This is a tricky one to write and I could really do with some insight into your experiences...
I'm struggling with my mental health and I can't figure out what is to be expected and what, potentially, might be a little more serious. In a nutshell, my life is manic. Three children (17, 7 and 6) and I work more than full-time hours in our own business. Life is incredibly busy, the kids have very different needs and demands on us and our time, and as it's our business, we don't switch off from work and are often working in the evenings or at weekends, just to stay on top of everything.
For a long time now I've felt low. Not unhappy as such, but feeling flat, defeated, pressured, anxious and often, overwhelmed. My life is packed with things that should bring joy but I'm finding they're just not doing a thing. it feels like everything's in black and white instead of colour.
I finally hit a point a few weeks ago where something that would usually have made my heart sing simply didn't. Instead I was going through the motions, and it was a real alarm bell to me. I do have moments of genuinely feeling happy but they definitely seem thin on the ground at the moment.
I have an appointment with my GP tomorrow but don't really know where to start in explaining how I'm feeling - it all feels woefully self indulgent when I know I have so much. What I'm trying to work out is when are these feelings normal given how fast-paced and insanely busy life is and when is it something more that might need help? If I'm being completely honest, I don't think I've been 'right' since my youngest was born, but I've kept shrugging it off, hoping it'll get better, and I think I've reached the point of suspecting it might not get better on its own.