The symptoms of postnatal depression vary from woman to woman and can last from a few days to a few months, or over a year in severe cases.
If you suffer from PND you may experience any number of the following symptoms:
 Feeling down for days at a time
Feeling irritable
Feeling tearful
Difficulty concentrating
Panic attacks
lack of interest in yourself and your baby
Feeling lonely and isolated
Lack of motivation
Feeling guilty or inadequate
Feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope
Difficulty sleeping
Lack of appetite
Reduced sex drive
Feeling constantly tired
Physical signs of tension (headaches, stomach pains, or blurred vision).
Lack of appetite, tiredness and a reduced sex drive are common in women after childbirth so having these symptoms alone does not necessarily mean you have PND.
PND can affect your lifestyle and your relationships. Some women feel unable to bond with their new baby, and others feel too anxious to leave the house or see friends. Many mothers do not recognise that they have PND, and do not talk to family and friends about how they are feeling. For this reason it is important for partners, family members, and friends to recognise the signs of PND at an early stage, so that it can be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.
About half of the women who suffer from PND have thoughts about harming their baby or themselves. If you have thoughts like these it does not mean you are an unfit mother but you should visit your GP straight away.
June 2011 | 
What is Post Natal Depression?
