Posted by WorryGirl on October 20, 2002, at 22:48:02
In reply to Re: What did people do before antidepressants?, posted by Gracie2 on October 20, 2002, at 21:42:30
Gracie, I agree with you. I think back over what were actually the hardest times of my life and I was able to get through them because I had to. I was being abused emotionally and physically, but I was also working non-stop, and was good at what I did. I took pride in it, which everyone saw, and I was respected for it. My work was my haven and no one would have guessed the hell that I was going through at home.
Now several years later, as a stay-at-home mom married to a wonderful man (when he's at home), my emotions are more unstable. This floored me at first because I thought that this was the dream life. Maybe it's because I have more time on my hands to reflect on the past. Believe me, I'm busy, as anyone who's a mother can attest to, but it's often the mindless, repetitive, monotonous kind of busy, and not very physical. In the old days, moms were churning butter by hand, doing laundry the hard way, and even working in the fields as they watched their children (or their older children helped watch the younger ones). Maybe that was healthier!
And they did have an extended family network to depend on, as well.Socially, most people in my neighborhood are either working during the day or locked up in their houses like me. On the rare occasion I have a conversation with a neighbor it never really goes beyond hello. I remember when we first moved into our neighborhood and I baked cookies for a few of our neighbors during Christmastime. Only one of them said thank you and the others never mentioned it the few times we saw them after that. Unfortunately, we don't live close to either one of our families.
I am trying to connect with other stay-at-home mothers. Although it's changing, many people don't view stay at home mothers with as much respect as those who work, because they don't see them as really using their minds (the stereotypical woman sitting on the couch eating bon bons and watching soap operas).
I have to constantly find ways to stimulate myself mentally while watching my 1 and 3 year olds. It's easy to get in a rut and get depressed/anxious. Sometimes it's so hard to leave the house. It is during these times that my dark feelings take over. Next time it happens, I will just DO something!Thanks for your words.
poster:WorryGirl
thread:124428
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021019/msgs/124459.html