When do you know it is time to ask for help?

[momto3]

I am in a bad place. I think my migraine meds are aggravating my depression. I am feeling embarrassed that I cannot handle this myself.

[no name no slogan]

1. When you have to ask "is it time to ask for help"

Then it's time to ask for help. Go see your doctor as soon as you can. If the meds are aggravating the depression, chances are you can go on something else.

Good luck.

[elleng]

2. When you ask the question you've asked

is the time to ask for help, mom. Embarrased or not, you're smart enough to know there's a problem requiring help.

Good Luck

:hi:

[Forkboy]

3. Right now.

And don't be embarrassed. :hug:

[momto3]

4. Thanks everyone.

Of course, I know this. I have made an appointment for tomorrow - which is the soonest they can see me. I feel so invisible sometimes. I guess that is why I posted this today. I have never posted in this forum before.

[Forkboy]

5. Will you be ok until tomorrow?

If you're not sure just hang out in here all day. :)

[momto3]

7. I think I will be okay.

I have made it this far. Thank you. Your kindness has really helped.

[mopinko]

6. between the mom and the karate, you

better take good care of your mental health!!

seriously, tho, depression is nothing to be embarrassed about. especially if it is a side effect of a medication. geez.
being a mom is a very grueling occupation. it gets to most of us to one degree or another? how old are your kids? i have 5 and the baby is 15. thank gawd she is a super great kid.

let us know how it goes with the doc.

[momto3]

8. It is my kids I worry about the most.

I hate for them to see me like this. I want to be strong. Especially for my 9 year old daughter who is so much like me. I do not want her to face these same problems and insecurities as she gets older.
Making an appointment with the doctor means admitting I am not strong enough to handle this on my own. I am afraid of admitting a weakness in front of them. Silly, I know.

I admire you for raising 5 kids. We often joke that we finally figured out what was "causing" all of these kids once we became out numbered.

Thank you for your kind words.

[Forkboy]

9. You may be able to turn it to your advantage.

First, let me say that every single human being walking this planet is afraid to admit weaknesses to pretty much anyone, so it's not silly, it's natural.

Now, how this may work for you...I know from first hand experience as a kid that I knew way more than my parents thought I did about what was going on before and after they got divorced (I was 8). I may not have been able to place it in mature context, but at a gut level you just know something is wrong, no matter how hard a parent tries to hide it. In my case, no one came forward and put what my father was going through (bipolar,paranoid/schizophrenic) or what my mother had gone though as a child (abuse, a sister who was kidnapped, raped, and murdered) into any mature context for me. I was pretty much left to just guess what the hell happened to my parents and why did suddenly seem insane after the divorce. My father was getting worse and worse, and my mother drank and had major issues with men (and I was the only one around all those nights). Now that I know what she went through I understand why she had those issues, and I was never more proud of her than when she went and got therapy (by this time I was in my mid 20's). I wish I had known more about both my parents situations a lot earlier than I did.

So, if you feel your children are mature enough I would try to explain as much as you can in the most mature way you can, and help them try to understand what you're going through. It's a tough line to walk because you want them to understand, but its hard to go into details (and kids will ask), and you have to balance not talking down to them, but still realizing that their children, but if you can communicate to them it'll help them and you, and instead of seeing you as weak they'll see you as someone strong enough to tackle a serious problem.

Of course, I have to admit that I have no children myself, so I won't be offended if you just laugh at this. :D

[elleng]

11. Oh F'boy, you are wonderful!

:hug:

[mopinko]

10. it does no service to children to hold out an untenable example. be human.

i know how you feel. but what good does it do, especially for you daughter, to think that a mom has to be a marble statue?