Medication does not solve the problem. It levels out your brain chemistry so you can then work on the underlying issues. If you feel you have already told your story enough times to enough people then you may not need therapy, although a strong support system would be helpful. Do you have any family members you are close to? Are there any clubs or organizations nearby you you can join? I bet you can find a meet up online for single moms and other interests.

Thank you

Well, you're absolutely right, meds won't solve your problems and neither will a therapist. That's up to you. Medication is meant to give you a boost to be able to actively work on yourself and working through your issues alongside talk therapy.

Medication can improve your mood. So you can find joy again. And have the energy
to work on problems.

Meds aren't a magic bullet. They may alleviate the symptoms of depression so that you can actually go outside, go to therapy, and work on your issues. If you're so depressed that you're just hanging on by a thread, you can't really "solve the problem and find happiness." Medications *may* make it easier to actively explore your past, challenge your thought/behavior patterns, and implement lifestyle changes that help your depression.

I'm curious as to what makes you uncomfortable when you see therapists, because some of the discomfort may be due to your depression. If you are truly uncomfortable with a therapist, there are peer counseling groups and support groups out there that meet in person. You could also look for events or clubs with single parents.

I'm very sorry that you are feeling this way. I too, was once depressed but didn't want to take medication. The biggest thing to work on is finding out the root cause of your depression. For me, I was not happy with myself or the path I was taking. Once I realized that, I started making changes. Like what the person said above, journaling is a great form of self-care. I started to write in a journal every day, talking about what was bothering me, what i want to change, what i am grateful for, and at the end of every page i will compliment myself. This helped me greatly. The more i wrote it out on paper, the more the negative thoughts diminished from my mind. The point of complimenting yourself at the end of every page is to finalize your thoughts with something positive. I suggest trying this out! Hope you start to feel better.

Appropriate medication can be a godsend. I have some dear friends whose 18 year old son committed suicide -- they were against using meds and now, have regrets.