The shame of taking Anti Depressents

Sometimes superheroes need help

I have battled with PTSD and now I am in the trenches of PND with crippling anxiety attacking from the side. Things I have been able to do for nearly 3 years suddenly floor me and keep me up at night. The nursery run, putting the boys to bed on my own, Greg coming home late or his shift changing. I have been lucky to have some amazing support from friends and family who take Elijah to help me out. However there is only so much someome can do. I was still miserable and on the verge of a breakdown. I wasn't sleeping. I would cancel plans and isolate myself rather than face the anxiety of seeing people with the boys. I couldnt even face taking them to the shops or on the bus. I made everything my fault. My failure. As much as I didn't want to admit it I knew I had to go back on my medication. Something that I had given up a long time ago. There was a sense of failure that I had to go onto meds to get through the day. To be a mother to the boys I chose to have. My relationship with anti depressents has changed with me, resentment, guilt, anger, abuse, need but finally acceptance. I should not be ashamed. There should be no stigma. What works, works. No one should judge others because they are on anti depressents. We should be open and be able to talk about them without feeling like they are our dirty little secret society has made us feel they are.

So, to begin to combat the perceptions; my name is Vicki, mum of two and I am unashamedly on anti depressents.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/sep/01/antidepressants-work-shame-people-ssri?CMP=fb_gu

#pnd #antidepressents #stigma #mentalhealth #nicumum #honestconfessions #parentlife

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