Posts pertaining to depression, Major depression or to my personal struggles and triumphs.
Depression comes with a host of symptoms – lack of energy, sleeplessness, changes in diet, sense of guilt or hopelessness, etc. Many feel an overwhelming sense of despair while depressed. There is a sense of drowning in a sea of emotion. Some don’t feel anything at all. This is called emotional numbness. Numbness can encompass…
Genetic testing for medications has gained popularity in the past few years especially in the psychiatric community. Also called Pharmacogenetics, this genome testing analyzes your DNA to determine how your body will react to certain medications. I’ve had the testing done myself, so has my daughter as well as another member of my family. We’ve…
We have returned from our trip to Disney. I wish I could say that it was the truly world changing, mind-lifting event I was so hoping I would be. For all the planning I did where Ry was concerned, I forgot one other major component – me and my depression. It’s no secret that I’ve…
The depression has been bad lately. Real bad. All the old thoughts have been coming back with a vengeance. I’m not good enough. No one cares about me. I’m just a waste of space. Ry is really the only thing that has kept me going recently. Someone needs to take care of him and make…
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Major Depressive Disorder affects over 16 million people per year and is the number one cause of disability in ages 15-44. Yet there is still much stigma and misinformation out there about the…
A term that we hear quite often, especially in mental health and special needs circles is ‘self-care’ but what does it really mean and why is it so important? Self-care is the deliberate act of taking care of one’s personal physical, emotional and mental health. In short, it is taking care of ourselves! Being good…
One thing that most people don’t think about when speaking about mental illness is how that disorder affects the family as a whole. We usually talk about the person who deals with the mental illness; how they can cope, tips on self-care, what to do if such-and-such happens, etc. Rarely, do we hear about the…
Raising a child with special needs is demanding even in the best of circumstances. Add depression to the mix and things can get even more challenging. I have Major Depressive Disorder and I’m raising a son with severe autism. The depression adds a tricky layer to our family dynamic. We are not alone though. Parents…
One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do was look in the mirror and say, “I love you!” When I was in AA during my college years, my second sponsor made me stand in front of a mirror to do this. I was actually surprised when I couldn’t and began to cry. Until…
Loving a person with a mental health disorder can be hard. There always seems to be times where life turns on end and chaos takes over. Times where you aren’t sure you can handle this person and their issues. It can make being in love feel more like a roller coaster rather than a ride…
