Parents: Are You Depressed or Just Tired?

Pre-motherhood, I was never prone to depression (anxiety ismore my jam).

But there have been several times since becoming a parent that I have wondered:AmI depressed?

Thats depression, right?

More than once, Ive asked my therapist that.

With rest and some restructuring, Ive seen things improve.

But parenthood is no joke.

The struggle for moms and dads is real, and it can take many forms.

We all deserve support for whatever new challenges we are facing.

But first, we have to figure out what they are.

First, ask yourself: Am I just tired?

The answer to this one is pretty easy.

It should also be remedied with rest and relaxation, while depression needs more than that to start improving.

Exhaustion should be temporary.

If you notice a slipping in your baseline, that is something to be mindful of, Fisher says.

But there are also ways to find one on your own.

The Find a Therapist feature onPsychology Todayenables you to search for a provider in your area and by specialty.

The most important consideration is finding a professional who specializes in the symptoms or condition you are experiencing.

During that phone calland in your first appointmentmake sure you feel comfortable with the provider.

If you dont, you cant truly open up the way you gotta, says Lippman-Barile.

Feeling overwhelmed is still very distressing, Fisher says.

Often parents are going through things back to back.

And they dont realize how much of a toll it takes on their body and their brain.

Its a marathon, not a sprint.