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Depression is Depressing 11/15/2007 9:25:25 AM
Originally Posted on June 22, 2007 Woe is me. The youthful glow pales dull. Wrinkles crease overnight. Streaks of gray coupled with the brown. Worries crowd the mind. Haunted by the thoughts of failure, as a parent—as a person. The car calls, tempting with destinations of far, without the hint of looking back. “How could he do this to me? Or to the sweet innocent miracle of God?” The dark cloud only hovers over my head. Tears gather behind the shutters of my eyes. Woe is me.
This was written by an author during a dark time, who is raising her grandchild. It’s me.
Depression is the fourth stage of The Five Stages of Grief. Depression is an overpowering feeling of hopelessness, frustration, bitterness, and self pity, sometimes caused by a loss of person or hopes, dreams and plans for the future. In my case, the loss of a son to the streets, the gain of another child to raise, the alteration of my life and the nagging question, “Can I do this again?”
U.S. census showed a 44% increase in the number of children living with grandparents or other relatives. This study from the National Survey of Families and Households evaluated whether undertaking custodial care of a grandchild is associated with higher levels of depression. The answer was yes.
Reasons:
Grandparents think of themselves as failure as parents.
They feel like they are too old or tired to do this again.
Their lives have been completely altered.
They are already overwhelmed by their life and now they are responsible for another life.
Poor Health.
Financial Burdens.
Isolation and Loneliness.
Signs of major depression: loss of pleasure, loss of appetite, excessive eating or drinking, sleep changes, and irritability.
It’s okay to have “blue” days in your new circumstance. If your sadness or overwhelming feelings of hopelessness continues. And you experience a series of bad, sad, days that goes on and on-- something may be wrong.
Lying in bed, watching reruns of Friends and Fraiser all day. Refusing phone call to indulge in some deep reading of the T.V Guide while waiting with anticipation to view the marathons of Golden Girls and Designing Women all night. Cooped up in the house, surviving on pop tarts, soup and cereal. Sounds a lot like a lazy unemployed bum. That was me. Psychiatrists call this an “adjustment reaction with depressed mood.” Improving in a few weeks or months. My mood passed in 2 weeks. I was fortunate to identify that I was sad but, I couldn’t shake it. I knew this was not normal for me. I love the outdoors and walking is my stress buster. I enjoy television like the next person, but to watch the above sit-coms all day and night, tearing up during the unlikeliest minute. I knew something was wrong.
The key to overcoming depression is to identify something is wrong. There a tons of resources online to help to identify your problem. If necessary, seek professional help. Remember it’s okay to have an “adjustment reaction with depressed mood.” Seek help if it does not pass. Identification of depression is the start of recovery.
If you’re depressed, who is going to take care of your innocent, small miracle of God?
Leir Williford
Voice of the Eyes
www.leirw.com
Posted by Leir Williford at 4:36 AM 0 comments
