Tired of hearing that everything you feel is all in your head? Low energy, motivation, and desire.  Mind racing and jumping to unfounded conclusions, racing heart, and trouble breathing.  What a terrible combination!  However, when you add on the requirement of taking care of others and being their support system this combination of emotions becomes deadly to our own very existence.  NIHM recognizes depression and anxiety as mental illnesses.  But is it possible that depression and anxiety exist as more than simply a mental illness?

What Happened to Me?

Life drastically changes when you become a mom.  There’s constant worrying and stress at levels that you would never imagine were possible.  The exhaustion is overwhelming and you feel it in every part of your body.  When you do get a few moments of alone time it seems like it’s not enough.  It can even get to the point where you don’t want to be around anyone.  The person you once were seems to have disappeared and all for the love you have for this tiny, precious human being.

This is all normal right?  With time all of this will pass?  Months pass and even years and somehow all of that exhaustion and worry have not left.  Somehow, it’s all intensified.  You feel frustrated and angry a lot of the time which results in feelings of guilt and shame.  After all, what kind of a mom can be so tired and just want to feel like herself again?  

Soon, it becomes too much.  Before you know it you are talking to a therapist and likely taking medications to help you manage.  The medications allow you to be productive but you don’t feel like yourself.  And wasn’t that the problem from the beginning?  Then, the questions begins to run through your mind.  Is this really the type of mom you want to be?  Is this the life you wanted for yourself and your kiddos?  There is no cure for depression and anxiety.  Only ways to manage it.

Why Doesn’t Traditional Treatments Work For You?

Fact:  The number of people suffering from depression and anxiety is increasing every year.  The age of those suffering from depression and anxiety is declining.  These statistics prove that something must be done to do more than simply manage depression and anxiety.  It is almost as if depression and anxiety are becoming a natural part of modern day life.  And it is okay because there’s a medication for it.  I call bullcrap.

Here is my question to you:  If depression and anxiety are a mental illness and you are taking medication for it, why aren’t you feeling like yourself again?  Ready for the second question.  What if depression and anxiety are more than simply a mental illness?  What if there is more to it?  I mean, you are more than simply your mindset.  Wouldn’t you agree?

Now, I am no genius by any means.  I am simply a mom that suffered for a long time with depression and anxiety.  The medications and therapy sessions were part of a daily routine.  Until I found a different way, something that worked.  Depression and anxiety being more than a mental illness is a very intimidating thought.  Before you let that overwhelm you.  Let me tell you about the advantages of depression and anxiety being more than simply a mental illness.

If depression and anxiety are more than a mental illness and there is a better way, a way that works then medication is not a forever thing.  Less medication means less of those pesty side effects like headaches, nausea, dry mouth, fatigue, weight gain, tremors or it messing with your sex life and so much more.  Can you imagine a life without all the extra stuff that’s being added by taking antidepressants and anxiety meds?  

Advantage of Depression and Anxiety Being More Than A Mental Illness

Another big advantage of depression and anxiety being more than simply a mental illness is that you can get to the core of the issue.  Medication and therapy may be treating the symptoms of depression and anxiety but is it really getting to the core of the problem?  Or is it a temporary fix?  Is it possible that what you’re experiencing comes from a deeper place?  

What if you were able to work from that level up and the medication/therapy could finally be reduced or even eliminated?  If you cold stop the growth of negativity would you?  What could those benefits look like in your life?  

If depression and anxiety are more than a mental illness is the fact that you can finally take back control of your life.  By starting at the core of the issue, at the deepest level of your existence, you can empower yourself to overcome depression and anxiety.  You can begin to live a life being fiercely free and energetically alive and be the mom you want to be.  Knowing where to start is the key.  Can you imagine all of the possibilities?  Yes, it’s not your fault that the meds and therapy sessions are still not doing the trick.

Disadvantage of Depression and Anxiety Being More Than A Mental Illness

Now, like everything in life there are advantages and disadvantage.   The disadvantages of depression and anxiety being more than a mental illness mean that you are going to have to do more than take meds and go to your therapy sessions.  Dedication and desire are required.

It is going to be a challenge at first.  You may have unconsciously been avoiding this challenge.  However, it’s been way too long and it’s time to step up to the plate and get this taken care of so the rest of your life can be what you want it to be.  

You are going to need to apply mommy gentleness in your own self-talk and thought process.  It’s going to take time and patience.  You will know what your child felt every time they fell down trying to take that first step but still got back up.  As long as you can apply that type of determination to get through the process.  You will make it through and empower yourself to overcome depression and anxiety.  How?  By working on the many levels that it exists, including in your mind.  

The Process

Here’s the beauty of who you are right now and deciding to tell depression and anxiety to fudge off.  You will be able to embrace your uniqueness.  Why is this important?  Because the process is different for everyone.  It has the same basic discovery process but the specifics are tailored for you.  The process is designed specifically for moms and tailored by you for you.

Depression and anxiety is unique to each individual person and although many can relate to some of the same issues, it is affects each person differently.  It is also caused by different core issues.  The challenges that one person faces is unique to that person and serves its own purpose.  

Therefore, it makes the most sense that the process for each person is different and uniquely tailored for that person.  The foundation for the process is to recognize where you are today.  Embracing who you are and where you have been is crucial.  Awareness to what your individual triggers are, regardless of what they are, and developing manners to avoid or reduce the impact it has on you is essential.

Seeing that this is going to be a challenging process, it is also important to take on one thing at a time.  It’s amazing how adaptable we are.  I mean, you’re a mom, you know how much your body changed to adapt to the needs of your little one.  That doesn’t apply to pregnancy only.  So, with taking on one thing at a time, your capacity to do more will evolve.  

Creating Balance

The key here is not to add pressure onto yourself to do too much.  Only choose positive methods that help you.  This will allow your brilliance to emerge slowly and steadily while creating balance.  

Think of it like walking out of a dark room that you’ve been in all day and seeing a bright light.  If the light is too bright it will cause pain and trouble seeing, it may actually temporarily blind you.  But, if you are gradually introduced to the light, then you are thankful for being out of the dark and enjoy the light.  

The opportunity to get out of the darkness and see how far you have come will lead present you with optimism and reduce the anxiety of ever being in the dark again.  This is where your personal expansion happens.  It increases confidence and your beauty and boldness can emerge.  

Expansion begins to happen and depression and anxiety begin to fade away.  Your life and abilities and opportunities begin to evolve.  Growth and development and success happen and you begin to live a life fiercely free and energetically alive.  This is when you can empower your W.O.W.  No longer living to simply survive another day.  Instead you are in control of your life and your future and can lead your kiddos into a path of success.

My Theory, My Experience

My theory based on my experience is that depression and anxiety exist within more than the mind.  It is very important to get to the core of the issue and begin addressing it at its deepest level and work from there.  You deserve more than to simply survive.  To be able to overcome depression and anxiety naturally, and avoid the side effects of medication and endless therapy sessions would be a great achievement. 

You are unique.  There is a reason for your depression and anxiety and it is not only mindset.  As humans we exist on many levels.  Overcoming depression and anxiety requires that each one of these levels be addressed.  It is not your fault that you still experience depression and anxiety.

Want to learn more about different levels of existence relating to depression and anxiety? Check out my next blog post where I will go into more detail.  Can’t wait to say hi again 🙂