Houseful Of Nicholes

Living Life on the Edge of Domesticity

  • About
    • Meet Natasha Nicholes
    • Our Houseful
  • DIY
    • Sewing
      • Pattern Review
      • Thread Filled Thursdays
  • Homeschool
    • Box Tops For Education
    • Homeschooling
      • Field Trips
      • Libraries
        • Literature
          • Book Reviews
  • Homesteading
    • Recipes
      • Baking
        • Houseful Of Cookies
      • Cooking
    • #WeSowWeGrow
    • Chickens
    • Backyard Garden
  • Travel
    • Africa
    • Europe
      • Germany
    • United States
      • Alabama
      • California
      • Florida
      • Illinois
      • Indiana
      • Iowa
      • Louisiana
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Missouri
      • New York
      • North Dakota
      • Oklahoma
      • Wisconsin

Depression and Mrs. Houseful

Mrs. Houseful, NaBloPoMo, Reflections

Depression and Mrs. Houseful of Nicholes It may seem counterproductive to start a series on depression during a month when so many are counting their blessings and sharing their thanks. However, that’s the exact reason I’m doing it. Because even WITH depression, there are so many things to still be thankful and grateful for. Like – therapists. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’m a full blown Christian, with a husband who is a minister in the wonderful Church of God in Christ. Yes, I do believe that God can heal any type of sickness (and I do believe that depression is a sickness AND a spirit) but I can’t just sit around and do nothing while fully expecting Him to do so.

So, how about we give some back story? I think that I’ve always had some type of issue with being me. From being the only black girl in my elementary school and dealing with the bullying that came with it, to being shunned by the friends outside of school during high school because I was in that nerd program. I thought that it would change in college, but it turned out that it was more of the same. I was once again a full minority in my dormitory, being the ONLY black women that resided in it and THEN I had the great fortune to get pregnant while there. Talk about a walking stereotype.

I can break down the first decade of the new millenium like this:

Son was born ->grandmother died->pastor died->sister died->joined the navy->got married->had the ladybug->grandfather died->had twins->uncle was murderd->sister’s 10 year death anniversary->complete and utter emotinal breakdown->2013 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

College is in there somewhere (I have a semester left, because I left after my sister died, and well, I haven’t felt the gumption to go back. I KNOW I should, and I want to, but I would be lying to you all and myself if I said at the moment I cared enough to do so.

I’ve prayed.

I’ve fasted.

I’ve asked others to stand in the gap for me.

Yet, I don’t feel different. I didn’t feel different. It was the same vicious cycle of waking up, handling the kids, being upset at my surroundings because the kitchen wasn’t clean, the babies were being, well, babies, the car note was due, the cellist needed help with a project for school. You know, LIFE. And life shouldn’t make you feel beat up. Not all of the time. Not like you’re the sparring partner for Mike Tyson.

You shouldn’t wake up each morning feeling like you never want to get out of bed. Not when you have five of the best faces to wake up to.

So I decided to go ahead and do something that most Christians that I know are scared to do. I sought help from someone other than my pastor, or my parents, or my girlfriends, or just prayer.

I started with someone that I trusted the most that wasn’t in part of my usual network. My OB-GYN. Seriously, I mean, who else really knows almost every single aspect of you emotionally AND physically. And if I wasn’t supposed to talk to her, I didn’t care. I scheduled my yearly exam, a little bit after the twins turned two and after we got the uncomfortable aspects of the visit out of the way, she asked me a question that I didn’t expect.

How are YOU feeling, Natasha?

I started with my usual, “Fine, but busy, you know, having twin babies will do that to you,” line and before I knew it, I was sharing things that had been on my mind for almost two years, some of them had been there for much longer than that. Stored in the recesses of my head and tucked quaintly away because, well, we just don’t talk about those things. I talked about how much I wanted to just stay in bed and hide from anyone who called out my name for help, how I hated deadlines now, sex was a no-go and I was fearful that my husband hated me. I hated people for no good reason other than they looked like they were having a great time with life, and ME, well, ME – as someone who is lauded openly on social networks for having it all together, I was slowly crumbling.

And then my doctor did something that I didn’t expect, because most doctors are so removed these days from emotion, because sometimes they have to be. She hugged me, and let me sob. Right there in that examination room, she allowed me to be something that I am SO scared to be with other people – vulnerable. After my great cry fest, she had a resident come in and sit with me while she went to look for the social worker. Before I knew it, I was given numbers to therapists, and promises of being called in two weeks either way. It took a little longer than that, but before I knew it, I was in the waiting area of a local psychiatrist waiting to unload.

I was nervous.

Would they judge me?

Would I end up crying? (of course I’d end up crying)

Would I be put on medication?

What would happen?

And that dear readers is what I’m here to discuss in this series. What happened, and what is continuing to happen. I will also be sharing posts from other bloggers and friends who have been in the fight with depression at some point in their lives. It’s amazing that when you finally get enough courage to talk about it, you see just how many people have had or are having an issue with it.

Be blessed, and just know, that it’s not over.

 

Share the Houseful

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • More
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

November 4, 2013 · 32 Comments

Previous Post: « Be Yourself, Together with Target
Next Post: Buy A Bra That Fits You Properly »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tara says

    November 4, 2013 at 12:08 pm

    Kudos to you for opening up and exploring this topic. So many people are ashamed or embarrassed when they feel the beginnings of what feels like depression, myself included. But really, it is nothing to be ashamed of. Happens much more often than we think. I’m looking forward to the rest of your series.

    Reply
  2. ToddlingChicago says

    November 4, 2013 at 12:56 pm

    Awesome post. I’ve been there and it’s so hard to get help when you can barely make it through the day. Good for you for getting the help and support you need AND being willing to share with others.

    Reply
  3. Kim says

    November 4, 2013 at 2:22 pm

    Tears! This was such a great share, can’t wait to read more.

    Reply
  4. Keyonda says

    November 4, 2013 at 6:16 pm

    Thank you for sharing this. As a mom sometimes things get tough and it’s hard to know if it’s depression, stress, or what. I agree it’s a spirit & a sickness and something that needs to be talked about.

    Thanks again for sharing!

    Reply
  5. Liz says

    November 4, 2013 at 8:22 pm

    This is such a brave and beautiful post, hits home on so many levels — so, I’m definitely going to keep following along — thanks for sharing your story, my friend.

    Reply
  6. Alethia says

    November 4, 2013 at 11:04 pm

    Natasha, I literally happened upon this post. I don’t often check my second email account, and honestly don’t read everything that’s sent there. But, this time, for whatever reason, I chose three of your posts to read ( this is the first).
    First, I want to commend you for being so transparent with your own situation. Secondly, you said something so profound, ” … I decided to go ahead and do something that most Christians that I know are scared to do. I sought help from someone other than my pastor, or my parents, or my girlfriends, or just prayer”. I’ve been there, where we tend to think that we are not operating in faith if we go to the Doctor. God is God all by himself, who knows how our deliverance will come, and why it came the way it did.
    Non-the-less, follow after peace, and watch what God does.

    Reply
  7. K. Elizabeth @ YUMMommy says

    November 5, 2013 at 2:44 pm

    I think it’s so brave of you to first of all share this personal journey in such a public spotlight. Talking about depression still has such a stigma around it, but I think that the we discuss it and share our the battles the more we’re helping to break down walls.

    Reply
  8. Erica Jay says

    November 6, 2013 at 5:34 pm

    First and foremost, my hat goes off to you for having the courage to speak openly about your situation. Many people shy away from the truth about depression and feel ashamed to seek treatment. I hope that through this you find peace and heal, thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  9. Keonté says

    November 8, 2013 at 2:26 pm

    And again! You’ve touched on a topic that so many, far too many, people are afraid to speak on. It’s so therapeutic to read others who go on this journey. Thank you for sharing. You are a blessing and a breath of fresh air.

    Reply
  10. Arelis Cintron says

    November 10, 2013 at 9:06 am

    I commend you for this series. In my teens and into my college years I would have thoughts that scared me. I knew that it was from never dealing with everything that was going on around me. I always wanted to seek therapy but I didnt have the money and it wasn’t covered by my insurance. I turned to journaling. Writing my thoughts down helped me in the moment but it didn’t stop from carving me into the person I’d become. Me 8 years ago was scary. Dealing with things on your own is never a goood idea. I agree that having a neutral party makes it easier to speak what’s on your mind. I look forward to your journey.

    Reply
  11. Andrea @ Mouse in My Pocket says

    November 11, 2013 at 2:17 pm

    I just want to thank you for writing this. It’s always great to see someone who is willing to share their experiences with anxiety and depression. It’s a good reminder that we aren’t alone. Love and strength to you as you continue your journey.

    Reply
  12. MELISASource says

    November 11, 2013 at 5:12 pm

    I totally understand what you are going through and please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you in this journey. <3

    Reply
  13. Kerissa Blue says

    December 24, 2014 at 4:40 am

    Thank you got your honesty as a Christian woman. I’ve lived this nightmare myself. Took me walking into a fellow coworker’s classroom and breaking down. She gave me the number to her therapist and from there I begin the work. I’m still working on choosing joy and worrying less. God gave me the chance to be use wisdom to healed and it wasn’t the church or pray alone. The body of Christ has to do a better job of truth telling.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Last Week, I Drowned In a Dream | Houseful Of NicholesHouseful Of Nicholes says:
    November 17, 2013 at 12:10 pm

    […] you’re just joining in to this discussion, you can find other posts regarding this Here and […]

    Reply
  2. Full Of Words Wednesday | Houseful Of NicholesHouseful Of Nicholes says:
    November 20, 2013 at 11:54 pm

    […] month, I admitted that I have moderate depression, that I am seeing a therapist, and that I sometimes think too hard about […]

    Reply
  3. Shedding Light On Depression #DayOfLight | Houseful Of Nicholes says:
    February 3, 2014 at 2:27 am

    […] you want to read my backstory, you can read them here, here, and […]

    Reply
  4. Navigating Grief | Houseful Of Nicholes says:
    November 3, 2016 at 9:01 pm

    […] instance, I started therapy, and finally got a diagnosis. It wasn’t what I wanted to hear, but it helped me get a grasp on how I wanted to move […]

    Reply

Our Houseful LOVES comments! It warms our hearts to know that you're touched by something enough to say hello! We'll respond back to you! Promise!Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

I'm Natasha

Natasha Nicholes

I'm Natasha. Chicagoan to my bones Master Urban Farmer. Wife. Mom. Daughter. Sister. Friend. Contact me: natasha@housefulofnicholes.com

Search The Houseful

I Get Around

Iris Award Winner

COPYRIGHT © 2020 · HOUSEFUL AND ASSOCIATES · WORDPRESS · LOG OUT