My Road to Understanding Depression

As you know I have been working on raising awareness for Depression with the lovely Mad Cow Amanda Cox of Real Mums, we’re just about to launch our campaign and while we’ve been putting it together I have been doing a lot of research and I’ll be doing a series of posts on ‘Understanding Depression’ but before I start that-

My road to Understanding Depression-


Now while I don’t suffer from Depression I am beginning to get a thorough understanding of somewhat how it would feel like and understand the thought process for NOT being out in the open.

As a successful business woman who LOVES her job and works extremely odd hours to ensure I stay on top of everything because I like to be in control of it and it’s growing SUPER quick, YAY!
Now as a Mother here’s where I get frustrated; 2 very young and extremely dependant girls whom I love dearly but some days, some weeks I just can not cope and I feel like I am losing that plot, 3 ½ years later some days I’ve just had enough. Tired of the noise, the depends, the extra 20kg on my hip every second of the day, sweeping the floor 200 times a day, repeating the same thing 200 times a day, the endless washing and ironing, having to remain calm and not raise my voice at them and it is so monotonous it makes me want to scream.

When someone reaches out do you listen?

It takes A LOT of courage for a woman to reach out, I did recently and do you know what I got-
But you’re a woman, it’s in your genetic make up, it’s what you’re born to do. Now at that point I realised (I put aside the desire to throw something at him) as much as it was ingest THAT REALLY IS THE COMMON THOUGHT PROCESS. To every joke is an element of truth.

I understand why women with PND don’t say anything and have the ability to act as if nothing is wrong.

THAT ALONG WITH-

Personally I think as a Mother/Partner/Wife we are the back bone of our family. Often if our partners see us starting to freak out or stress out then they stress out too. When they stress out WE DON’T we are calm and clear headed and help solve the problem. Leaving us with the feeling if we crumble the whole family crumbles, or does it?

ANOTHER REASON TO PRETEND IT DOESN’T EXIST, see now I’m getting the picture. But surely although now I understand WHY people pretend but isn’t it still a smoke screen, shouldn’t we be working through it with our partners and making them understand?
I’ll get my old mate Chris Owen the relationship guru onto that and she can rectify it for us.

Yes we all have so much on our plates and we do take on a lot but I don’t know about you but if I wasn’t working on my business and on this blog I would spiral into a dark place because this is what KEEPS me SANE.


This is my own personal opinion, I am in no means an expert in this field so if you do feel like you need help please go to SANE or call them on 1800 18 SANE (7263)

Disclaimer: This article was written from a personal opinion and I am NOT a qualified in psychology or counselling. If you do need assistance with emotions or mental health, to seek assistance from your GP immediately.

With a Challenge Comes a Lesson

Something I hear alot is "You never get mad, I've known you forever and never seen you mad."
Yes, it takes me alot to get mad, really mad that is.
Intentionally or unintentionally I don't know she then challenged me. I don't mind being challenged because with it is always a lesson.

What the lesson I learnt?

People who cry out for help and you're there you drop everything, they ask for help you give it, they don't it. No thank you just unorganise and reorganise then fix the problem.

What do you get?

Turn my world upside down and what do I get a big fat donut! Nothing not a thank you or even a nod. Not that I do anything just to get a thank you, I do it because I care and because I can.
Before you ask for help be sure you actually want it.

People who only do things on their terms and the world owes them, I'm sorry I just do not have the time or the patience for that.
When I can and do help people online ALL the time and they are the most nicest and grateful people ever. (Thank you for your emails, I love them)

You wanted to test me, you succeeded but when you test people you're only letting yourself down and making people put barriers up. I surround myself in people that love me for me and inspire me to be a better person.

No games no BS just friendship

Depression Checklist

Everyone feels sad or worried sometimes but if these feelings go on for more than a few weeks or they start to interfere with your life, talk to a doctor about it! Because you don't have to live like that.

If you feel sad or worried for more than a few weeks it maybe because you have depression or an anxiety disorder. A doctor can help treat this, so you feel better again.

Ask Yourself

* Feel unusually sad or worried for more than two weeks

* Lose interest in things you usually enjoy

* Feel guilty for no real reason

* Think you are worthless

* Are so worried sometimes, you feel shaky or have difficulty breathing

* Feel it wouldn’t matter if you died

* Drugs or alcohol abuse.

* Say or write things that don’t make sense


How to get help

* Make an appointment to see a doctor.

* You may want to ask for a longer appointment so you can cover everything

* Be really honest about how you feel, we always play things down but be honest

* Write some notes to take along, to help explain how you feel.

* If you are worried about someone else, encourage them to see a doctor. Offer to go with them, as a support.

Help is there FOR FREE!

Medicare rebates are available for up to 12 individual mental health services per calendar year to patients with an assessed mental disorder who are referred by:

* A GP (General Practitioner) or under a psychiatrist assessment and management plan or
* a psychiatrist or paediatrician.
* You will be referred to undergo some tests to determine whether you are Clinically Depression (biological- the way you're wired rather than psychological)

For more information

The SANE website is fantastic it explains everything in an easy to understand manner or call them on 1800 18 SANE (7263)