LD_91New Contributor
Second Depressive Episode
Hi all,
I am new here to chat with anyone who would like to listen, offer any advice, coping strategies or just have an ear to listen.
I am 32, going through my second depressive episode.
My first I was 23 - single, was able to move back home, go on leave from work and fully focus on my recovery. Once I recovered, I never looked back. I just pretended it never happened - the 6 months I spent in the spare room at my parents, the numerous doctor, psychologist & psychiatrist appointments & the 6 week stay at a private mental health facility.
Since then, I have a partner whom I have been with for 8 years, and a little 3 year old boy who I adore & would do anything in the world for! Looking back on last year, I had some triggers - a close friend passed away, stressed and overloaded at work with a lazy manipulative boss, my partners alcoholism (functional alcoholic), raising a little one whilst working 4 days a week. All of that combined & it all came crashing down again.
First was the panic attacks, then came the avoidance due to the panic attacks, then came the depression - more & more avoidance & depression until I was hardly functioning at all. I had no tools or resources from my first experience because I had ‘pretended it never happened’ & I guess in a way never thought it would happen again.
Recovery this time has been extremely hard, I am on sick leave from work but still have the main care giver role at home. A very energetic 3 year old who loves his Mummy & wants every minutes of our waking attention.
How do you recover & heal when all the energy you have (not much) goes into your little person?
I ended up admitting defeat after an attempted suicide when my little one was at daycare & am currently admitted to the same mental hospital I was 9 years ago. I feel so much guilt, failure, disappointment this time around.
I feel I have failed as a mother, and feel sorry for my little boy that he doesn’t have a strong resilient Mum. He’s not abandoned, he’s with my partner (who is not drinking) and if she chooses to, he is staying at one of my sisters. We FaceTime everyday & he visits regularly while I’m admitted.
Once I am back on board with my recovery journey, I need to be more self aware. It’s highly likely this is going to happen again, and I can’t let it eat me alive like it has these last two times. I need some early warning signs, some ‘triggers’ to watch for.
Thanks for listening, any advice, comments or just a hello would be welcome 🙂