# Mums on Drugs: One Mother’s Struggle with Depression

- Link: https://stayathomemum.com.au/wellbeing/mind-mental-health/mums-on-drugs/
- Published: 2021-03-30T12:00:03+11:00
- Author: The Bowl

## _ – Mums on Drugs: One Mother’s 󠀁[Struggle with Depression](https://stayathomemum.com.au/my-lifestyle/what-you-can-do-to-help-someone-with-depression/)󠁿_

Now before you paint a sordid picture of me sitting amongst my children, watching
play school and “puffing with the magic dragon”, let me make things clear. I’m not
talking about the recreational kind of release, the ones that may or may not cover
your memories of younger years in a cloudy haze; I’m delving into the world of something
just as controversial amongst the parenting community. Over the counter, under the
counter, prescription and/or naturally therapeutic, it has become increasingly apparent
to me of late that one parent’s saving grace is sometimes the source of another’s
misguided judgement. ⌊Mother in distress holding her hands over her face depicting
emotional struggle with depression⌉ I have waited a long time to write about this,
merely because I wanted to give this topic the compassion and sensitivity it deserves.–
I couldn’t write it on one of my bad days, because my world is full of pessimism
and negativity when the dark scarf of [depression](https://stayathomemum.com.au/my-lifestyle/health/postnatal-depression/)
decides its accompanying my outfit for the day. I couldn’t write about it when I
was feeling better, because those days I am anxious as to my actions, almost fearing
a trigger to send me back to feeling down. But today, I am proudly medicated and
motivated to write about an issue that is so secretly rife amongst my fellow parents,
yet nobody is really open to talking about it. I have struggled with crippling depression
and [anxiety](https://stayathomemum.com.au/my-lifestyle/health/anxiety-in-adults/)
for over 10 years, and yes, I take prescription medications. Without them I am not
a good parent, wife or friend, simple as that. I have a chemical imbalance, and 
my medication corrects it. Would people be so critical if I told them I had diabetes
and needed to take insulin to manage it? Or if I had a broken bone, would they have
so much to say if I took strong painkillers? The depression epidemic is so widespread,
yet the taking of anti-depressant medications is still seen as something that is
kept hush-hush. As many things that start out taboo, it is much more socially acceptable
now, but there is still so much judgement amongst those who don’t understand the
completely hopeless nature of these mental health conditions. I was heartbroken 
last week when a friend of mine was ostracised from her group of so-called friends
when they found out she was taking an anti-depressant to help her get through a 
tough time.

> “_How could she possibly be depressed? She has everything! Her kids are healthy,
> her husband is wonderful and she has a beautiful home. What’s her problem?_“

She couldn’t tell them, because on the outside, nothing is wrong. She loves her 
family and is grateful for everything she has, but that dark cloud has chosen her,
for reasons she cannot fathom, and she’s doing the best she can to deal with it.
Chances are that half of those women who talked about her behind her back have struggled
with the same demons, and have taken, or continue to take, some form of medication
to help them cope. But they are scared to say anything, especially now, fearing 
the repercussions of an under-educated society.

> **Fact: – Women are nearly twice as likely as men to be taking [antidepressants](https://stayathomemum.com.au/my-lifestyle/the-antidepressant-that-makes-you-horny-as-hell/).**

I’m taking a massive risk, putting this all out there. Chances are that whispers
may follow me around the school yard once it “gets out” that I am a proud advocate
of taking anti depressant medication to treat and manage mental health. I am not
a bad mother because I take my “happy tablets”, I am a better mother because I recognise
that I cannot cope without them. There is a huge percentage of parents out there,
young and old, who are relying on their little bit of chemical help. Shouldn’t we
be more focused on supporting each other, rather than judging each other? Because
as Alice once said to the Mad Hatter:

> _**“I’m afraid you’re entirely bonkers. **_ _**But I’ll tell you a secret……**__**
> All the best people are”**_

### _If you feel you may be depressed, please seek medical attention or follow this link to our post on health’hotlines and suggested websites for further information and advice – 󠀁[https://stayathomemum.com.au/my-kids/babies/important-hotlines-websites/](https://stayathomemum.com.au/my-kids/babies/important-hotlines-websites/)󠁿_

**SAHM takes no responsibility for any illness, injury or death caused by misuse
of this information. – All information provided is correct at time of publication.**

[⌊Depressed mother taking medication highlighting mental health challenges faced
by mums battling dep⌉⌊Depressed mother taking medication highlighting mental health
challenges faced by mums battling dep⌉[

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s=300&d=mm&r=pg)

 The Bowl

 [See Full Bio](https://stayathomemum.com.au/author/pranav/) [  ](https://stayathomemum.com.au/author/pranav/)

## Comments

### By: Merryn

- Link: https://stayathomemum.com.au/wellbeing/mind-mental-health/mums-on-drugs/#comment-1081
- Published: 2012-10-03T22:51:30+10:00

Thank you for writing this piece. Succinct and very well said.

It’s unfortunate that society still stigmatize and label people living with mental
health challenges. Well done for putting it out there.

I choose to manage my anxiety naturally now. But I did rely on medication for twelve
months after the birth of my first child.

Namaste 🙂

### By: Natalie

- Link: https://stayathomemum.com.au/wellbeing/mind-mental-health/mums-on-drugs/#comment-2345
- Published: 2012-10-14T03:16:05+11:00

Having spent 19 years in treatment for depression and anxiety, I am now at a point
where I am fairly used to the social stigma. It is pretty awful, though, that for
such a common disease there is so much ignorance surrounding it.

To be honest, I find often my harshest critics are family – perhaps after all this
time I have finally managed to surround myself with friends who understand!

The link is to my blog wherein write about being a Mum with depression.

### By: Gaye

- Link: https://stayathomemum.com.au/wellbeing/mind-mental-health/mums-on-drugs/#comment-4339
- Published: 2012-11-10T12:43:41+11:00

Congratulations on writing honestly about depression. I have had it for years, even
before having my children, a spin off of chronic pain. Then when I had a baby and
pre-schooler at home I had a bad experience with a couple of anti-depressants and
tried to go natural, exercising, eating correctly to get the correct serotonin in
the system etc, I’d read all about it and was sure I could cope. Suddenly something
went wrong and I was over dosing on a script tablet I had in the cupboard (valium).
It was only after I had taken all the bottle I realised what I’d be doing to my 
children and husband. Got help immediately, thank goodness, Then we found a good
anti-depressant. Since then I’ve been scared to swap medication when needed, but
have had to as time has gone by and my body has adjusted to meds, my then pre-schooler
is now 19\. I just hope that this issue is talked about more and more, not just 
the depression, but the need for script drugs to control it.

### By: Stella

- Link: https://stayathomemum.com.au/wellbeing/mind-mental-health/mums-on-drugs/#comment-93848
- Published: 2014-04-26T11:53:00+10:00

I’m so happy to read about this. I am currently dealing with depression and anxiety
for about a few years. And it is very hard to talk about it to anyone fearing of
what they would think of me. I did try antidepressants and even a natural kind. 
It was a horrible experience for me when I took them so I’m trying to do it naturally
with no medication. I’ve got anxiety meds but try to only take it on a really bad
day. I’m grateful to have my husband who has gone through it during our first kid
so he is pretty understanding of it. He helps me during my bad times which is mostly
during my menstrual cycle. Exercising does help me at times. Even though its been
a few years, but it still feels like forever. Thank you so much for writing this!

### By: Stay at Home Mum

- Link: https://stayathomemum.com.au/wellbeing/mind-mental-health/mums-on-drugs/#comment-93849
- Published: 2014-04-26T12:17:00+10:00

Hi Stella,
 So glad you found our article useful. It’s good to know you’re not alone.
🙂