Depression Awareness and Giveaway

I've noticed a lot of Mom bloggers are feeling blue lately. I'm not sure why, but I know I have been witnessing some posts that make me worry. I am not a doctor, but I have had my share of mental health issues in the past. My first experience with depression came after having my son 15 years ago. It was both the best and worse time of my life. I had never experienced depression before and it took a while before I realized something was wrong.

My husband, at the time, was a manager of a restaurant and worked from 4 pm until 4 am – almost every night. I had a tough pregnancy and was on strict bed rest for almost 6 months. By the time I had my son I had gained over 100 lbs. and my muscles had atrophied. I was miserable. I could barely walk. I was tired and overwhelmed by becoming a parent. Although I didn't want to hurt myself or my son, I did want to go to sleep and never wake up. I cried. I cried more. And finally, when my son was two weeks old I couldn't stand it anymore. I walked into the restaurant/bar where my now ex-husband worked with my baby, put him down in the middle of the aisle, and turned around and walked out. I was tired. I was sad. I was overwhelmed. I couldn't care for myself or my son. I went home and slept.

The next morning when I woke up I immediately called the doctor and explained what happened the night before. He had me come in right away. I started on anti-depressants that day and SLOWLY life became more bearable. No one in my family recognized my symptoms. It wasn't until I couldn't function that I realized I needed help. (side note: My son was fine when I left him in the middle of the restaurant. One of my friends was a waitress there and a mom. She got the night off, paid – and took the baby home so I could get some sleep. Thank you Tammy, wherever you are.)

I was able to get off the meds by the time my son turned 1, but 4 years later when my husband left me I had another attack. This time I realized the symptoms right away and although things were tough – I muddled my way back to "normalcy" two years later.

Some of my personal warning signs:

I felt lazy and tired.
I would go all day with no shower (yes - that is so gross!)
I was tired.
Did I mention that I was tired?
Did I mention that I got really lazy?
And yes, I cried.

Here are some other warning signs:

Loss of interest in normal activities
Feeling hopeless
Problems sleeping
Trouble focusing or concentrating
Difficulty making decisions
Unintentional weight gain/loss
Easily annoyed
Loss of interest in sex
Unexplained physical problems – headaches/backpain

Three years after meeting my New and Improved DH we decided to have a baby. My doctor recommended I go on anti-depressants as soon as my son was born due to my history. SMART! Although I felt mildly depressed after birth the meds kicked in quick and it was a relatively easy time for me.

Depression and Manic Depression are very serious. They can be life threatening in some cases. You may know someone who needs your help and might not even realize it. There are some great resources out there and I encourage you to click on some of these links, if not for yourself – for someone who might need your help.

Depression.com
National Institute of Mental Health
MayoClinic

I want to note: symptoms of depression in small children can be very different from that of an adult. For instance, children might have bouts of anger. Please consult your physician if you think you or your child may be suffering from depression.

Now, on a lighter note:

Giveaway:

1^st Place: Zebra Tote from Sweet Boutique, "Joy for a Woman's Soul Promises to Refresh Your Spirit" book from Momonamission, Necklace from Sweet Boutique

2^nd Place: $20 Giftcard from Bath & Body Works from Mammadawg and Necklace from Sweet Boutique

3^rd Place: Pimpernal coasters from maryambro1 and Necklace from Sweet Boutique

There are 5 possible entries per person. The first entry requirement is to visit any one of the following sponsors: Sweet Boutique, Mammadawg, Momonamission, or Maryambro1 then come back here and tell me something that caught your eye. You can gain up to 4 entries doing this but you must visit a different sponsor for each entry. The 5^th possible entry is selfless. You can enter the name (first name is fine) of a friend you feel could use some cheering up. If that name is chosen, they win! Please leave a way for me to contact you!

You don't have to follow me on twitter. You don't have to follow my blog. You don't have to rate me on technorati. You don't have to do anything for me. This is for you, because you are special and I care about you! Winner will be chosen by Random.org. Giveaway closes on March 7^th at Noon, EST.Giveaway is now closed...winner to be posted later...thanks. You are all so special.