I’m a mommy. I’m not just any mommy though; I’m a mommy to a superhero who fights robots while ensuring the families of the world are safe from those killer alligators. And, as if that isn’t hard enough—I’m also a mommy with depression and anxiety. Talk about a puttin’ in some overtime. I know I’m not the only one, I know there are many. However, I also know there are many that suffer in silence.
Many who are reluctant to seek help or even speak to friends out of some bullshit stigma that might follow them around. I know you keep you quite because the older generation doesn’t understand. After all, they just “dealt” with it back in their day—they didn’t whine and complain to someone sitting across from them in an office or take medication to make it through, Nope not them. They just coped. Well, in return for all their strength and coping you have this fucked up generation, congratulations. I know you keep quite because the younger generation is just as ignorant, thinking that the terms depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar all mean the same thing – to them if you have one you have them all. I understand why you stay quite.
There’s a lot of judgment and a lot of good, beneficial information that doesn’t get read or publicized that way it should, thus leaving you to fend for yourself. I also understand how you want to rib out your guts when your child ask you what’s wrong; why you’re mad, why you’re sad. I understand how you feel when you raise you voice over something so insignificant yet so huge for someone who may be struggling. I understand how you constantly fight aggravation with deep breaths. I understand your desire to stay in bed and not go to work, I understand your desire to leave the house a mess and not clean and I also understand your desire to ensure your kid has the best imaginable childhood ever and for that reason alone, you push through.
It’s hard being a parenting, It’s hard having a mental illness and it’s even harder trying to cover it up. Give yourself a break, you deserve it. Reach out to someone; a trusted friend or even better a physician. You’ll be glad you did. After all, you don’t necessarily have to say you did it for yourself (we all know us moms—we have issues don’t anything for ourselves) you can say you did it for your kids because honestly they’re the ones suffering right alongside of you and they mom, they deserve the best.
I’m a big mental health advocate; I’m a big believer in prescribed medication that may help. I don’t believe anyone should suffer when there are alternate choices –and there are so many alternate choices. I’m not here saying everyone who feels sad from time to time should pop a pill–I’m simply saying I’m here and I understand. Don’t give up, don’t give in just keep fighting and sooner or later you’ll be victorious.
Happy Parenting!
