Not quite PPD, but kind of is

[happilyloved]

I have struggled with depression most of my adolescence and adult life - until I got pregnant with DD1. For the last 5 years I have been pregnant and/or breastfeeding and have been doing great. I was on Effexor when I got pregnant with DD1 and went off it during the pregnancy. I intended to go back on it after she was born, but never needed it. Anyway, DD2 is now 2 years old and I feel myself slipping. I really don't want to go back on the meds, but I also don't want to live this way anymore. I'm sure part of it is that my grandfather died last month and that has hit me hard, but I'm really struggling. I am not weepy or anything, I just have no motivation and can't get myself moving. I could sleep and play on the computer all day long. I don't want to go anywhere or do anything. My kids miss having fun and so does my hubby. I really don't want to go back on the meds, but I'm not sure what else to do. I know that exercise and diet changes would help, but right now I can't even handle that. :

Ann

[tanyalynn]

I think drugs can have a place when dealing with depression. If you feel so bad you can't find the energy to make the other changes you think would help (I've been there), then I'd start with the drugs and then, once you feel better, figure out what other changes you could make that would a) get you off the, and b) keep you off them (if you want to be off them, of course, which I'm gathering you do). The responsibilities of parenthood are significant, and so there's less extra energy to make the effort to make changes. I don't think you should feel like a failure to go back on the drugs now, even though you've been off them so long.