Can men get Post Natal Depression?

njc12

Hi Snaggles - I know one of my male colleagues was diagnosed with post natal depression - he just couldn't deal with the fact that someone depended on him for everything and was overwhelmed by his love for his child.

HTH
njc12

Savvy_Sue

Just wondered if you and your OH would find a parenting class useful as well as the counselling - if he feels he doesn't know how to parent DS it might build his confidence (and there might be less of a waiting list!). Your health visitor should be able to tell you if there's anything in your area.

Snaggles

Do the parenting classes deal with parenting older children too or just babies? DS is 6, nearly 7, but he has some behavioural problems (still going through the process of getting a diagnosis but appears to have a lot of the symptoms of adhd and possibly some type of autism spectrum disorder).

We've been referred to CAMS (not sure what that stands for, sorry) and are waiting for an appointment with them, so hopefully that will help. I think Stu feels that because he sometimes can't get close to Ryan, it must be his fault, when actually it's just that Ryan needs handling in a slightly different way. Hopefully CAMS will be able to help us with that.

Errata

CAMS (actually it's CAMHS) stands for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. It has specialist psychiatric doctors who can diagnose, treat, help and support withm both the AS and ADHD. If your son has AS he won't be able to relate to Stu in the way that a non AS child would, so it's nobody's fault and certainly not Stu's.
There's a good thread on Asbergers and autism with some good information and very wise advice. HTH

Snaggles

Thanks, I thought I'd spelt it wrong, but wasn't sure what I'd missed lol!

Yes, Ryan does have some difficulty relating to people, even as a baby he couldnt make eye contact etc. I don't think its very severe, as he doesn't stand out THAT much from his peer group yet, but it's enough to make him quite difficult to handle at times (although a lot of the time he's a lovely little boy). I'll have a look at the thread thanks.

tigtag02

Mrs S :grouphug:

Am dead chuffed for you, Stu is a star who quite obviously love his Snaggles and little Snagglettes.

I can totally relate to his feelings of *my fault* (if) with Ryan, been there, done that, own the rights to the t-shirt :rotfl: difference being mine was when little legs was a baby.

We all have a right to grieve for the things we expected in our children but didnt get and things we didnt expect but got (IYSWIM) Once that process in underway and recognised we can go on to accept that this is how life andour children are. Learning this will in turn help him to relate to Ryan.

I hope that my wafflings make sense :rotfl:
Tig
x

Lita_Ford

My old man got post natal depression but that was only because he couldnt have a shag. I wnt out and bought him a very expensive love doll. it shut him up but he goes very quiet if i ask him if hes ever used it.

Snaggles

Lita_Ford wrote: »

My old man got post natal depression but that was only because he couldnt have a shag. I wnt out and bought him a very expensive love doll. it shut him up but he goes very quiet if i ask him if hes ever used it.

Lol, I bet he does

Nothing puts blokes off it, does it?! :rolleyes: But I'm making more of an effort in that department...

SeptemberBaby_2

Hi Snaggles, only just read the thread and am so glad the ball is rolling in the right direction. Take care of yourself and your lovely family.

xxx

Snaggles

Thanks SeptemberBaby, we've actually been getting on really well since he's been to the doctors - I think it's shocked us just how close we came to messing up our relationship, so we're both making a major effort.

I debated for ages about posting on here asking for help, but I'm so glad I did now, I don't think I would have handled it anywhere near as well without the advice I've had.