You are mom, dishwasher, cook, maid, taxi driver, school teacher, nurse, superhero, and you are struggling. Being a mom is hard enough, add depression to the mix and it can feel impossible. The good news is you don’t have to do this all alone. There is help for the depressed mom.
No matter where you live in Pennsylvania (York, Gettysburg, Lancaster, Philadelphia, to name a few), online counseling services are available from the comfort of your home.
In addition to online therapy, what else can a depressed mom and those who support her do?
Remember You Are Not Alone
Being depressed is a lonely space to be in. You might struggle to get out of bed and get things done. You might think the world would be better off without you, or your family could do better. Those are hard thoughts to carry with you. And, when you are a mom, your needs are often put last. Your energy is spent making sure your kids are getting everything they need, including that ride to baseball practice or piano lessons.
It might feel downright impossible that someone else is walking with you, but you are not alone. There is support out there, whether a parent, partner, friend, colleague or therapist, everyone has someone.
Make Your Needs A Priority
It is important to get help for depression and to support your mental health. Speaking with a licensed counselor through online therapy can help give you the tools you need to work through your depression, to make things manageable. Maybe you had help before having children and you let it go when you became a mom, if so, now is the time to get back to taking care of you. Your children and your family need you. Think of taking care of you as taking care of them.
Ask For Help
We all need help sometimes. And, that is ok. You don’t need to do everything on your own. If you are struggling to take care of your own mental health needs and your children’s, ask a trusted friend, parent, or partner to pick up some of the slack. You might be surprised just how far people are willing to go to take care of you, even if it makes you uncomfortable to ask. The world needs you.
Practice Self-Care
Getting adequate sleep, eating healthy, avoiding destructive coping mechanisms (like alcohol and drugs) and exercise are all important to your physical and mental health. But, in addition to your basic needs as a person, you need to do the things that make you feel good and refreshed. Maybe it is taking a hot bath, going on a hike, meeting up with friends, snuggling up with a good book, playing a musical instrument, or journaling. Practicing self-care helps to relieve stress and improve overall health.
Go Easy On Yourself
Being a mom comes with its own share of guilt and worry, but being a depressed mom comes with even more. Ease up on yourself. Forgive yourself. Depression is a mental illness that takes its toll. It is not easy. But it can be manageable. With the right tools and coping skills, you can get back to feeling your best.
Online therapy from Move Forward’s licensed counselors is available to anyone in Pennsylvania, no matter where you are. All you need is a device, a working internet connection, and a quiet space. Don’t wait until this global pandemic is over, for COVID-19 to pass. Take care of yourself now, and take care of your family.
Ready to begin counseling in Pennsylvania?
Our professionally-trained and licensed counselors have openings. Just call our office at 717-462-7003×1 and speak to our administrative assistant to get started to feeling better. Life doesn’t have to feel this way, you can feel better. We are here to help.
