Anyone Else Battling or Have Battled Depression?

I don't have many suggestions for you, but I've been going through the same thing lately. I'm also nursing a little one, and I have no desire to take meds now. I find myself having 'off' days; getting frustrated by my husband's lack of family time; and wondering if this is all there is (and if I'm supposed to be enjoying it more!). So yeah, I know it's there, lurking beneath the surface.

I've been considering sun lights. What kind do you have? Some of them aren't very impressive/effective, so make sure you have good ones. That said, I've never used them at all. My depression in the past was a year-round event. :P

I also stay involved. I do things outside the house almost every day. This never used to bother me, but with a little one, I'd go crazy if I just stayed home all day. So we go to a playgroup, some other children's place, or just out to eat. Honestly, taking care of DS is what keeps me going. I'm sure I'd be in much worse shape if he weren't here, needing me all the time.

If you're an AP/crunchy type ;) there are definitely many moms in the Indy area. (For that matter, if you're not the crunchy type, I'm sure there are plenty of those meeting too - LOL). I'm too far away for most Indy stuff - I just go there once in a while for shopping, zoo, and good Mexican food. ;)

Keep your head up...
S.

I'm with you. Two suggestions:

1. Read a fun book (romance, mystery, comic). This was suggested to me and it really does work. If you don't have enough time, make your husband do baby duty for 30-60 minutes - it will save everyone's sanity and be good for their bonding.

2. Plan a short weekend trip for January or February. We never have much money, but we will drive an hour or so on Friday or Saturday, stay at a hotel with a pool overnight, go swimming and just goof around. It's nice not to have to worry about meals and it gets me out of the house. I think bopping around in the pool releases some endorphins, too.

S.A.D.D....yeah...non drug treatment...the sun lamps are cool I guess except that most of them are so small they don't do much. You're lacking the vitamin D that the sun gives you with the ultraviolet lights...now I have't tried this because I can't afford it...nor do I have the time with my schedule...try drinking vitamin D (aka whole) milk, go to a tanning bed as you get more all over coverage...also get a daily planner...they have them at the dollar store and make a schedule of things that need done and bills that need paid on what days...really focus on following that schedule to a T...get yourself into a routine and try to keep busy. One of the things that you may want to put in the schedule are appointments with a counselor to help you get through the depression part of things. I was born severely jondiced to the point that I about died when I was born, and I've always had problems with S.A.D.D....don't know if there's a link there or not, but I'm so busy all the time that I rarely have a chance to notice or think about it.

stacy

i have battled depression for about 15 years or more...i have been on and off meddications..i have been off for about 2 years now, and sometimes thik that is theonly way..i made up my mind though that i dont want them, becasue i like how theymake me feel , but my problems are still there...i understand you wantt stay home withyour daughter and that is freat that you can...you need to just make sure you give your self plenty to do...force your self to stay up when your daughter takes a nap, write in a journal your feelings, and how you feel you can make yourself fel better, take time for you...out of the house, away from baby and husband...i know that seems difficult at this time..but go to the mall, walk around, no money, just window shop...get together for coffee withsome friends, if all you do is sleep and not get a chance for you, it makes it harder to get out of it..i need to get to work, we can talk more...the holidays are the hardest time for me..always have been...i am getting a moms group together after the first of the year, letme know if you are interested...talk to you soon

L.

Talk to your doctor. There are meds you can take while breast feeding. Keep your iron up by eating spinach and other foods high in iron and take a multi-vitamin to make sure you are as healthy as possible.
Also, get involved in some activities. Community North Hospital has a breastfeeding support group that meets Tuesday mornings at 10:30 and Wednesday evenings but I'm not sure what time (go to the maternity ward and ask the nurses at the desk where to go for either session) you don't need to have delivered there to attend.
You can also look for moms' groups on Yahoo. Go to http://dir.groups.yahoo.com/dir/Regional/U.S._States/Indi... and look through the options. I started http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BroadRippleMama/?yguid=2645... for moms in the Broad Ripple/Glendale area.

Good Luck!
~S.

I don't want to push drugs, but there are drugs that are safe to use during breastfeeding. I have been on Zoloft 50mg during my entire pregnancy and the entire 6.5 months I have been breastfeeding. I have seen no ill side effects or such. My Primary doc and OB both said it was perfectly safe. I have battled depression due to chronic fatigue syndrome for years... so they wanted to treat me to help hold off post partum depression. Good luck, and don't feel guilty or anything if you have to be on drugs! A happy mom is a better mom, I think.

yes i do! it helps to find some hobbies or start spending quality time on urself, like hot bubble baths, or something else relaxing u enjoy but never seem to find time for. keep lists of things to do & when to do them, with such hectic lifestyle we all need to make lists! reading & scrapbooking are my 2 fav hobbies, u could make some GREAT memory books for ur children & it helps u to feel good about ur accomplishment when they are done. i like to make memory books for my children & grandchildren to have later in life with our family photos that seem to get shoved in a box. also tanning bed seems to cheer me up, increases my self esteem. the better i look the better i feel. also going to church helps keep the blues away. keep smiling!

Dear S.,

I don't have seasonal depression exactly, but I have been felt very depressed sometimes, and I have never taken any medication at all. I understand how you feel, indeed.... I live apart from my family, and even when I am a grown up, I feel so lonely without them. I have a beautiful family, great husband and wonderful two kids to love and to take care of...but sometimes I feel as you feel as well for different other reasons. I do not have any real suggestions , I just can tell you what I do when I feel depressed, lonely, sad, irritable..I just make efforts and get up, I take a shower and...I say myself.."Alejandra....keep going..there are many things ahead to be happy and take care of...especially YOU..Alejandra" That is my first medicine..and my second one is remember something I learned time ago....I keep a little pebble in my pocket or purse which reminds me every single day to be grateful for the good things I have, and say Thank you, thank you, thank you for what I have and for having the strenght to keep going..and remember just being happy.
S., just try and name those things..those positive things that you need to see in your life when you feel depressed, write them down and think very hard about them..you will atract them..Make and effort because remember that your thoughts or feelings make what you are..so start to feel well by yourself..YOU CAN DO IT....!!! Look beautiful pictures of landscapes, roses, your baby....waterfalls, skies..you'll see that everything changes and keep your pebble in your pocket or your purse, and when you leave your car keys on your bedtable, leave also your pebble and remember to be the happiest woman on the world...

I hope this helps you a little bit...
Alejandra

S.,
I can totally understand. I went through a bad depression and had no idea what was going on. It wasn't until I dragged hubby into a counslor and he saw it, that I caught on.
I didn't want to go on meds, so I didn't. Part of me knew that I could handle it myself. I started to try new things, learn something new....
But the most important thing I did, everyday, was take a shower and get ready. Do my hair and my make- up so that I was ready to go....if you never take care of your self, then no one will....

Sending you a cyber hug...

I have battled depression for a long time. I was on several medications shortly after the birth of my daughters. I am now off the medication because I couldn't handle the side effects. There are two things I have found to help:
1. A book called "The Feeling Good Handbook" by David D. Burns MD. It identifies different thought processes which contribute to depression and anxiety.
2. Diet...aka the food you eat. Once I eliminated/reduced the processed foods from my diet I really started to feel better physically and emotionally.

Just a couple of ideas. Good luck.

I would suggest finding something to do for yourself, like a hobby. Something that makes you feel good. If it is just reading a book, taking a walk, anything that makes you feel better. I have these same issues except its not seasonal, its ALL THE TIME. Sometimes cooking something makes me feel better because I know Im not good at it an Im getting better. Takng long relaxing baths always helps me too. Hope to have helped some.

I would seriously think about weaning your baby and going back on meds. Your baby needs y you in tip top shape more then she needs breast milk after 6 mths. My babies both weanied themselves at 8 months anyway!
This may sound cold, especially if you love breast feeding. Still, there are a lot of other things to consider for the good of your family. Bills need to be paid and husbands need to have attentive wives waiting at home. Stress from depression can ruin a family. I grew up in a home where my father didn't believe in medication and I can tell you I needed him a lot more then I needed the example he gave by refusing to "rely" on medication.

Hi, Stacy. I'm wondering if you were ever my teacher. I went to Westfield. I just wanted to let you know that I am a mother of a 2-year-old son. I too struggle with seasonal depression. It just creeps up on me for no reason. I find myself wanting to do nothing but sit around and sleep. I have found that excerising is the only thing that really helps me get out of my slump. Though I have a hard time getting motivated. Once I do get into a routine for a few days though it is easier. I work out in the evening after my son goes to bed, because I don't like getting up early in the morning and I work full time. It's just the only chance I get. But it helps me feel like I've accomplished something in the evening, instead of just sitting around and watching T.V. all evening. I hope this can help you! Also, wanted to let you know there is a flyer that comes out with events going on in Carmel and near Carmel. There are a lot of Mommy and me classes and events. Just stuff you can do, sign up for that you can take your child too. There are other moms there to meet as well. It's always nice having something to look forward to each day and it's more convenient since you can bring your child.

Have you tried exercising? Exercise always make me feel better.

I'm horrible with discipline so I don't ever do it regularly but I go through spurts every couple of months and start a routine exercise program. It always makes me feel good just to jog for a little bit. I know how hard it is with kids and I myself have gone as far as to just jog around my apartment for 10 or 15 minutes, do some jumping jacks, work my abs and my arms, stuff like that. I can do a 30 minute routine in my apartment no problem, and I feel great once I've spent a little time sweating.

Plus you know exercise releases endorphins. You don't have to jog, go for a nice walk, get the kids outside and play, or do what my dad used to do and get your kids outside and make them rake leaves with you :) They are out in the fresh air, having a good time playing in the leaves, raking leaves with my parents is one of my fondest memories, believe it or not!

Seriously, try to just get up and get moving. I think you'll be surpiserd at how much better you feel!