Coping with Depression: My Struggle with Substance Abuse

I know what you're going thru. 21 years ago I left the father of my children. Due to being a SAH mom with nowhere to go & no income, we choose for the kids to stay with him. Having not even touched alcohol in over 10 years, I started drinking to forget my pain. My children were my life and I was so depressed without them. A couple drinks turned into a few, until I was going thru bottles every day & a full blown alcoholic. All I could think about was getting that next drink. I didn't see it as a problem, as I got up for work every day and worked a 2nd job part time. It took me years to realize what I had become & decided it was time to get sober. I've now been 15 yrs sober, with a few falls off the wagon. It's not been an easy journey, but it's been well worth it. These days I'm afraid to have even one drink, with all the medications I'm on. Although I know drunk depression is much easier to get thru, it isn't the best option for your health, family and friends. I pray you can find an alternative solution to get you thru the bad times. I hate for anyone to fall into the cycle I did. It's only a temporary fix and causes more problems than it's worth. I still suffer with depression, but finding the right meds has helped a great deal. You'll be in my thoughts..

I get it. But, alcohol got me nowhere fast. Looking back, made my depression and anxiety 100 times worse. Still trying to treat my depression even after multiple meds, tms, and ect. I wish you the best.