Friday, March 9, 2018

Complications of Motherhood


This blog post is being written as a procrastination to writing a literary analysis on Hamlet for a literature class I am taking right now. How is it that whenever I have a lot to do, I end up doing none of the important stuff, and instead, find my way back to things like this blog? I am going to blame it on my unruly mind.

It has been a long time since I have written anything here. Motherhood, life, and depression have consumed me. I have lacked creativity, drive, and passion. That is something that I hoped I would never say. Creativity, drive, and passion have always been the core of my being, so to be without those has been like wandering in a cold, dry desert. To my recent realization though, this is quite normal for moms! How did I not know this?! Probably because people don't talk about it. Admitting that you are struggling is one of the hardest things to say.

There is a lot of talk about postpartum depression and even postpartum anxiety (I struggled with this), but there doesn't seem to be much talk of general motherhood depression. Maybe it is just a known fact? Maybe I am naive to these things? It is interesting though, because the more brave I get about mentioning my depression to people, the more I hear other moms saying the exact same thing! I had no idea that so many people I know are on medication, or in therapy. I will admit to being one of those people now. In fact, going to therapy has helped me realize all of this, and has given me the strength to speak up. I am struggling. There, I said it.

My child is over 2 1/2  years old, so I figured I would have things figured out by now. I don't. In fact, I feel more lost than ever. In the beginning of motherhood I felt like I had lost my identity due to life being centered around my child rather than myself. I got used to that and I grew into the new "normal" for my life. Somewhere along the way though, I started descending. Down, down, down. All of a sudden I felt like I had no purpose. My child is no longer a needy baby. She can dress herself and feed herself. So where does that put me? All of a sudden I needed a new purpose, but I have struggled to find it.

Upon mentioning this struggle for purpose to other people, I have realized that I am not the only one. A LOT of mom's struggle with this. Some go back to work, but struggle with their new role as mom and professional. Some stay at home and have more kids, but I've heard from friends that this just delays their need to find purpose. Then, there are some like me, who are at home part time, and then part time trying to figure out what the next step in life is. I cannot be a stay-at-home-mom, I just don't have what it takes. But, I also don't have a career. This puts me into limbo, thus the down, down, down.

As spring comes though, I feel a newness in the air. Spring for me has always felt like a fresh start. What will I make of this spring? How can I simplify my life and dig myself out of this deep, desert-like ditch? I honestly don't know, but I do know that writing this here and talking about my struggle helps. So here's to speaking my truth and helping others speak their truths too. As moms, lets start these conversations and make them ok things to talk about. Let's help each other get into therapy and take meds if need-be. Nothing is wrong with that. We need to remember that taking care of ourselves is necessary and important.


2 comments:

  1. Hey Ellie, Glad you wrote this. I felt this too around the time my first hit the 2 year old/independence. It is not easy to get out of it and everyone is different. Great to have professional help! I will say that what helped me was working FULL days (I did part time for awhile or got in late/left early). It gave me purpose and balanced the time with kiddo.
    You will get there, you are doing everything right.

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  2. I just heard a whole session about depression on Krista Tippet's On Being, a Sunday program I often listen to on the radio. There are some very interesting parts - worth listening to whether you're depressed or not. https://onbeing.org/programs/the-soul-in-depression-mar2018/

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