Currently I feel low/flat, have been feeling like this for a while now. I wouldn’t go as far as saying I am depressed but I am probably not far off. I am a stay at home Mum of a 4 year old special needs child and also studying full time. I don’t want to speak to the gp about how I am feeling as I don’t want to be put on any drugs or have to talk to someone as in the past talking just made me feel worse. I feel time poor but am going to be trying to find time to do some exercise in the hopes that that might help my mood but am looking for other things too.
6 Replies
Step up the self care/ enjoyable activities. Talking can feel really bad, but if you don't talk about it, you still carry it, just lock it up inside, talking is supposed to help by sharing the load and they can then help you get things working for you.
Perhaps go and talk to someone, but instead of going into it all, just tell the, what you've said in this post, you're feeling flat and have for a while, bordering depression, and would like some strategies. They will definitely be able to help. The strategies you learn can then be put into place and when you're feeling like this, you'll know what you need to, and have a little supply of ideas to go to.
Maybe try Maca tablets. It’s natural and I’ve just started on them to help improve my mood because I can be very moody and suffer bad PMS.
Try googling some natural ways to help feeling flat andnits just a trial and error to see what works for you.
Getting out in the fresh air definitely helps, even if it’s not a lot. I also find self-care... taking the time to paint my nails ect is good for my moods.
I will still say - go and talk to your GP. A good GP won't just chuck you on meds and make you go see a psych (although for me both of these have been invaluable and I wouldn't have got this far without). There are a number of reasons your mood might be low other than depression - hypothyroidism, hormone imbalances, vitamin deficiencies (B12 and Folate deficiencies especially) - and it would be prudent to rule these out before assuming you're "just depressed".
If you really, really don't want to see your doctor, I personally find getting some sun is helpful. Early morning sunshine, even just taking a walk for 20 mins is enough to boost my mood.
I also find carving out some "me" time is good. Again, the walk can be that time if you can be alone. If someone can be with your little one, go do something you enjoy. Meet a friend for coffee, go to the movies, get a massage or facial. Try to find some time to meditate or just switch off. The thing with being a mum (and I can imagine being a mum of a child with special needs is even more like this) it can be so hard to switch off from being needed. I find it consumes me sometimes and I have to be a little bit selfish to feel better. That means my hubby does equal amount of parenting (not that I wouldn't expect this anyway!) and takes over if I'm just exhausted. He's got so he can tell when I've hit my limit and steps in.
Hugs to you mama. You got this xxxxx
Have a read of Jordan Parkes book. Can't remember the name but it was something like "12 ways to....."
Make sure you look after your health and have solid breakfast of a high protein high fat meal. Something like bacon eggs and avocado. He talk about it more in the book
I was like that earlier this year. I started walking for half an hour 4 or 5 times a week, ear phones in listening to some good music. Sometimes my mum would come with me so she could talk and have some timeout (dad has depression), although I definitely found the days I went by myself I felt better afterwards. For me, walking near water is more calming than walking about my local neighbourhood. Unfortunately I’ve gotten out of the habit over the last couple of months and am starting to feel myself slide backwards again. I also watch what I eat, the more crap I eat the more blah I feel. Yet when I eat healthier I feel better.
Do you have any ‘me’ time, without your child, not studying, not doing household stuff? When my youngest was a baby (he has additional needs so a lot of my life focused on caring for him and hospital appointments, as well as trying to find time for my toddler, all while ending my marriage), my me time was 5-10 minutes a day while I showered and changed. As the kids got older I was able to do other stuff that was just for me and for longer periods of time.
"I don't want to be put on drugs"
That is a horrible view on what doctors do for their patients. If that's truly what your doctor does, get a new fucking doctor