Nicola (Derbyshire)

Before I became pregnant, I had a history of OCD [obsessive compulsive disorder]. When I became pregnant, my symptoms of unwanted thoughts and anxiety worsened. 

Around me I had a wonderful support network of family and friends but I knew I needed something more than that. My symptoms continued to worsen and I eventually asked my hospital team for support to help me with my condition. 

Specialist support needed

The support I was offered was general psychological therapy. Although I was grateful to receive this help, the reality was that my therapist had a limited understanding of OCD, and especially perinatal OCD. 

They didn't always understand what I was experiencing and the impact it was having on my mental health and everyday life. This made communicating with my therapist difficult at times, and it eventually led to me closing up. 

Knowing I really needed to work with someone who fully understood my condition, I found a private CBT [cognitive behavioural therapy] therapist who specialised in OCD and anxiety. When I started working with her it was transformational. 

Progress has been huge

All this happened around five years ago, and I still see my therapist once every few months. We have made so much progress, and I have an excellent relapse plan in place. But I do wish a specialist in perinatal OCD had been available to me when I first needed support. This would have improved my recovery greatly. 

Pregnant women and new mums need easy access to this type of support, because experiencing mental health problems before, during and after pregnancy can make you feel incredibly isolated.