Ok, So i’ve known now for three weeks that I am pregnant. I am 18 years old and have a 2 year old daughter and a 1 year old son. I am in a relationship with their father although we did have a break in which he didn’t see the children at all and I brought them up during this period with no support or financial help off him. It was a really hard time for me as he left me in debt from gas,electric, rent & loans we had taken out for furniture ect. He also left me with his dog and refused to collect her, I couldn’t put her into a shelter and although I didn’t trust this dog and she went to bite me on two occasions, I still looked after. (She was rehomed to my mother who adores her). I really was left to pick up all the pieces and this caused havoc with my mental health. I already suffered post natal depression, extreme anxiety & OCD but this really made me hit rock bottom. The break up wasn’t expected, he went off with another women he met online. Anyways we are back together now and I left the property and went into Refuge with the kids. My mental health just haven’t improved, I love my kids, I love being a mother but I will be the first to admitt how hard it is. I get really ill when I am pregnant ( i suffer with kidney infections that make me unable to even move, my anxiety worsens & I won’t take medication while I am pregnant & I also became an emotional mess. Now finding out that I am pregnant again it has released all these fears of (how am i going to cope looking after my two children if i am ill, what happens if i need to go into hospital?, what if something bad happens to me?) all these thoughts are constantly running through my mind that I can’t really see the light here. I couldn’t go through with an abortion so please don’t mention it, it’s not that I don’t believe in it but having an abortion would have a more negative effect on myself than going through with the pregnancy. Besides This is my baby and I am going to look after it. I keep feeling something is going to go wrong with this pregnancysuch as (stillbirth, Birth complications) something really unthinkable. I am soo low and I’m worried that I won’t bounce back up. Does anyone else feel like this? Please shed some light on this situation, I’m soo worried. I can’t even take the chldrens fatyher into account because he will come and go as he pleases.
By Just Me- Can’t you accomplish anything other than writing foul mouthed words on yahoo and not even answer the question?? Please get off the computer now before your mother finds out! else you are certainly going to be grounded, you nuahgty child!
Thanks for your answers so far ladies, I think i may be just having a really down day Everything is seeming so impossible and then I hate myself for feeling this way, support groups sound amazing! I think I also need sometime with other women , maybe abit more of a social life, so i can talk about these things and have friends to pick me up
Mr Smooth, obviously not everyone has been gifted with the upbringing and best start in life as you!, Don’t judge me I am doing good already, I’m the first person in my family to not have a drink or dug problem and to be able To keep my children. It’s sad that it’s like that but unfortunately true. Sorry if my life doesn’t fit your standards but your attitude certainly doesn’t meet mine.
Thank you S for your answer, If i take on that view of life I believe it will make this situation so much easier for me. I also believe in fate and karma and maybe I should put these views before the ones I’m experiencing know, What’s ment to be is ment to be.
Thanks

As a thirty- four year old woman who once endured an unstable home life, teen pregnancy, and a period of homelessness, I realize the necessity and value of an education. My life experiences have impelled me to further my education and pursue a Master’s degree in Social Work. I have prevailed through numerous tribulations and my goal is to become a social worker so I can, in return, ensure that others will overcome life’s hardships.
During my childhood, I lived in a single parent family household with my mother. Our relationship suffered due to numerous arguments and a lack of understanding one another. Needless to say, when I confided in my mother that I was pregnant, our relationship completely dissipated. There was too much family conflict and the environment became increasingly unhealthy. Eventually, I became homeless. Everyday became a constant struggle. Not only was I homeless, but I was about to have a baby, had no money and no support. I felt alone as though nobody cared about my situation. However, I eventually found a shelter on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. Thankfully, at the shelter, I met a social worker who helped ease my concerns. She provided constant support and gave me a sense of hope. She encouraged me to resolve my conflict with my mother and return home. When I moved back home, I made a sincere effort to heal my relationship with my mother.
Six months later, I found a job as a counselor, working with adolescents who had experienced similar situations to mine. I began my preparation to achieve my personal goal while I worked at Harbor View Adolescent Center, a level-14 group home facility, as a youth counselor. My primary work responsibility was serving as a positive role model for adolescents from twelve to eighteen years of age. The adolescents had backgrounds similar to my own background. Others had problems with drug and alcohol abuse, depression, and the criminal justice system. At times, the position was extremely stressful but I discovered that I had the ability to connect with the children and develop strong emotional ties with them. I focused upon several areas of treatment, including their social skills, coping skills, and independent living skills. My main ambition was to help them build their self-esteem and improve their sense of security. As a youth counselor, I gained valuable experience in listening to adolescents and helping them make positive decisions to improve the quality of their lives.
From my personal experiences, I learned that I had the ability to persevere through my most challenging times. I developed empathy for people struggling with everyday problems and, most importantly, I learned the importance of having support from my family. I am committed to helping others achieve personal growth and take an interest in their own well- being. As a result of my homelessness, I understand the constant despair and frustration experienced by those who find it challenging to cope with life’s everyday problems. I am also convinced that increasing one’s own sense of empowerment can make the difference between a future of despondency or one filled with hope.
I am applying to the Master’s in Social Work program because it is my goal to help others embrace their inner potential and make a positive life transition. Most importantly, I want to become a professional social worker because I want to do everything that is within my power to enhance the quality of a person’s life. I want to address the needs of all people in my community; especially it’s most vulnerable or “at-risk” members. I am deeply committed to the service of others, and most specifically to the service of troubled and neglected youth. I am confident that I will succeed as a social worker and transform the lives of many.
I am deeply committed to the service of others, especially to those that are vulnerable and to the service of troubled and neglected youth. For me, it is important to serve others instead of being served and to place others’ interest ahead of my own. Service is something that I admire about people in helping others. I also want to do the same for other people. I am going to devote my life to social justice and improving the lives of the vulnerable and oppressed. For one, all individuals and especially those individuals that are the most vulnerable and at-risk members in our community deserve to be treated with the utmost dignity and respect. I know that for myself, this is the motto that I live by: treat others how I would like to be treated. Therefore every person deserves the right to be treated with respect. I can readily understand that others would hope to be treated the same way in their daily lives. It is logical that others would recognize that we want the same things for ourselves. We should always put people first in terms of not violating their human rights. We need to look at ourselves first and look at what we are doing is in the best interest of others, upholding their

I am a 31 year old woman. I have a 9 year old and a 4 month old. I had the baby blues 9 years ago when I had my first child. I then was put on depression meds. I have been on them since. I take Effexor XR 150mg daily. During my most recent pregnancy I took prenatal vitimans which are called Vinate II. My ob told me to finish up the bottle of those vitimans, I have been taking those daily for about 12 months. After I had my daughter I was having issues with my bladder not being strong so my ob had me start taking Oxybutynin, to help straighten the bladder muscles. I take 3, 5mg pills per day, and have been on them for about 3 months. A month ago I was Phentermine 37.5mg for weight loss. I have lost 11 lbs in a month. When it was given to me my blood pressure was slightly high. Doc told me that if I lose some weight hopefully it will go down. I have always had great pressure. I am a little over weight. As time has gone by since I had my most recent child I have had different things and feelings going on with my body. I will say, I know my depression is under control, as I know my body. Now I am experiencing headaches, tight and tense neck and shoulders, leg aches, tired in mid afternoon(even while I am on diet pill), and my mom mentioned that she can see yellowing of my skin below my eyes. NOT the whites of my eyes. I don’t see the yellowing. Any ideas on what could be the problem? I know going to the doctor would be a good idea but…I am a little nervous about that. When my recent child was 3 months old I went to him and asked for the diet pill and he said that he was concerned about giving it to me because of my depression. I felt that I want to get this baby weight off, as that is what would make me depressed! So I went to a weight loss clinic that gave me the meds. I have done a little research and haven’t found much about these meds haveing these types of side effects besides headaches. I am wondering maybe low iron? Maybe something happened when I had my daughter 4 months ago and it is finally catching up to me?? Any thoughts?? Thanks

I have been on antidepressants for 9 months now due to anxiety and depression. My condition has improved SO much from treatment but my doc recommens I stay on the meds for up to 3 years to prevent relapse. My husband and I are hoping to get pregnant soon, though we haven’t started trying yet. They are safe to take during pregnancy but I was just wondering if anyone on here has done it before and how it effected your emotional state or if it caused any depression/anxiety symptoms to worsen? I’m just worried about initiating a relapse or taking a step backwards with my mental health. I feel ready but I know sometimes the mind takes a long time to recover from depression and anxiety.

Lately i feel terrible. i’ve been trying to research online what exactly my problem is. i cant tell if i have depression or anxiety-it seems like both. i am 20 weeks pregnant so i know my emotions are going to be out of whack, but this is getting out of hand. i know SOME medications for anxiety/depression are safe during pregnancy, so please don’t respond saying i shouldn’t take anything.

my symptoms are:
-tired all the time, i sleep for insanely long hours
-i have no desire to get up and face the day and don’t look forward to tomorrow
-i cry so easily
-i feel like my life totally sucks and that i’m worthless
-sometimes when im having a crying fit, i cant stop and it gets to the point where i cant breathe
-i just want to give up and run away from everything.suicidal thoughts have crossed my mind, but not often and only briefly

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I understand that the herbal supplement Ginkgo Biloba assists in easing depression and promoting mental acuity. Information I’d reserached even supported taking the herb during pregnancy to encourage prenatal brain development. I had been taking 2 capsules (120mg) regularly prior to my pregnancy, but recently, I cautiously took only one and only once. Now I’m finding information that actually cautions against taking the herb during pregnancy. What major harm and/or symptoms typically result from taking Gingko Biloba while pregnant? Could I have already done any irreparable damage? Thanks.
Thanks much for the heads up, Danielle. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t imagine putting my or my unborn’s health in the hands of a public forum. I have slightly more functioning neurons than that.

I usually just pop in every now and again with a concern or two in between visits, or if I’m looking to weigh outside perspectives, or if I just generally have a question mark that pops into my head about something or other. As a busy senior switching institutions, I don’t always find time to extensively research topics, in addition to the ones I’m bound to for a grade.

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I was left by my “boyfriend” after I refused to terminate the pregnancy. I do not have any relatives here and no support whatsoever. Ever since I was about 22 weeks I have had depression. The worst of all are the attacks of panic/extreme anxiety that come about weekly epecially at night when I cannot sleep and contemplate my miserable situation, usually cry excessively etc. These are followed by uncontrolable fear for baby‘s health. I am convinced that she is going to be damaged by all this, that such strong panic attacts cannot leave her unaffected. This makes me cry even more because at this point I love her beyond anything. My midwife tells me that baby‘s health cannot be affected by my emotional state and it calms me for a few days or even a week and afterwards, the same thing starts all over.
I eat well, take care of myself physically but emotionally – I am a ruin. Has anyone been through hell like this and still had a normal healthy baby? what are the possible effects?
I regret not having taken medication but I am already 37 weeks and whatever harm is done, its done.