Trying anti-depressants for a while?

[kryztuh]

Maybe I should be posting this in PPD. Or health and healing.  But I really feel like I've been depressed for almost a year now since my marriage ended.  That's so hard to even say.  STBX left when I was 5 months pregnant with our second child.  Baby girl is now almost 4 months old and I feel like I should be feeling better about the impending divorce than I am.  I make progress and then little things have me feeling down all over again. Now STBX is planning a 5 day vacation.  With a weeks notice for me to cover his parenting time.  And I just feel awful and jealous.

Everything is still working its way through the courts and I'm waiting for the temporary child support and custody order, but that is stressful and worrisome, too.

I feel like I have no life outside of being a mom.  I'm impatient with my toddler and don't practice GD like I used to. Everything requires so much effort.  And STBX skips out on more and more of his parenting time, which was only about 20 hours a week to begin with.  Without my family to help me with childcare, I think I would have lost my mind already.  I've done counseling and have great insights into what I need to do and why I feel how I do.

I know I should just count my blessings for all that I have.  And I am thankful for the support I have, when so many other mamas don't have any. But I just can't seem to get past this.

So, has anyone tried medicating for depression, temporarily, while going through their divorce until they can get into a better place mentally?  I'm assuming time is really the only thing that is going to help.  But in the meantime, I want to feel more happy than sad and I want to be the patient, fun, caring mother that I know I am.   How long did you medicate before you decided to go off of it?  Feel free to PM me if you want.  Thanks mamas.

[rubelin]

I was on them for close to a year when my ex left, but it was mostly for being able to function with the extreme anxiety I had over suddenly being financially on my own. I experienced a numbing from them, so I wouldn't do it again, but I can't say how I would have gotten through that first year without them.

blessings, it's hard but there is so much that's great coming to you

[Super~Single~Mama]

Big big big HUGS to you!!!  Before trying medication, have you tried seeing a counselor so that you can talk to someone about how you're feeling?  Medication certainly isn't a bad thing, but being able to talk about how you feel is a necessary component of taking meds - generally, counseling in and of itself can be effective, but medication as far as I know needs to be used in conjunction with therapy as well.

You can get through this - remember that.  Also, one day, and one thing, at a time.

[hillymum]

I would go for it. If the first kind doesn't help then do try something else. I've had depression all my life and only been treated for the last 3 years. The difference in the quality of my life and that of my children is amazing. I would have lost my mind with recent events (sbx/divorce etc) if it weren't for Celexa!

[homewithtwinsmama]

Just sending big hugs! You do whatever you have to do to make it through the day.  Meds can be a temporary part of the solution. 

As far as his vacation time and covering parenting time, that is his responsibility.  He needs to PAY for a sitter who can cover that time so that you can have time to yourself to rest and to get things done for the family he left on your shoulders.  As always DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT!

[LorenaAZ]

There's nothing wrong with taking meds.  I tried Wellbutrin a few years back and it really helped me through a very rough time in my life.  I was also seeing a counselor.  The only question/worry I would have is if you are planning on breastfeeding your little one or not, since the drugs (most, not all) do end up in breast milk. 

[homewithtwinsmama]

LorenaAZ,

This is misinformation that a lot of women have.  You can certainly take antidepressants while breastfeeding.  You have to have your provider look at the half life and level of it excretes into the milk.  Most antidepressants used have a short half life and are perfectly fine to use.  Dr. Thomas Hale's website is for professionals and you doctor can go to the site and look up all the safe options for breastfeeding.  More women would seek help if they knew that Antidepressants are NOT contraindicated while breastfeeding.  

[JulianneW]

Something to check into would be your thyroid and adrenal glands you may have hypothyroid problems that are causing your depression. 

I take Armour thyroid medication and it has really made a difference.