Depression Help for Stay-at-Home Moms

How to Stop Feeling Depressed for Dissatisfied and Isolated Mothers

Some stay-at-home moms struggle with depressed feelings and emptiness. Here are specific ways to cope with problems full-time home-based mothers may face.

Here’s what one stay-at-home mom says: “I have no satisfaction that is directly for me – everything is for [my child], my husband, and the household. I have nothing to show for it otherwise, no paycheck, no recognition. My friends all work and being a stay-at-home mom is somewhat antiquated. It puts me in an old-fashioned type of category, where I'm out of touch with the modern world. It’s very isolating.”

Some stay-at-home moms miss the external rewards and accomplishments that a career can bring. Some mothers struggle with the daily routine and feeling “left out” of the modern world. And still other stay-at-home moms feel that they sacrificed everything for their children, only to be left when the kids go off to college or begin their lives away from home.

Signs of Depression in Stay-at-Home Mothers

Weight gain or loss, lack of energy, no motivation, lost sleep, no enjoyment of life, inability to make decisions, and difficulty concentrating are a few signs of depression:

Behavior can be physical signs of depression:

• Withdrawal from people, work, pleasures, activities is one of the first signs of depression
• Spurts of restlessness can be signs of depression
• Sighing, crying, moaning
• Difficulty getting out of bed is a sign of depression
• Lower activity and energy levels
• Lack of motivation – it's a physical sign of depression when everything feels like an effort

Feelings can be physical signs of depression:

• Sadness, misery are "obvious" signs of depression
• Overwhelmed by everyday tasks (eg, cooking dinner)
• Numbness or apathy can be a sign of depression
• Anxiety, tension, irritability
• Helplessness is a sign of depression
• Low confidence and poor self-esteem are often signs of depression
• Disappointment, discouragement, hopelessness
• Feelings of unattractiveness or ugliness can be signs of depression
• Loss of pleasure and enjoyment are signs of depression

Thinking patterns can be physical signs of depression:

• Inability to make decisions
• Lack of concentration or focus can be a sign of depression
• Loss of interest in activities, people, and life
• Self-criticism, self-blame, self-loathing is often a signs of depression
• Pessimism can be a sign of depression
• Preoccupation with problems and failures can be a sign of depressed feelings
• Thoughts of self-harm or suicide can be signs of depression

Body signals can be physical signs of depression:

• Fatigue, low energy, exhaustion are often signs of depression
• Poor sleeping patterns – waking early, not sleeping even when exhausted
• Loss of appetite or, occasionally, increased appetite can be a physical sign of depression
• Loss of sexual interest can be a sign of depression

A lack of respect from society (or certain segments of society), dissatisfaction with the daily routine, and the feelings of isolation and emptiness can also lead to depression for some stay-at-home moms.


Help for a Stay-at-Home Mom's Depressed Feelings

One of the first steps to overcoming depression for stay-at-home moms is to focus on the cause.

It's best to be as specific as possible when exploring the cause of a stay-at-home mom's depressed feelings: is it the daily routine, lack of appreciation, societal stigma, comments from family or friends, or lack of challenge?

Different mothers struggle with different things when raising kids full-time – and, of course, some moms absolutely love it!

Specific Ways to Stop Feeling Depressed

There are several ways that a stay-at-home mom can combat depression.

1. Build a support system. Confiding in friends, family, peers, or anyone who understands (or at least sympathizes with) depression can help alleviate feelings of isolation, loneliness, and emptiness.
2. Find activities that energize and feed the spirit. Overcoming depression can involve simple (yet fulfilling!) activities, such as attending a dance class, brainstorming ways to turn a hobby into a home-based business, or taking an hour or two a week at a favorite coffee shop to read a good book or write in a journal. Some stay-at-home moms neglect themselves – they don't take time out to do what they love.
3. Make treating depression a priority. Most of the ways to get help for depression involve time and energy – which some stay-at-home moms don’t have enough of! Or, they may feel guilty for hiring childcare “just” to take time for themselves. But, overcoming feelings of isolation and emptiness has to involve making room in life for certain priorities…and mental and emotional health is a top priority.
4. Remember that overcoming depression takes time. Feeling better doesn’t happen overnight! It takes time to untangle the possible causes of depressed feelings, rearrange daily routines, and experiment with different solutions.

If the feelings of emptiness, isolation, sadness, exhaustion, or depression are serious — affecting day to day functioning — call a family doctor, counselor, or depression help line today. Don’t wait until major depression hits before getting help!



Sources and Additional Information:

http://psychology.suite101.com/article.cfm/depression_help_for_stay_at_home_moms
http://psychology.suite101.com/article.cfm/signs_of_depression