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Mental health

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Do my symptoms indicate depression?

5 replies

Jethers · 26/02/2008 16:19

I have a 9 month old son, and although had mild PND in first three months was subsequently fine. However, lately I've begun to feel that I completely can't cope with my son, housework or anything else for no apparent reason which makes me start to go into a bit of a meltdown. I'm not too tired (well, not unreasonably so) and my son is not at all hard to deal with and until about a week ago I was fine with all of it but now can't bear the thought of doing anything with my son or house. Do I sound depressed? if not, any ideas about what might be wrong and how can I fix it?

OP posts:
BananaPudding · 26/02/2008 19:21

Hmm, perhaps a little depressed. Depression doesn't always have to correlate to a point or experience that makes us go downhill this way. Sometimes depression just is. I'm chronically depressed but have been off my medication for 8 months (after 5 years on!) because I couldn't afford them anymore. I find that after a relatively short period when I was very dark blue, I am coping and functioning well. Some things that I have found that help lift me up a bit:

A tidy house. Yes, I know very well that housework can be the crux of depression. Feel to down/bad/tired/etc. to do it, but then feel even worse when I look around and see the tip I'm in. I do one area until it looks nice and I would let a stranger see it. Then I stop. If I try to do everything, I get overwhelmed. It starts to spread to other areas of it's own accord. OR, tidy up one room, make it nice and comfortable, and hang out just there for a while until you feel a little more motivated to do any other space.

Get outside. Sun, clouds, rain, it doesn't matter. Fresh air and moving around make me feel much better. I am horribly fat but always feel like my head clears out when I've gotten out do do something. Anything. The other day I walked around our little town for two hours looking at things, that's it. I actually had a very nice time

But even if you don't think you really need to, give your doctor a ring and speak to them about it. They won't necessarily put you on ADs but may have better suggestions than I do.

Do you get any time at all just for yourself? If you're constantly caring for everyone but you it can certainly bring you down this way. It doesn't even have to be something big, you don't have to go out and spend money. I find it's very satisfying and rejuvinating to tell dh I am "off duty" and lock myself in for a hot bath with a book and a glass of wine.

Jethers · 27/02/2008 12:13

Thanks for the advice, particularly re tidying up. Is reassuring to know I'm not the only person out there who has trouble coping sometimes!

OP posts:
bobsyouruncle · 27/02/2008 12:28

I often have times when I feel I can't cope with simple stuff, like housework for example, stuff I can cope with easily usually. I think of myself as stressed rather than depressed I think but it's a blurred line... I know what you mean by a meltdown, that's how I'd describe my own reaction to stuff sometimes, I scare myself never mind dh and my dc! I think it helps me if I can identify what it is in particular I'm stressed about, and then try to sort that thing out.

greenflower · 23/03/2008 22:39

I have a 20 month old son and throughout his life (and before) I ocassionally go through times just like you are describing. I just cannot be arsed with anything and feel a bit destructive - letting it all go to pot almost on purpose. It doesn't ever last more than a few weeks and then I perk up again. I think you just have to ride it out and tell yourself it will pass and you will get back to normal again. With me it has to do with the weather a lot of the time. We live in a bit of a dingy house, and when it is wet and cold I just think 'what is the point in cleaning'.

Depression is totally different. I have had major depression in my early twenties, and you know about it when that happens. Interestingly, when I was depressed I was probably at my most tidy/organised.

Kaz1967 · 25/03/2008 09:05

It'a normal to feel up and down sometimes no one feels good all the time. It may even be something as simple as the weather. There are some things you can do to help support your body I posted some things on my post in this thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/2100/499095

Most important is to be good to your self

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