When does a logical response to rubbish things become depression?

[libulelula]

Hi,

I'm a regualr but have name changed for this.

I'm wondering if and when I should be worrying about how I am. The background is this.

My mother died 18 months ago. She was severely depressed for most of her life and an alcoholic. My brother is the same and we've had lots of problems with him, over the last 4 years in particular.

I haven't really properly mourned my nother as a few months after she died my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. I sort of put things on hold after we got the diagnosis. He has outlived the original prognosis, but won't live for much longer.

My husband is from another country, and we live far away from my family, his family and our old friends. We have two children, of two and a half and three weeks.

For various good and not so good reasons, we have had no visits from family or close, old friends since our new baby was born. We have also been housebound for the last two weeks due to a complication with our baby, thankfully now cleared up.

I love my life, my DH and my kids. It's what I've always wanted. Sometimes very recently though, I feel so low. I feel - and I know it's illogical - hurt and so lonely since no one visited us after our baby was born. I sometimes feel like no one in the world gives a shit about us.

It is really NOT that way, but it feels like it and I am sporadically - not all the time - tearful and / or short tempered. DH is pretty much the same and there is some tension between us.

At what point is this something I would go and speak to a GP about - i.e. something htat had become an illness? Or, alternatively, to what extent is this a logical response to difficult times?

When do you know which is which?

[Hassled]

This shows the difference between reactive depression and clinical depression. And then of course there's Post Natal Depression, which you shouldn't rule out.

You've had one hell of a lot to deal with and I would imagine 99% of the population would be left feeling low, tearful and undervalued had they gone through what you've gone through. And you say the new baby is only 3 weeks old - so you'll be getting no sleep, which adds to the tearyness. It's impossible to say what sort of depression you have, but that's a moot point, isn't it? If you're struggling to cope and feel like you need some help, see your GP regardless and get the help.

[willsurvivethis]

Hey sweetheart you know that I know who you are

come talk to me on fb or call me or send me an email - talk!

xxx

[libulelula]

Thanks both of you.

HAssled - at least you thikn it's a moot point too. The thing that makes me think it's just a logical response is that I don't really know what would help. I do have a good GP who knopws a bit of the background, so may discuss it when we have the 6 week check.

WST - I've been thinking it's been too long since we had a chat. I will, if I get the chance. S and D are working shifts at the moment with him waking as soon as she is sleeping, so a bit tricky.