Depression and single motherhood seem to go hand in hand, am I right? I lived with depression, anxiety, and stress for a lot of years. Sometimes I still feel stress but I think that’s part of life. But when it gets to severe levels it becomes a problem and affect your quality of life.
I won’t go into all the reason why we experience depression but I have learned there are ways to get better without medicine and years of expensive therapy. I’ve used both methods to treat my symptoms but they did not give me lasting relief because they weren’t right for me. You may have a different experience.
When I couldn’t take feeling down all the time I began looking for natural ways to treat and finally get rid of my depression. The way I saw it, I could not be my best self and hope to truly live a rich life if I was depressed and anxious all the time. I needed to get myself under control and figure out how to do it without taking medicine.
Negative Side Effects of Depression Medication
I took both Zoloft and Lexapro for a short time. Let me tell you, it was not a pretty ride. I could NOT function! I felt like my head was detached from my body and like I wanted to sleep but did not feel rested when I did finally go to sleep. I was nervous about trying to take care of my kids, drive the car, and get work done. I was a mess. I also experience side effects that seems to make the depression worse. Drugs.com lists the side affects of Lexapro as:
Constipation; decreased sexual desire or ability; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; headache; increased sweating; light-headedness when you stand or sit up; loss of appetite; nausea; stomach upset; tiredness; trouble sleeping.
I had about half of these side effects and determined to get off this drug. The sweating was the worse symptom and I believe it triggered early menopause coupled with all the other stress in my life. Yep…I had to find another way quickly.
Cure Depression With Natural Herbs and Flowers
A few years after I stopped taking the medicine I did a bit of research and tried various natural remedies to help me feel better. The top cures for me included taking Valerian Root capsules to help relax my nervous system. Next is Lavender oils, sprays, and lotion. They promote calm and restfulness.
Meditation Helps Calm Nerves and Cure Anxiety
I began meditating and just learning how to quiet my mind for as long as possible. I did the meditation early in the morning when the house was quiet. I sit still, close my eyes, and count to 100 with each deep breath I take. These cures work for me and have kept me depression free for years.
Do the Internal Work for Permanent Results
Don’t get me wrong, I had to do a lot of mental and emotional work as well. If I didn’t I would just be treating the symptoms and never get to the core issues. Single mommyhood has its challenges. We don’t get a free pass to a stress-free life and there are many problems and issues associated with raising kids alone.
There is baggage we carry from our childhood or teen experiences and there may be trauma that is made worse with the stress of doing everything alone. But it is possible to live a happy and fulfilling life. The challenges don’t magically disappear, but how you handle them, truthfully and completely, makes all the difference.
So try the natural cures I just described above and below in the video, but find a way to deal with the core issues. Clear them out one at a time and then move forward in happiness, love, and light!
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
