Feeling really down , don't want to do anything

How are there so many of us feeling the same and posting the same but we’re still so alone in the experience of it?

Please reach out to your health care professionals. You may be suffering with prenatal depression. With my first mine started during pregnancy and I didn't get help until she was several months old. I really wish I had gotten help sooner

@Kelly I was severely depressed before got pregnant, my daughter gave me purpose in life...now at least I don't have idea about suicide...but I am still depressed, I feel so so lonely...have anxiety and very low self esteem...I feel like is just too much for me...I need physical help and rest. I think I need to go on medication

@Susan yes you are right , I see so so many posts recently....is really sad 😔

Getting medication was the best thing I have done for my family. I had ppd from my first pregnancy (covid wave 1) and my second pregnancy (covid wave 2) compounded on it. My youngest was almost 2 before I asked my dr for help, and it has been a lot better. Some days still suck, and I still yearn for the village, but most days, my depression is well managed, and I am a better mom because of it

Medication was the right choice for me as well. I suffered from a lot of pp anxiety and it helped me SO much. My kiddo is now 2 and I came off of it for 2 months or so and I just had less patience and wasn’t the mom I wanted to be so I went back on. It’s sad there is still hesitation or a stigma around because it allows me to be the mom I want to be by alleviating the anxiety/depression. I would absolutely suggest talking to someone about medication especially if you had depression before getting pregnant. Some days are still hard of course, but it’s so much easier for me to manage.

Medication and therapy were helpful for me. Also take a look at your routine, is there anyway to be more "hands off" and take a break? For example, when I'm looking after my little girl on my own, I used to get up and play with her and not even think of myself. I could see I was burning out in general, so now, I get up and make myself a cup of tea and sit in the living room while she plays. It's a small change, I'm in the room with her, I still talk to her etc but I don't get off my chair. I sit and drink my tea. It encourages her to play more independently and I'm protecting my own well being a bit while starting the day.

@Kayla before my daughter I was surviving without medication, but I was alone...it was very tough for me, and I kind of afraid of antidepressants...but now I seriously want to go on some medication which can improve my mood and make me feel more positive...just afraid of addiction

@Caitlin is a time for me to go on some antidepressants, previously I was severely depressed but was avoiding medication , I could drink quiete heavily sometimes , but now with a baby I need my head to be fresh...I just so low in mood and negative most of the time and I believe it makes me tired physicaly..I want to look different at life and see sunshine through the clouds ⛅️

Don’t be afraid of medication! It’s not addicting. Your body makes serotonin and naturally recycles it. The medication blocks the reuptake (recycling) of the serotonin so it stays in your body longer helping mood and anxiety. If you’re that depressed I would give it a try! Therapy would definitely help too, but getting a boost on the chemical side is super helpful. I think you’ll be amazed at how much it helps your mood and outlook. I think it’s great you can recognize it’s time for a change!

@Caitlin I know what you mean, I never been on antidepressants for some period of time , but I took some antidepressants in some stressful situation which lasted for one month for me , and my body was in pain from stress, this tablets worked quiet quick and I had effect same day , I felt much better mentally and was relaxed physicaly....I don't know what tablets you can get in America but in England they usually don't prescribe strong antidepressants, which I could get in the country I grew up...but I definitely want to try and see if they will work on me...as I have depression for many many years just since having my daughter I lost suicidal thoughts but still feeling low

It’s so hard being the main care provider sometimes. I have two kiddos 4, 2 and one on the way. I’ve gone through phases of pushing and pushing to do activities and outtings trying to keep things interesting and exciting for littles but some days I just can’t handle it all if I drink caffeine it messes me up a little bit can lift my energy and mood but too much and I’m a wreck, sleep is messed and my electrolyte balance gets thrown off. Some days i try to just stay home and keep things super simple, rest, watch cartoons or documentaries with the little ones and cuddle, do crafts and colour, or read books till they just want to play on their own and I can just rest on the couch and enjoy watching them play or close my eyes for a few minutes knowing I’m right there and available as soon as they need me. On those days I try to drink some electrolyte drinks, make and eat or even just order nourishing foods if I’m too exhausted to cook and then when I have a little more energy I’ll make

A simple cake or cookies or even a raw treat in the food processor that the kids can help with. Those days really help just lift the mental load of feeling like I should be doing better or doing more. I’ll do minimal cleaning of what’s necessary but I may just put it off till after the littles are down or even the next morning and get the kids involved to help. It can be so much pressure feeling like we have to do so much but our kids especially enjoy us when we are just simply with them chilling when they are little like that. It can be easy to forget to eat or put it off but especially as a mom and pregnant it’s super important to keep on top of eating enough nourishing vital minerals and vitamins especially when it comes to preserving and improving mental health! I struggled on and off throughout my childhood and adulthood with my mental health so I really had to focus on figuring that out in pregnancy and postpartum and when nursing and again when I’d get my period

It can be a lot to manage but taking care of your basic needs first and foremost will always help your mood it can take a bit of time to get on top of and making sure you’re taking a good prenatal in pregnancy too. Sometimes we need extra supplements or medication but really taking time to nourish and rest and simplify is always going to do you well on your journey to improving mental wellbeing and feeling like your mood is improving!