s time to put yourself and your needs first my love, something us mothers find hard to do x

By: Selina Kingston

Selina Kingston — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 08:57:39 +0000

I wish I knew the answer to that one! I put it down to lack of sunlight but that doesn’t explain why I get like this in the summer too!!
I have been led to your blog by Maternal Tales but actually I have seen a lot of writers referring to you recently and so I was keen to swing by. I’m so pleased I did – great blog! And we clearly think alike as I wrote a letter to myself a while back only to find that you had suggested that in your writing workshop at around the same time!!
I’ll definitely be back x
.-= Selina Kingston´s last blog ..Tis The Season To Be Jolly (….apparently!) =-.