Should I take my anti-depressants?!

Should I take my anti-depressants?

Hi,

I'm a single mum to a 3 month old baby and don't have any family or friends around me.....the past month or so, things have been getting really hard for me, everyday seems like a struggle and I'm not enjoying being a mum. I cried my eyes out at the doctors yesterday and was prescribed SSRI Citalopram anti-depressant, I'm a bit scared to start taking them, for many reasons, but mainly because I'm scared that I might have a reaction and become pyschotic, (as is an occasional side-effect) and there is no-one around to keep an eye on me (I may not realize myself if I'm 'losing it') also, now this has been in my mind, I'm sure if I do start taking them, I'll over-analyze every thought and convince myself that they are making me psychotic!

Help!

xx

as salam (peace and greetings),congrats to u & ur new born.I sympathaize totally with you i done that been there got the teshirt to proove it.I know its not easy but as time goes by it will be.I cannot believe so many people encouraging you to take drugs which in the long run is not the answer.You appear to have a sound mind and know the harm these type of drugs can do everyone reacts differently you may not have a reaction but is it a risk that you can afford to take? im sure you love your child more than anything the drugs can make you drowsy and in the beginning you will experience many different emotions some will make you feel worse, more than two weeks apparantly until they start working.Its not worth it during this time what if you neglect your child i have been through this maybe worse the drugs did no good to my state of mind and i certainly did not want to be hooked on them of course i have my own strategy to deal with things it took alot support from my family and freinds this is what you need.We live in a society where majority of us do not even know our neighbours in my country of origin women do not experience postnatal depression unless they have other social problems.Our state of mind depends on environmental factors that contribute to the way we feel.I suggest you tell your family you need them and if circumstances do not allow that make good friends who you can socialise with and share the joys of motherhood.Enquire at your local clinic about mother and baby groups excellent way to be around other people in a baby friendly environment.Tackle the issues that are most upsetting, being alone is one of them i pick up from your story that you are feeling isolated with nobody around you ,you must become confident to make friends break the cycle of feeling down tell yourself you are not going to let this depression take over your life be in in control positive behaviour will shake these negative emotions away.Keep busy (not indoors all the time) go out for walks when you do make friends and im sure you will things will be alot less dreary.Having children on ones own is a tall order but it is possible with support from surrounding framework which exist in various organisations try them out you have nothing to loose.In a nutshell keep away from medication try alternative routes and keep in touch with human civilasation and please think about your baby, yes your baby needsyou and you need your baby i find having children is not the struggle but not being able to share it with someone else is, my mother told me as harsh as it may seem "my dear you have to face your responsibilty as a mother and get on with it or else you will ruin your childrens future".so thats what i did with 3 kids and divorced I closed my eyes and saw my kids before me they were all i had and dependent on me how could i keep letting them down, Im sharing my experience with you so that you see there is hope after 10yrs of sheer struggle i am happily married again with a baby yes again and truly regret what my older children missed out on.Your baby is special you have the gift of having children where many people fail and would give all they own just to have a child cherish that one day your child will hug you and tell you your the best mum in the world there are no words to desccribe the love between mother and child, i know you feel down its temporary have faith in yourself dont listen to media and the larger population that having kids is a total struggle if your not in a an ideal situation, its all hype god provides and remember their are people who are much worse off than us.So make use of what you do have I wish you luck take care of youself and your baby.