What should I do

[Kay0201]

Hi
Well I guess you can say my depression started during my pregnancy when I was 18 I am now 25. I had gotten pregnant a few months after graduating high school. First couple months was fine I had gained a little weight then after that I started gaining a lot of weight went from 130 to 204lbs when my daughter was born. After she was born my depression got worse I got to the point to where i slept all the time and still do, every time my daughter would sleep I was sleeping to and she would sleep all day and night would only wake up to eat or get changed. Now I go to bed around 9 and get up at 7 (have a hard time getting up) to get my daughter off to school and come home and go back to bed and some times sleep until my daughter gets home form school. I would get to the point where i don't care what I look like any more I used to put on make up before I would leave the house and now I could care less also I get to the point to where i do not want to take a bath I have went a week without taking a bath, then finally I will get a bath and it will be a few days before I will get another bath, gross, huh? I will even get to the point where i don't even brush my teeth and that is not like me. I was put on some kind of anti depressent which did not help then put on lexipro did not help so they tried effexor which did not really help now I do not know what else to do or what could be wrong with me. If anyone has any advice or could help me in any way please comment me!

[Kay0201]

Thanks for the advice I have been on 3 different types one I don't know the name, lexapro and effexor but they don't seem to help. I need to get with my doc. and see if there they can put me on something different.

[starr28]

Hi,

I have suffered from depression my whole life but it only got really
bad after I had my daughter.  My pdoc says changes in your body
during pregnancy can enhance the depressive symptons.  I am
now on prozac and doing great.  

Best wishes to you,
starr28

[Kay0201]

Thanks for the advice, but I was some what depressed before the pregnancy and the weight gain, I just hid it. I do have make up and I do put it on at times just not like i used to. I used to would not even go to the store with out taking a shower and putting on make up, now i could care less. There are a lot of other issues with my depression other than what I had mentioned. In 2005 I had to come out of work for back problems and ended up having my first back surgery (I have had 2 more back surgeries since then), then found out I have seizures, and a sleep disorder (where I can't get enough sleep).  Since I was not able to work and my husband was the only one working it got very hard on us then he ended up getting laid off from his job and then and it took him a year to get a job so we ended up losing everything and had to move in with my dad. It is very depressing being an adult and having a family and having to live with your parents, because I am not able to work anymore and now we have to start all over in life getting vehicles furniture and a place to live when we are financially stable to do so. Thanks for you concern and advice

[Kande]

Hi Kay, Well lets just roll up our sleeves and see what we can figure out. So you were not depressed before pregnancy. And you have seen a doctor to make sure there has been no chemical change? I take it that you have been check out pretty well by a doctor, since you have tried medicine for depression. The medicine does not work? Well then I think maybe you can slowly work yourself out of this. It sounds like you just gradually have given up, or lost interest in things. Little by little it sounds like the depression has consumed you and your life. The first clue I got is that maybe your weight bothers you. I say that because that is what you mentioned first. Then it sounds like everything else has followed. If I'am right you can slowly come back. You wouldn't have to diet either. If the weight bothers you learn to accept it. That is unless you want to diet, then go for it. What I feel is maybe you pressure yourself too much thats why if it is weight I would rather you come to terms with it. Don't make it the main focus. That may be why you quit wearing make-up, don't care about your clothes, and finally hygiene. If again I'am right, I want you starting tomorrow to stay up longer, and take care of the hygiene area. The next day I won't you to pick out your favorite outfit. It can be because it is comfortable. Keep doing this everyday for a week. See how you feel, most important see how much your little girl likes it. I want you to gradually go out and shop for a little bit of make-up, could be nail polish. Start small. I think as you do this everything will start to come back. It maybe slow, but steady counts. The idea is to gradually gain back what you have slowly lost. It would be worth a try. I know you will need something to motivate you...your little girl? Maybe you both can paint your nails together, or she can paint yours and then you do hers. Maybe get your ears pierced together, then by some pretty earrings. Have fun planning things together. She will look forward to after school adventures with mom. Just an idea. Let me know if I can help.