Parenting While Depressed

[Anonymous]

You all are amazing and have provided me with some great ideas. I will be putting these tools to work.

[Anonymous]

Are you in the DMV area? The Women’s Center in Vienna really saved my life, with therapy with a $10 copay when I was unemployed. Try them if you can.

I am a parent living through mental illness as well, and I had a mentally ill Mom. It helps a lot to channel Little Me and think of what my child would need. It also makes me feel very guilty that I sometimes repeat negative things my mother did (not verbally lashing out, but sometimes retreating into solitude and food rather than fixing what is wrong in our house.)

It would not be a moral failing if fighting cancer caused you to neglect your child. Your illness is not your fault. However, the trauma your daughter suffered is real. You are not a bad person to have suffered terrible symptoms from a brain illness.

Work on your own oxygen mask. As much as you van, devote time to finding a therapist and other supports for yourself. Once you have those in place, work on the same for your daughter.

Rooting for you.