YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

Hello Forum,

I'm a stay at home mom (two boys, ages 3 and 1), living with Depression and ADHD. I struggle daily with the simple tasks that seem easy to most parents of small children. I've also been wondering if my husband abuses me emotionally, or if I just take things too personally. Which thread might be best for me to start a discussion about these things?

Thank you!

Hi! Welcome!

I'd maybe go to one of the mental disorder specific forums, probably depression. But I'm relatively new (actually just haven't been here in years, and am back now.)

Shoshonna, I became a single parent (dad) to my kids when they were 2 & 3. This was a tremendous shock to my entire persona, & I did not handle with Grace. Yelling at my kids, who I have always loved deeply, became a daily thing. I could not control my anger & was disgustingly horrified by my behavior. Depression, anxiety, & suicidal thoughts were overwhelming. By a stroke of luck, my son's psychiatrist suggested Zoloft for me. It helped almost instantly.
I don't think I'll ever be one of those parents who gets their kids dressed up super nice everyday, or perfectly get them to swim lessons on time every time & cheering like a pro, but I am MUCH less hard on myself about my imperfections. This makes me happier which translates to being a better parent & a better presence in their lives. I'll never be perfect, but I am much improved. I hope you find some peace soon, it's very hard being a parent. Message me if I can help in any way

It must be so hard to raise two babies with depression and ADHD... I don't have any children, but just taking care of the house is really, really hard and I think it's hard for people to understand that.

I don't know of your situation, but I've felt like my husband doesn't understand me and hasn't given me the treatment I've wanted for years. And I would explode out of frustration often. But I'm slowly realizing that I'M the one that is acting irrational. I'm the one with the mental disorder, not him. I can't just sit and talk about what's going on and I just explode (or it seems that way to him). It's really hard when you have mental issues and are trying to take care of every day needs. I am constantly overwhelmed at chores around the house and "normal" people just can't understand it. And the frustration builds...

But emotional abuse is not to be taken lightly, so I don't want to speak for you... If you suspect that, maybe talking to a professional might help you decipher.

As for the threads, "depression" is fine. I think it has a broader audience, so you can connect with more people.