It Isn’t a Weakness to Admit One Needs Help

During most of my adult life, I have suffered with depression. At first it came on after my mother was diagnosed with cancer. But, therapy helped with that and she seemed to be getting better with treatment.

Then ... my first marriage failed. Oh, how valuable it was to seek out therapy again, to talk to people who didn't placate me but listened to me and was that shoulder I needed. I slowly got better and was fine for a while, until my mother died, after I suffered a miscarriage a few months that prior and was currently 17 weeks pregnant.

My current husband and my best friend helped keep me together as I was petrified to do anything to jeopardize my pregnancy. A few months later I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy who was perfectly healthy. At first, I was OK. Then the postpartum depression sunk in. Oh, it felt like an elephant on my chest. How could I be suffering when this little boy should make me happy? I was scared to admit I needed help, so I didn't.

I struggled, but made it through, some how. God, my husband, my best friends ... Surprise! A couple years later, I'm pregnant again. By this point my boy was thriving in preschool and my husband and I had a very close relationship. And I felt elated! I had a beautiful baby girl and I was all smiles and giggles. But this time I was evaluated for PPD, and was IMMEDIATELY placed on Zoloft. What. A. DIFFERENCE!

I realized that depression, anxiety, etc., is nothing to be ashamed of. I was a better mom, daughter, wife, friend. That baby girl is almost a year old. I'm off my meds, but I am aware that I may need them again, or therapy, or both. And that is totally OK. It isn't a weakness to admit one needs help. It is truly a sign of strength!!