My depression

Many people suffer from depression.  I think my depression has gotten harder for me as a mom.  My anxiety is worse, after all pieces of my heart are out walking around and I cannot protect them from everything.  Mom guilt is so real and overwhelming at times.  For me my depression is like this:  when things are fine I will describe it as walking down a sunny path.  It is warm, comfortable,  and welcoming.

Then why would I want to leave this path?  Good question!  I don't want to, but I can't help it.  You must understand it is never intentional.  It starts small with a negative thought.  Just one thought maybe I didn't do something that I feel I should have.  This is a big one for me.  This one negative thought is a step off the path.  But the reality is negative thoughts always come in pairs.

Each negative thought leads to another.  I call this falling down the rabbit hole.  You feel it, but you are powerless to stop it.  The voices in your head call on all your deepest fears and push you further into darkness.  You've now fallen so far you can no longer see the warm path you started on.

Life gets really tough at this point.  It is hard to function in darkness.  Here life becomes a double edged sword.  You try to balance it.  Depression is a relentless demon thou.  The negative thoughts weigh you down.  You become tired.  Each day is harder and harder to complete the simplest of tasks.  So things get forgotten or put on hold.  Then the guilt kicks in for forgetting and procrastinating.

"You forgot your son's glasses this morning."  "You forgot your child's medication."  "You must be the worst mother in the world!"  The hits just keep coming.  Each another step into darkness and despair.

Eventually you find yourself on the edge of a cliff.  The darkness, despair, loneliness, and pain of depression call for you to do the unthinkable.  Your frozen here.  You don't want the pain anymore.  You don't want to suffer and you can't see your way back to the light.

The demons inside have lead you to a place that no one should go.  Those who have not been there do not understand.  They can not.

The bright side is you don't have to stay there.  I don't know why we (moms) are always so hard on ourselves. I often find myself telling people "oh I'm just a mom!"  That right there is part of the problem.  There is no "just a mom"!  We don't give ourselves credit where it is due! But we sure beat ourselves up when things don't go right! 

While I don't have all the answers and I know I will never stop setting unrealistic expectations for myself I do have a little advice.  We all know we need time for ourselves.  We know that self-care is important.  But when your in a dark place even basic tasks are hard.  You muster enough of yourself to take care of your children and there isn't anything left for you.  It is hard I know and your not alone.

My advice is do one thing!  Just one thing.  No matter what it is.  Take a shower.  Go for a walk.  Clean your room. Just one thing.  Do that thing and feel good about it.  Allow yourself that.

If things get to bad then seek help.  There is nothing wrong with getting help.  Depression and anxiety are real and nothing to be ashamed of. 

Remember tomorrow is a new day! 

I am alice

I look just like you.  On the outside everything appears to be just fine.  I laugh.  I smile.   No one would ever know the secrets that I hide.  I can't let anyone in.  I can't place that burden on you.   So, I carry on.  I laugh.  I smile.  I joke.  I make a quick trip to the bathroom to hide the tears; that some how are escaping.  I hate that I am not happy.  This makes it so much worse.  Why can't I just laugh and smile without this horrible curse.  I cry for a bit then wipe the tears away.   I can't let you see me cry.  I won't.

I don't think you would understand.  How can someone like me be so sad.  Honestly, I don't even know.  I hate myself for feeling this way.  I wonder when will I be enough.  When will enough be enough.  I wish this darkness would just go away.  I want to really laugh and smile at you today.

I look just like you.  I laugh.  I smile.  The darkness I hide deep down inside haunts my every moment.  I keep it hidden.  I wait for better days.  I feel everything and nothing.  I can't let you in.  I wipe away the tears.  No one will ever know the secrets that I hide.

I am Alice and I am falling down down the rabbit hole into the abyss. 

In to Darkness

It starts out slow and completely takes over.  First it is small and barely noticeable.  You feel the tightness, the gentle little squeeze around your chest.  It doesn't go away.  Your heart is in invisible hands and they are unforgiving.  The pain is bearable so you go on.  Then it hits the pit of your stomach.  Slight nausea at first. But the pain is real.  Your stomach takes over it aches and throbs.  Now you don't know which is worse the chest pain or your stomach.  You just want to throw up.  It doesn't let up.  You want to cry.  You don't know what to do.  How did you get here.  How did you become this fragile little mess.   The tears start to flow as you think, "how can I possibly go on?"  Your thoughts race to what could be, what should be.  You just don't want to think.   You hate yourself for feeling this way.   Now you just want the pain to end.  It's all so real and you don't know what to do.  Again you think "how can I possibly go on?"

Suddenly you stop.  You wipe those tears from your eyes.  You must go on and you know it.  You find your strength and muster up your courage.  Your eyes burn from the sting of your tears.   Your chest still feels the tight squeeze.  Your stomach is still tied up in knots.  You feel like you might vomit, but you know you will not.   There are things to do and you know what must be done.  You found your strength and you go on.  You carry this burden this horrible pain.  You hide it with a smile and fake that everything is fine.  You do your best to suffer silently.  It shows through thou in little glimpses.  Lucky for you most people don't notice.  You're always on the verge of tears.  You bite your lip, and hold it in. 

Your sadness comes out in anger and frustration.  You hurt those you love and that makes it so much harder.  You push them away when you need them most.  But you know this pain.  It is familiar because it has been here before.  This pain is unbearable.  You choose to suffer alone.   But you are not alone.   I know your fears and I feel your pain.  I want you to know it is alright.  Hold on to something and hold it tight; because tomorrow is another day.