I am currently on anti-depressants, this time last year my son's school pushed me pretty much to the point of a nervous break down. I too have had lots of bad stuff happening and it seems like it is so very hard to deal with anything anymore. I wake up with energy and by 9am I am completely wiped out. You should talk to your Dr because anti depressants can work, no they sure don't take away all your problems (I wish they did) but they can help you with how you are feeling. If it is a long process for you to see a Dr. etc you might want to try the herbal route, there are things out there that can help too. If you have a health food store near by you can ask, do some checking online as well. I am trying to think of the one that I wanted to try but I am drawing a blank right now.

I too have had a rough year. My daughter was finally diagnosed with ADD inattentive along with a mood disorder recently and it was a long stressful process to get her diagnosed and in therapy. We have had other health issues in the family as well. I felt like I was ready for a mental breakdown. There were days I felt HORRIBLE and cried at the drop of a hat. I also had postpartum depression after my twins were born in 1999. The postpartum was chemically/hormonally based and this time it seemed more due to life stresses but both times I went on Zoloft and was helped tremendously. It can be a process finding what works for you. My insurance co can be a pain for mental health issues but I got the prescription from my ob the first time and this time my primary care dr prescribed it. I was already seeing a therapist for my daughters issues though. Sorry, this is so long but I totally get where you are coming from- I have only recently climbed out of that hole. Meds don't work for everyone but for me they have helped. Good Luck!

Hi there,
I am truly sorry for all that you have had to endure in the past year. I just started seeing a psychologist a few weeks ago because even though I always try to look at the positive, it got to the point that I felt I was just gonna spiral into isolation and just not face anything anymore. I thank God that my husband was the one encouraging me to get help, not because he thought I was doing something wrong, but because he could see how much I was struggling even to get out of bed. I started taking ELAVIL last Thursday for my migraines, which is what I was taking a while back for the same, but I found out it is also an anti-depressant. I am not sure if it is the only thing helping, but the combination of therapy, a lot of prayer, and the meds and migraines diminishing, but tonight I went out for a walk around the block with my husband. Up until last fall when my husband came back from overseas I was walking an hour and a half to 2 hrs every night. Might not seem like abig deal to most, but i walked tonight. I feel so much relief in not letting all my overwhelming stress keep me down. I am not sure if this makes sense, but my point is I understand how you are feeling. It seems like if just one more thing happens I won't be able to overcome it. These days my daughter's ADHD has been the least of my problems, and it is a scary thought for me. I am sorry about your insurance situation, but it is worth the wait if the dr can help you. I pray all the time and I strongly believe "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me", but I also know God has created doctors and medicines that help us along the way. My heart goes out to you and I really hope you are able to get the help you need so that yo ucan take care of yourself and you family. God bless.

Thank you so much for your kind comments and useful insights. I think I'm going to look into medical help just as soon as I get through this busy time at work and busy month of appts. for our son.

Decided I can't go on feeling this blue so I called Kaiser and apparently they've changed the process. They got me in after work today! Not all of the hoops we had to jump through with our son's psychiatric help. Maybe it's easier on the adult end of things.

Anyway, I'm hoping to feel better soon. Thanks, everyone, for the kind words.

Glad for you CAWriter. I am in the beginning of this therapy and I am just so overwhelmed. I am praying God gives me the strength so that I don't get stuck in the depression of everything around me. My daughters are being affected now because I started to withdraw. It is amazing how I watch my kids like a hawk to notice any change in them and I completely ignored my own issues. God bless and I trully hope you feel better soon.

I dont know how a person dosent feel the the pressure of a child with adhd you are constently walking on egg shells whith the fear of the phone rining and it being the school calling to pick up your child agin you have to leave work and at some point work is not going to be understanding. everybody keeps telling me that jus tell your son to knock it off , if it was that easy dont they think I would have already done that .. And dont get me started on the schools i hate everything about them your kid is such the foucous that the other kids get to tount your kid and basicaly get away with murder and it still his fault . A friend at work has a daoughter at work with add and she was missing some work assinments and she she asked for them the tacher aked her for a nickle and you believe how insensitive . The school staff bigest problem. I belive the meds calm our children down but the put them in really bad mood and can no longer deal with simple stressess. My hart goes out to you I feel you pain.

I can totally relate to what you are going through! Some days I literally feel like I can't get out of bed. I do, because I have to but it's a struggle each and every morning. I'm tired all the time. I have no interest in anything anymore. Getting through a day without any drama and arguments with my 8yr old is my only goal.
I am taking Paxil cr right now. I have struggled with depression for most of my life but lately it's been worse then ever.
We just put my son on Focalin. So far I haven't noticed much of a difference. He actually seems more hyper right after he takes the meds. Just GETTING him to take it is a struggle!
I love him more than life itself, he's funny & loveable & smart. I just wish we could get his ADHD in check!
Your not alone! Get some help. You sound like you need it right now!

I'm very sorry you've had so much bad news. I'm a bipolar so I have to take antidepressants. You should talk to you dr. about this. antidepressants can't make you problems go away but they can help you function better.

I too am on Elival. It has saved my life. I think it is better than some of the new drugs for depression. It starts to work right away. I have had to take anti-depressants for years. My life has been so stressful. It will help but it is no miracle pill. I would not be able to sleep if it weren't for Elival. It has been a stressful day.

I definitely think the Elival will help. I know what you all are feeling , overwhelmed and exsaperated but I feel with counseling and the medicines now to help the child, things can be different. This support group is so helpful. It is somewhere the mother's understand exactly what you are saying when you describe something. It was so helpful to me when I READ THAT MOTHERS GET OVERWHELMED EVEN KNOWING WHAT IS WRONG. NOW I KNOW WHAT IT IS, I FEEL TERRIBLE FOR HER. AND JUST AS TERRIBLE FOR ME. SHE'S A MESS. All I can think is that it is a sad story. She hates me. All we've ever done is fight . Her Dad said we should give up now. I know he is right. She will be 40 years old in November. I really think it is better this way.

After a bit of a runaround (not suicidal, so psychiatry sent me back to primary care), I got prescribed Celexa today. It's the same med our son takes for OCD and depression, so I feel comfortable with the choice. I also attend a depression class tonight (how much fun can that be?).

Anyway, on the path now to hopefully being able to cope better. Best of luck to everyone else going through this!

i am so glad you were able to get help as fast as you did. I am going through the most painful part of my therapy, but I know with God's help and the doctors, I will learn how to move forward in a lot of ways. You are not alone and I pray you feel better soon.

Thanks! I was really surprised Kaiser took this so seriously and got me in so quickly. It's a whole lot slower on the child psychiatry side. You have to wait months there for an appt. yet they have same-day appts. for adults. I don't quite get that. But I'm grateful so I'm not complaining. :)

I just wanted to urge any parent here fighting depression to get help. After only a couple weeks now on Celexa, I'm feeling SO much better! I'm still stressed about our son's problems, but I feel sharp enough to deal with it all. I feel like the real me is back. Definitely get help if you feel like you could be fighting depression.

AMen CAWritermom,
Speaking for myself, I gave all my time, attention and love to take care of my daughter and got lost along the way myself. I agree with you, we need to have support and be healthy ourselves so that we can deal with the everyday struggles of our children. So glad you are doing better. Good and bad days, but not giving up!