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I am a depressed Mom
No more depression.
Being a mom is an overwhelming job. You may lose yourself in taking care of everyone else except yourself.
This is an enormous responsibility which women have taken on their shoulders for years to come.
Then they ask. Why do I get the blues? Why are the other women handling it and I am so depressed, unhappy, and miserable in my life.
- Realize that you are not alone, other women go through the same blues.
- It is normal the feelings you have.
- Acknowledge your sad feelings. Do not push down, hide, or deny your blues.
Now few tips to get you where you can find your happiness back on track
- Realize your individuality. We are all each unique individuals with our unique way of enjoying life. You don't need to lose your individuality, because you have to take care of your kids, husband, house, work, and more.
- Find time for yourself to take care of yourself first, then you will take care of other things while enjoying it rather than just getting it done.
balance everything
- Have a desk, just dedicate it to yourself. For taking care of your bills, your journals, or hobby.
- Have a time, just dedicate to yourself. To think of what you like to do, be, achieve, or just relax.
- Have a journal to right down daily schedule, appointments, birthday parties, gifts, etc.
- Have a journal, just dedicate it to yourself. Write down what you like to do, enjoy, or your sorrows.
- Have a creative journal, just dedicate it to yourself. Pick-up your favorite magazines and cut the things you like and paste it in your journal.
- Find a support group, to talk and share your feelings. If there is not any, you make it happen. Post a note on pre-schools, your neighborhood grocery, stating attention moms, group meetings, bring a book or your interesting subject to talk about, coffee and cake served.
- Find help to baby-sit the kids schools, churches, friends, family). Take time off, to think, relax, or just sleep.
- Think of household chores as a time to yourself. Think of your dreams, planning your journal, what you like to do on your next hobby, while doing laundry or washing dishes. This way you relax, use the time to think positive, instead of just doing chores.
Check into,... How to manage kids better
It Can Happen to Any New Mom
Post-partum depression is a severe form of "baby blues," mild sadness and anxiety that some two-thirds of new mothers experience. A few new moms -- one in 1000 -- suffer a complete break with reality, post-partum psychosis.
The cause of all the post-partum emotional reactions remains unclear, but scientists cite several contributing factors.
"The first year with each of my two children was very hard. I was exhausted and sleep-deprived. Add a colicky baby, or a lack of emotional support, and you have a one-way ticket to the blues." Motherhood is most disorienting for first-time moms. Not surprisingly, they are at unusually high risk of post-partum emotional problems.
Hormones also play a role. High levels of female sex hormones circulate in expectant mothers' blood, but drop precipitously within hours of delivery, contributing to biochemical depression. Pregnancy also increases levels of endorphins, the body's feel-good chemicals. Endorphin levels fall abruptly after delivery, adding to risk of depression.
Sometimes post-partum depression is caused by a thyroid disorder. Like sex hormones, thyroid hormones may fall precipitously after delivery and may not return to normal. Any medical workup for post-partum depression should include a thyroid function test. Thyroid abnormalities respond to replacement-hormone medication.
Finally, a history of depression increases risk. One-third of women with previous
depression experience post-partum, and half of women who become depressed after one
delivery relapse after subsequent births.
- Post-Partum Support International. 927
North Kellogg Ave., Santa Barbara, CA 932111; (805) 967-7636. Crisis counseling available.
- Depression After Delivery. P.O. Box 1282,
Morrisville, PA, 19067; (800) 944-4773. Crisis counseling available.
- To start your own mothers' group contact
the American Self-Help Clearinghouse, St. Clares-Riverside Hospital, Denville, NJ 07834;
(201) 625-7101. This nonprofit organization tracks self-help and support groups around the
U.S. and Canada, helps people start new ones, and can refer to local and regional
self-help organizations in your area.
- This Isn't What I Expected: Recognizing
and Recovering from Depression and Anxiety After Childbirth by Karen R. Kleinman and
Valerie D. Raskin, M.D., Bantam, 1994. Includes a valuable chapter about how husbands can
help wives overcome post-partum depression. Check into,...the
books/Psychology/Health
When Do the Good Things Start?
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