To the mama battling depression: It’s okay to not be okay

Dear sweet mama who is battling the beast of depression ,

I know guilt lies heavy on your heart. You feel bad for feeling sad, or for not feeling much of anything. You look at the sweet little faces of your children and know you should feel more joy, but joy doesn’t come.

I know you love them so, so much, mama. I know you think you should be able to brush it off, cheer up, feel happier, but it isn’t that easy.

So, the guilt weighs on you because you want them to have a happy mom.

Speaking of guilt, you wish you had the energy to play. You wish you felt like going out to the park, to the museum, or even just to the backyard to run through the sprinkler with your kids, but you are so tired. Fatigue is your constant companion. So, you stay inside your home, but then you feel guilty that you’re not doing more. You want to have fun with your kids, and yet you really just want to lie in bed.

Your kids ask, “What’s wrong, mama?” or “Why are you sad, mommy?” and you smile and say, “Nothing, sweetie. Mommy’s fine.” It breaks your heart. You know they see your pain and you can’t hide it, but you try your best to. You try so hard to protect them. You blame yourself for their worry, and you hate the way your depression is affecting them.

You’ve tried so many things to get better. Journaling, meditation, exercise, diet…the list goes on. You really have tried. The dark thoughts keep creeping in. The self-loathing, the self-blame, and the shame—they hold you down like a big bully you can’t escape. I know you desperately want to escape.

You used to wake up with excitement. You were on top of things, tackling your to-do list and really productive. You used to enjoy certain things that made you feel lively and filled with joy, but those things don’t matter much anymore.

You wake up each day plagued with a heavy feeling. It’s so hard to get up and do the mundane chores of motherhood, but you make yourself do it anyway. At least, sometimes you do. Other times you stay in bed because getting up is too difficult that day, but there’s no rest there. Guilt is cozied up beside you. Shame whispers in your ear. “Not good enough,” it says. “Worthless,” it taunts.

Don’t listen to it, mama. Don’t entertain the voices of shame and guilt . You aren’t worthless. You aren’t a failure. You aren’t a bad mom. You are hurting, and you need help.

Maybe you feel like sadness is your new normal. You deserve so much more. You deserve to feel joy and excitement and peace. You are worthy of happiness, love, and all things good. Don’t give up, mama! I’ve been where you are, and even though you might not be able to see the light right now, it’s there. Keep going.

Here are some ideas that may help you fight this beast.

While vitamins, nutrition, and nature shouldn’t replace the treatment your doctor prescribes for major depression, used in conjunction with therapy and medication, they can work together to help you feel a little more like yourself.

When battling something as big as mental illness , you sometimes have to pull out all the punches. Don’t wait another day, mama. Take a step forward today to becoming a happier, healthier you.

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• To the mama battling postpartum depression: You are stronger than you realize
• 10 essential ways new moms can improve their mental health
• True life: I had postpartum depression and didn’t realize it