To ask for some chat about depression?

[DrDoMore]

My mood is so low. It has been since I had DD2 (about to turn one). I have no energy. No motivation. My confidence is rock bottom.

I think that I might be depressed but how do you know? Maybe I’m just tired and lazy and demotivated by housework and kids and work.

I am absolutely terrified that if I go to the doctor and ask for help, they will refer us to social services. Does that happen? It doesn’t affect my care of the girls at all. They are loved and want for nothing.

Sorry you're having a bad time

There's no reason why your GP would involve social services - your mood is low but you are caring well for your dc and no threat to them so don't let that put you off going and asking for help.

Hi OP.
I have a DS. About to turn one. I have been treated for PND since he was 6 weeks old. I’m under the care of the mental health team. And a single mum, and I work full time. No one has mentioned referring me to SS. As we don’t need the extra support from them, not that them giving a helping hand is a bad thing. They’re there to support families and keep them together.so even if someone does thing that SS could give you a hand, it’s not a bad thing.

Well done on seeing your struggling. I know it sounds trite, but I see how brave you’re being right now x

No yanbu. Talk to the gp. If you're nervous, write yourself a simple script, basically saying what you've said in your op.

Your gp is there to help. Please let them help you. You & your family deserve you to be feeling well x

Based on the info you’ve given, definitely no they wouidn’t involve social services - there is no need whatsoever. There are many people who have some degree of depression and can still carry on with their responsibilities. If you go to your GP they will help you, and you could be feeling much better about everything very quickly.

They will not think badly of you, they will think you are sensible to go.

I was on the crisis team’s care when I was suicidal. They informed social services but they never visited nor did they ever call. Dd was never in danger so they had no need to.

Your depression is not to the point of suicide so I promise you, you don’t need to worry about social services.

Go to the GP as see what they suggest x

I thought I was tired and lazy until I realised that I didn’t have the motivation to even enjoy the little things in life.
Quick chat with the GP and tablets for depression have worked miracles for me and now I can look back and see that I ignored the signs for months believing I was just lacking motivation.

The hardest part is talking to someone about how your feeling. There’s to much stigma and fear with mental health and a GP wouldn’t make a referral to SS because you asked for support,

I had antenatal depression and SS didn’t get involved.
Go and see your GP, show them your post, do it for your DDs as well as yourself. Good luck xx

Thank you so much. All of you.

Sarah that’s exactly how I feel. I feel like I can find joy in nothing. It’s like I can’t be bothered. I love my girls to the ends of the Earth and their needs are more than met but I still feel like I’m going through the motions. Once they’re asleep I can’t find the motivation or energy to do anything. The house is a mess, my diet is so poor. I have a large glass of wine every night to help me relax and go to sleep.

I need to change it. But I’m so scared of going to the GP

It has just crept up

I've had it a long time. Was on 10mg citalopram and beta blockers for anxiety. Ended up diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder, panic attacks and antenatal depression. Had a lot of CBT
Anyway it was all getting better then I lost my job. Didn't know what to do and the urge to self harm was so bad
I walked into the doctors and just stood at reception streaming with tears, they made me a cup of tea, got me in to the doctor within 10 minutes. She removed all my meds so I had to go to the chemist daily for them, upped my citalopram and talked to me for an hour
Now? 100x better. I will always be prone and I think I'll be on 20mg citalopram for life but I don't have panic attacks, I haven't self harmed for over a year and life is generally a lot better
Self care is really important, if I start feeling shit then I do stuff. Make nice food, go for a walk, do an exercise class, take some photos, mess with makeup, have a nap or watch a film I enjoy. And spending time alone is a massive thing for me, I need it or I get grumpy!

It is scary going to the GP, but trust me it’s made such a difference to me and how I now feel about things, it was like I got the old me back again.

It will just help speaking to someone about how you feel and if your needing the wine to relax and switch off then no is the time to see the GP

Honestly love, the GP and SS have bigger fish to fry. You’re doing you utmost in caring for them, they’re happy, loved, fed, clothed alongside everything else. They don’t whip kiddies away cos you’ve not put the washing away for a few weeks.

For what it’s worth I was supported in getting counselling, medication and in going back to work.

They don’t judge people to be bad parents if they’ve got a broken leg or a thyroid problem, same with parents who have a mental health problem x

Thank you. So much. Sincerely.

I’m going to make an appointment. I’m off on Friday so I’ll make one for then.