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Mental health

Not sure what's going on - is it depression?

8 replies

ColouringInQueen · 14/01/2013 14:34

Hello, long time lurker being brave today and hoping for some outside perspective and some of the amazing wisdom I've read on other threads.
The background is that last year was a pretty tough one - my DD8 had some tough times at school in the spring, in the summer I was made redundant from the small business I had helped to grow over 12 yrs (after it was acquired twice in 6 months). My husband who also works there was also extremely stressed and eventually in September was diagnosed with severe depression inc suicidal thoughts. (He is now on the mend :)

By the time I got to Christmas I was really tired (we also have 50% of all family birthdays in Nov and Dec so very busy) and hoping for a bit of R&R. Nice Christmas and Boxing day but on 27th my DD broke her leg and we ended up overnight in hosp then a tough first week at home with her in a lot of pain, unable to go to the loo on her own and not much decent sleep etc.

Anyway over last week I began to feel more and more exhausted and stressed, by Friday afternoon I just had to go to bed with a splitting headache and exhaustion, and feeling very emotional. So have spent the weekend asleep/in bed. Have managed to get up and dressed today but still very tired and headache and feeling low and my head/brain just feels so foggy, achy I simply can't think about anything beyond the very basic like put this washing in the machine. It's snowing and I'd usually be out with the kids on the sledge but just can't rouse myself.

I have suffered from mild depression in the past and I think on and off last year with hindsight, but am wondering is this just exhaustion/something more. Finding it hard to think straight but at the same time my mind is whirring trying to work out what's going on. The thought of my kids having two depressed parents is really upsetting, but at the same time I need to know what's going on so I can hopefully find a way out of all this. So your thoughts would be much appreciated. (sorry ended up being so long!)

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TheSilveryTinsellyPussycat · 14/01/2013 14:40

You are exhausted, and it made it worse thinking you were going to have a bit of a rest after Christmas, and then not being able to have one. You are doing the basics, which is enough for now. Rest, rest, rest if you can.

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mercibucket · 14/01/2013 14:45

You poor thing
You just sound exhausted. Go to bed and rest as much as is possible and try to find time to relax when you can

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mercibucket · 14/01/2013 14:45

You poor thing
You just sound exhausted. Go to bed and rest as much as is possible and try to find time to relax when you can

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AFingerofFudge · 14/01/2013 14:45

maybe get yourself to the GP for routine blood tests, just to make sure there isn't an underlying issue like anaemia or something
and as pussycat said, rest all you can
You've had a really stressful year by the sounds of it, and I think starting the new year with a stressful event can be difficult too
Go easy on yourself, and try not to analyse too much.

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ColouringInQueen · 14/01/2013 14:58

thanks so much everyone.
Yes exhaustion makes sense - esp as pussycat says I was really looking forward to some lazy Christmassy days...
finger of fudge hmm think you might have hit the nail on the head with the analysing - I have in the back of my mind what to do about finding new job, but haven't felt up to it to date. I think I need to find a more restful way of occupying my mind...

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ColouringInQueen · 16/01/2013 10:51

Went to see GP today... she has booked me in for some bloods - iron and thyroid. I scored a moderate on the depression scale... like you lovely ladies she said it sounds like the last year has caught up with me, partic now OH recovering. She suggested counselling (tho none on NHS). Two weeks of resting and then go back to re-assess. Am going to rest and try not feel too guilty about it... thanks again.

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AFingerofFudge · 24/01/2013 22:58

How are you getting on now?? Any news on the blood tests?

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ColouringInQueen · 28/01/2013 17:31

Thanks AFingerofFudge. I'm back to docs on Wed - it took me while to drag myself to the blood clinic... I'm not feeling quite as exhausted but am struggling to enjoy anything, get motivated and stay patient with DCs. Still struggling with the over-analysing! My DH says he thinks I'm depressed, tho I am mostly getting up in the mornings, tho really struggling to interact with friends as don't really feel I have much to offer a conversation at the mo. I have an assessment booked with a counsellor tomorrow so will see how that goes...

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