Depression…

Depression. That word that no one wants to feel or talk about.

I was diagnosed with depression in 1993. After I had my first child. I had been a happy person all my life up until I started feeling off. Off in the ways like sad, angry, felt rage, tired, suicidal, and no motivation. I didn’t know what was going on with myself. How could I be like this when I just had my child. A child that I wanted, the family I had been longing for. I had a son, so why was I so full of these dark scary emotions.

No one wants to admit or acknowledge that they may be affected by depression. We want too be perfect. We want to be like everyone else. The sad thing is we only see what others want us to see. We have many masks we put on when we have to be around people.

When I started to feel all the emotions that come along with depression, I had no idea what was happening. I would be happy one day or minute and full of rage wanting to drive my car off a cliff or into a brick wall. I wanted to cry for no reason or I just didn’t want to come out of my room, see or speak to anyone, I wanted to die.

I spoke to my sons father about it and he told me to go to the doctor. I was afraid and ashamed that I could be one of “those people“. Not perfect. I didn’t want to be on meds to make me feel better.

My mother in law at that time was very supportive and put me in contact with someone who had been diagnosed with depression as well. I have to say, that was the point. I decided to go to the doctor and talk about what was happening, I couldn’t live like this. I had a son, a family to be here for.

The doctor told me I had a lack of serotonin in my brain and that was causing the major mood swings. She put me on Prozac. Prozac at that time was getting a lot of backlash due to people committing suicide when prescribed the medication.

I was on 20mg per day and I have to be honest I felt the difference in a matter of days. Maybe it was because I had succumbed to the diagnoses and talked about how I felt instead of hiding in my mind, but the difference was life changing. I was happy again and functioned like “normal“.

Back in 1993, there was no internet yet, so there was no outlet on social media where you could relate to all the others that were, or are struggling in the area of depression or suicidal thoughts. There was no one to secretly talk to. Just you against the world and the shaming and labeling. The hiding.

Today I am still on my anti-depressants and I am not afraid to say it. I am thankful for the science behind the medication that can change your life and HELP with depression. Could you imagine what life would be like to suffer without proper medication? I know I wouldn’t be here without it.

I still have bad days that bring me down but I know what it is now and I can handle the emotions. I take a day to myself whether it be a day of movies in comfy clothes or a few hours of nap time. I tell myself that this too shall pass and wait and distract.

My message to those suffering in the dark, alone and no good days in sight. Get help, reach out to someone, No one judges you as much as yourself, Self sabotage is the worst and can make things a lot more difficult. Turn that voice off and talk too someone. PLEASE. We need you, your family needs you, you, need you.

I am not ashamed to be “those people” cause I am one of “those people“.

What is “normal” anyway?

Together by sharing we can make a difference in peoples lives.

I hope this helps you today.

It takes a strong person to admit their faults but takes an even stronger and braver person to do something about it and TALK about it!

This is, Being Me Sober