Who cares for me? Why nobody understands me? Why do my kids don’t listen to me? These are some of the nagging questions that a mom feels when she suffers from Depression.
And as the popular saying goes, “When mom is unhappy, everybody is unhappy.” Therefore, it has become vital for all moms to identify the depression symptoms and get them treated as early as possible.
Today, many children have become victims of maternal depression.
As per the latest statistics –
- one out of every four women suffer from this mental illness called depression
- about 20% of the new moms develop Postpartum Depression
Mothers who suffer from depression have the following symptoms:
- lack enthusiasm
- irritable behavior
- feel lethargy
- suicidal thoughts
- low mood
- lack of energy
- disturbance in proper sleep
- difficulty in focusing on a given activity or household work
- changes in appetite and weight
Impact on Kids
We all know that when a child is in trouble, parents are depressed. But when the parents are depressed, the child is in big trouble. Below are some of the negative effects that have been observed in children whose parents, especially mom, suffer from depression.
- the likelihood of children falling in depression increases by 50% even before their adulthood
- your kids start displaying negative emotions and get frustrated quite often
- it affects social and emotional development of a child
- they become less attentive in school
- their performance in studies and other social activities tend to decrease.
- they become stubborn, uncontrollable and often refuse to parental authorities.
- they do less interaction with their mom.
- few kids have also seen to eat less food and suffer from lack of sleep.
Advice to all Moms who wanna be Supermoms
Please do seek treatment whether your depression is at normal or severe level. Talk about your problems to the doctor and get the required medication done. Besides, do give importance to social activities like meeting friends, attending functions, etc. even if you don’t feel like doing so. This will keep your mood up and will help you recover faster from depression. Get adequate sleep and practice meditation or deep breathing exercises. Helps a lot! Last but not the least; spend more quality time with your children. Understand their problems and solve them with gentle care. Your love and affection will be an antidote to their negative emotions.
Remember, the secret of a healthy family is a healthy mom.
Take care of yourself!
About The Real Supermum
I became very low in mood for 3 months after my lo was born. I did find it so much easier when my family and friends came to see me or we went out for a walk. I also found exercise helped. I went through a stage of eating and picking at bad food because I didnt have the energy to cook proper meals. I wish at the time I went to my GP and spoke to them but I was too embarrised and worried people would judge me. However I now realise it doesnt matter what others think as long as you get the help you need. x
I was in denial of having any problem at all for 3 years!
Then had a dawning realisation that I felt better, I liked me.
It is easy to look back and say oh yes, that was not quite right when I…. or I shouldn’t have continue to feel that way when…..
But I had all the excuses ready. DS had a bad start, DS was a tough baby, DH and I weren’t getting along.
Denial is as strong I think, for me, as the depression.
Still haven’t been to the doc.
I’m ok now……………….?
Totally agree with this. I’ve seen how my mums depression affects my brother and sister and they’re are in their late teens. Imagine how a toddler feels when mummy is cnstantly up and down with mood swings and other symptoms, when they don’t understand whats going on. If you read this and think you have any of the symptoms see your gp, if not for your sake for your kids. Having depression doesnt make you a bad mum. It just means you need to seek help xx
my daughter is 18 months old. there are days when I want to get up and dance for no reason. and days I just want to sit and cry. I am overweight and this does well and truely contribute to my depression. as does not getting out much and not having many friends. I went to the doctors and was perscribed some anti-depressants. Although they aren’t a cure. they really are a pick me up. and I love getting out and about even if its to the park!
I myself haven’t suffered with depression but my message to any mum who thinks they are suffering is don’t be ashamed, depression doesn’t make you look like a worse parent or person. If you feel you have depression then seek medical advice asap, as once your on the correct treatment it’ll be better for you and your family x.
I had depression before having Josh, and i’m very careful now because there are times when i still wonder if i have it, mainly when stress becomes too much. I’m always concious that my mood can change Josh’s because, when he was younger he had undiagnosed milk protien intolerance, and severe reflux.. He would scream for hours and hours a day and it was a living nightmare. I felt like a terrible parent, thought I was doing something wrong, now i realise it was nothing i was doing but how poorly he was, and I do believe the stress that I was experiencing from hearing him scream and cry all day/night was affecting his mood. I’m a lot happier now, though i have my moments of feeling a terrible parent etc, and he is such a happy baby now.
I was terrified of speaking to my doctor about how i felt but she was very understanding and said if things continued then they would look at options, for the moment they were just going to watch me.
Please if you feel depressed, don’t hide it, help is avaliable. x
i had depression from the age of 12 until 16 had many years of counsilling and my now husband to make me feel better.. i then suffered pre and post natal depression due not to be able to feel my son move in my tummy, so never bonded then after he was born.. it was my mum that noticed that this was more than “baby blues” spent a year on anti depresents then took myself off them.. i feel awful that i cant really remember anything from when my son was born up to about 7 months as i blocked it out as i felt poo all the time
the only memories i have are photos.. if u feel this is more than baby blues please get help from the doctors or midwife or health visitor.. they are there to help you… and they will help! xxx
I suffered with depression after having my LO it was mainly me thinking I wasn’t good enough to be a Mam. Thankfully I have an amazing partner who was there for me 100% and made me make the first doctors appointment. I went to councilling & week by week I felt better within myself. My advice to any Mams is that if there is any chance or thought that you maybe suffering from depression then please go to the doctors, it is NOTHING to be ashamed of & so so many Mams suffer from it!!! =]
xXxXx
I have suffered with depression since about the age of 14, but i havent always been on medication. It is so much easier to speak to a doctor when you suspect you have depression, not just for your safety but for the safety of everyone around you x x
I had depression after my 1st lo and it took me ages to admit it, i was so unhappy with everything, didnt want to do anything, the best thing i ever did was admit it to my family, my mum was a huge support, anyone who feels like they might be suffering please go to the doctors x
I have days where i feel like shit and dont want to do anything but i try to stay as positive as i can for my lg, as soon as i think me being down is becoming too much of a regular acurrance i will go straight to the doctors as i really dont want it affecting her xx
I haven’t had depression but know people who have one friend i’ve been there for. She was very denial but I went to the docs and helped her get the help she needed
xx
I suffered from depression from the age of 12. My mum has multiple mental illnesses and I looked after her from a very young age and as it was just the two of us I wad finding it extremely difficult and wasn’t having a childhood I was the parent. I won’t go into details about the dark days but I took a overdose at the age if 14 and was hospitalized for 4 months. I had lots of help after that and my life has been good since and since having my little family life is great. I still have down days but nothing like it was x
i had severe pnd with my 1st son and im so worried about it returning i can feel myself slipping my hormones are having more low days then good days so ive spoken to oh and were keeping a eye on it im petrified of it returning and im hoping i just wont have time to sit there and cry when no.2 comes along… who am i kidding? x
i agree, i wouldnt say i suffer with depression, but i do have days where im feeling lo, and that always seams to be a bad day for my sons behaviour too, but if im in a happy, ‘can be bothered’ mood, hes much better too.
Auron was only a very young baby when i suffered pnd.. but the change in him once i started my meds and got better was unbeleivable. He was much happier, smilier , just little things i hadnt noticed affected him, when they stopped he became so much easier!x
my mum suffered and yeah it did effect me