Single Dads

Today’s lesson is on depression and parenting.  I’m aware that a lot of single parents grapple with it, and I am no exception.

In response, I wanted to share this with you.

“Depression is a mood disorder”, so start many descriptions of the illness. That is a gross understatement. Depression does indeed seriously affect your mood, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. A clinical depression is an incapacitating illness, affecting your ability to perform tasks that require concentration and rendering you unable to work.

Via Lifehacker.

Now, I have friends that are depressed, that write me messages, and say things that are more than a little frightening to me.  You people out there, you know who you are.  I, too, had some thoughts over the course of the last couple of days that many of you would find frightening.  This is the deal.  Simply, get help.  Do NOT go through it alone.  Educate yourself about depression, which does make people do things that are simply not in their best interests. I am lucky.  I have a pretty good support group.  But don’t let things get out of control.  Make the changes necessary to get your head on straight.  Here’s one link.

Here’s another. 

Here’s a final one.

Being depressed doesn’t make you a bad person, or a stupid person, or a crappy father or mother, but it will affect your life and mind.  You may have to change some behaviors that you previously took for granted.  So what?  Do it anyway.  Save your life.  If you have had one depressive episode (and I have) you WILL probably have more.  Get professional help now.