Abi 30 from Wimborne in Dorset, was supported by Home-Start after crippling anxiety left her unable to leave the house with her new twins.
“I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression before I gave birth to my twin girls, but after they arrived things got much worse and I found everything extremely overwhelming. I got anxiety about lots of different things but the main one for me was about getting out and about with the girls and meeting new people.
When the girls were four-months-old, I spoke to my health visitor about how I was feeling and was referred to Home-Start. They put me in touch with a Home-Start volunteer called Anne who comes around once a week for between two and four hours.
Anne has made a huge difference to my life. She listens to my problems and comes up with practical things I can do to make it better. One of the big barriers for me going out was worrying that I didn’t know the logistics of getting there and the layout of the building. I worry that my big double buggy won’t fit through doors and things. It doesn’t sound like a big deal to many people but with my anxiety I really struggled.
Anne took me to go and scout out new locations, so that I could feel comfortable and confident to go there in future on my own. Now I’ve got a list of places I feel confident I can go to.
I found social media to be helpful at times, for example I found out about a local twins club on Facebook. After Anne took me there the first couple of times, I felt confident to go to on my own and now I go all the time. I do find though that there are lots of mummy Instagram accounts that show a bit of a rose-tinted view of motherhood.
I created an Instagram account for the girls which I use to try to be as open as possible with my struggles and experiences including anxiety.
Since being supported by Anne and Home-Start Wessex, my life has completely changed. I was left feeling completely isolated but now I have the confidence to get and out about. Although certain times can still be challenging, I’m enjoying my girls and being a mum more than ever”.