Hi and thanks for reading.
I guess a few af you would have read my advice article called "Balancing Work, kids and Wife". For those of you who have not read it , it was about the fact that i was a workaholic and payed very little attention
to my wife and child, My wife left me as a result and I lost my job after I lost her. To cut a long story short,,,,we did end up getting back together and I realised my mistake, But, I am writing this advice article about the period that I went through after my wife left me,
I was suffering depression and I was sinking into the rut of all time, I would wake up most mornings in tears and I had to force myself to get out of bed. Some days I did not get up at all!!! I rarely cooked for myself and I was getting unfit and unhealthy. I hit the booze most nights which made me feel even more depressed. I lost so much self confidence,,,infact I would rarely leave the house!!!
I had lost my wife and son because I was so obsessed with work. Then I lost my job because I could not cope with out them, I was wollowing in self pity and in trouble!
Looking back,,,I guess the turning point came when I hit the bottom. I had passed out on the lounge room floor from drinking too much scotch. When I came too, I noticed I that my hand was bleeding,,,,,the glass had broken in my hand,,,,there was glass inbedded in my hand and blood everywhere!!!!
I managed to drive to the emergency room of the nearest hospital. Thay removed the glass fragments and cleaned up my wounds. The nurse asked me questions about how it happened and I told her the truth!! I remember weeping as I told her. She was fantastic,,,,,she listened and supprisingly did not judge me or lecture me for not acting responsibly. Instead, she offered help. She gave me the contact details of a very good couselor.
Even though seeing a coucelor was not the total cure for my depression, it helped me face the fact that I had a problem, I think realising and admitting you have a problem is the beginning of recovery.
I would like to share a few things that really helped me beat depression.
1. Walking. I would go for a walk every morning. It is a great way to start your day and it really helps you feel more possitive. Infact, any exercise is very helpful.
2. Stay off the booze. It is a depresant and will only trigger the problem.
3. Seek help. A good coucelor is a real benifit.
4. Diet, Eat healthy. The effect of healthy eating on the brain is amazing
5. Talk about you problem with you partner, close, trusted friends and family. I could not have gotten through it with out there support.
6, Practice possitive thinking. You can train yourself to think more possitively, You just need to focus on the possitive side of every situation. Once you practice this for a while it becomes second nature.
I am fine now, but even after my wife an I reunited I was still suffering depression. I was working really hard at getting better at this point. Being a depressed Dad can be tough as It adds extra pressure on you,
I did eventually beat depression and it is not an easy road, My life is back on track now. I hope that my advice may help you get back on track.
Lim :)
(February 2009) (
