Question about depression--what should I do?!


Question:

Question about depression--what should I do?

I am writing this under my father's screen name simply because it's too embarrassing for me to talk about--I am a secretive person. I am a 23 year old mother of 2 and I've had problems with depression a good part of my life. Things have taken a turn for the worst the last three years--I have no energy and little desire to do much of anything. I go through the motions for the benefit of my kids but I am mostly indifferent to everything (aside from my feelings of love towards them). When I was 3 I used to cut myself out of rage or scratch myself--that's subsided but I still have a temper towards someone who lives with me who continually badgers me--I can't improve my living situation UNTIL I get a job so I can move away from him. Then, I think, it would be easier to get along. My question is would I need antidepressants for this? Should I be worried about seeing a therapist (since I have two kids and don't want my mothering skills questioned because I do TRY my hardest there)?

Additional Details

2 weeks ago
I would also like to know if anyone has experience with this. In regards to the living situation I don't want to pin the blame ever but the person I live with also has problems and brings out the side of me that came from being abused by my mother when I was living with her. I don't know if it's just anger. I am not suicidal but sometimes I wonder how things would be if I didn't exist. I am terribly paranoid about the therapist visit because the male I live with is the father of my youngest son and tends to use things as weight against me or as scare tactics. Like I said before though, he's not entirely to blame in this situation. I want to improve it for myself AND for those around me, especially my kids. But I do need to know if getting help could come back and bite me in the butt.


Answers:

Unless you admit to doing things as a parent that would cause your therapist to be forced to notify authorities (e.g., abusing your children), you would probably be considered in a positive light, as someone doing something to solve her problems. Antidepressants can be helpful in giving you the energy to do things about your life situation, or at least being better able to face it. I wouldn't, if I were you, rely on drugs alone. Most research indicates that antidepressants plus therapy is more effective than either one alone.

One step you can take is reading a book called "Feeling Good", by Dr. David Burns. When I look at most books in the psychology or self-help sections of a bookstore or library, I'm embarrassed to be in the mental health business. "Feeling Good" is a classic that has stood the test of time. There is a workbook for it also, called, appropriately enough, "The Feeling Good Workbook", also by the same author.

Good luck to you. Don't be discouraged in getting help for your situation.




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