Mothers are often the cornerstone of the family. They keep it all together and keep everything running smoothly – we are the ultimate multi-taskers, the chauffeurs, the doctors, the secretaries and personal dry cleaners. We often put everyone else’s needs before our own and at times it can be at the expense of our well being.
So when does it become too much? How do we know if we’ve reached our limit?
The reality of it all is many women endure depression silently when they don’t have to because they’re too ashamed to talk about it. They suffer silently because of the stigma attached to depression, the one that makes you say to yourself, “I’m weak” or “I’ve failed”.
Additionally, many women ignore symptoms and suffer, thinking that it will just pass. They tell themselves little stories, “It’s just been a hectic week, next week will be better, if I can just get through the PTA carnival plans, I’ll be good.”
But what if you’re not? What if it lingers for weeks or months on end?
According to MedTV, Â here are some facts regarding depression:
- 1 in 4 women will experience severe depression at some point in their lifetime.
- Depression affects twice as many women as men.
- Depression is common among young women who stay home full-time with young children.
Additionally, some signs and symptoms of depression include feeling an overall sense of sadness, loss of interest in things you once enjoyed and having thoughts of hurting yourself. You may have anxiety or extreme irritability and anger.
You may have trouble sleeping, focusing on regular tasks and making everyday decisions. Everything will seem overwhelming to you when you are carrying around the weight of depression.
If you are experiencing these signs and symptoms – the statistics above show you that you are not alone, this is not a unique experience to you and you should not feel a sense of shame or loss of self-worth because of it.
What you should do however, is ask for help. Take the next step and make an appointment to talk with someone about it. This is not a scenario where your best friend or spouse can walk you through – you will need their help as well as an objective professional who can see from the outside in and help you determine the best next step.
You will be a better mother, spouse and friend in the long run if you take care of yourself. You will find more joy in life if you commit to working towards resolving this emotional weight that you’ve been carrying around on your shoulders.
Allow someone to help you carry that weight – you don’t have to do it alone.
If the above speaks to you, it’s time to take the next step.
Image: Gisela Giardino
