Dealing With Depression? You're Not Alone!

***Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by me on behalf of Lifescript.com. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***

I think all of us have gone through periods where we felt "down". I know I have. More than once. Usually, it's short-lived and passes rather quickly.  But sometimes, feeling down is not as simple as being in a little funk. Sometimes, it's depression. 

I have personal experience with feeling depressed, and while I don't usually get this personal, I would like to share my experience with you all. (Bear with me, here, because even to this day, it's not too easy to talk about!)

I started my battle with depression when I was a teenager. I didn't have the ideal home life, and grew up with very little support and guidance from my parents. You see, without going into too much detail, I was surrounded by addiction. I seemed to be a burden and just get in the way, and this made me feel very bad about myself. Of course, this led to making bad decisions of my own, all in hopes of getting the much needed attention from my parents. It was a vicious cycle, and one that did me absolutely no favors. 

I ended up "escaping" my home by getting married far too young to a man who ended up being horribly abusive. I wasn't allowed to have friends, male or female, and I was basically isolated from the outside world. Even reaching out to family had its consequences. I was put down all the time, until it became "normal" to me. I thought that being verbally and physically assaulted was just the way married life was. After awhile, I actually started believing I was worthless. Ugly.Would never be loved by anyone.I felt like I deserved it, just because I wasn't perfect enough. 

I became very depressed. I cried all the time, hated myself, and was always afraid that no matter what I did, it wouldn't be good enough. I lost all motivation to do things I once enjoyed, like singing or writing, and it was painful to even get out of bed at times. I had become a shell of a person, and it was the hardest period of my life. 

 Looking back now, I can see that abuse is one of the many depression causes,  and that it was never my fault. I never deserved to be treated that way...No one does. I learned while researching depression that it often stems from hard life events or circumstances, and that being depressed is nothing to be ashamed of.

Thankfully, I eventually found the courage to end that destructive relationship, and I have since remarried a man who treats me like gold, and is an amazing father to our kids. I am so grateful for this, and for the fact that my kids won't grow up surrounded by addiction and will have a solid support system in their lives.

Life is wonderful now, but I still suffer from occasional bouts of depression. Abusive relationships and depression can have lasting effects that take time to fully get over. I still doubt myself. I still worry that no one will like me, no matter how nice of a person I am. I am still painfully shy, and it's hard for me to meet new people and make new friends. I still have days where I can hear my ex's voice telling me that I have no value. Luckily, these days are few and far between. It does get better. Bit by bit, it gets easier. 

While I could be angry or bitter about what I have been through and about my own bouts of depression, I see it as a gift. A teaching tool, if you will. I know myself better now than ever before, and I am confident that I can be the type of Mom my kids can rely on, so hopefully they will never have to experience what I have been through. My biggest wish is for their happiness and overall well-being. And it is my number one priority to make sure they have beautiful lives and always realize their own worth. 

If you're dealing with depression, be sure to check out LifeScript.com for information and resources about this and many other conditions that impact women's health. All articles and resources come from professional health writers, experts and physicians. 

Want to find more depression articles? Then be sure you do not miss these posts:

• 10 Ways Depression Hurts Your Health
• Natural Ways to Treat Depression
• How to Help a Depressed Friend

Lifescript’s Depression Health Center features tips, quizzes, recipes and articles – all by professional health writers, experts and physicians – covering postpartum depression, seasonal affective disorder, bipolar disorder, how to boost your mood with exercise and more. Please visit the Lifescript Health Center on depression for more information.
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This is a sponsored post by me on behalf of Lifescript.com.