Hi there.  I'm a 25 y.o mum of 2 little boys. Except for a younger brother, my entire family live down in Tassie - im in QLD. 

Abt the time i fell pregnant with my firdt son in the begining of 2005, my sister moved back to Tasmania. 

My parents had already notified me of their intention to move back.  At the time i thought, thats alright, im tough, and there will be phone calls letters/photos and i can visit. 

I ended up suffering frm stress and depression because:

1:  I was going thru caffine withdrawal - my own fault.

2:  I started convincing myself that i didnt need anyone to be there, that they didnt really care abt me. 

3: I felt that my baby would not be loved like one of my family.

Fortunately, i had a physically great pregnancy and was fine by the time my son was born.  My parents had put off moving back to Tasmania until after his birth.  They left 1 week later.  It hurt me, but i didnt express that or talk to anyone abt it, as i understood their need to be back in Tassie.  Moving on to when i fell pregnant with my second son.  Again a physically great pregnancy. I didnt suffer from the depression or stress that had gripped me during my first pregnancy.  But i still didnt talk to anyone about my fears, unhappy feelings or problems- after all, i was busy being happy optimistic Lisa, the one that tried to make everyone else feel better.  I went on like this until my youngest son was just over a year old - then i crashed.  I had a breakdown.  I had convinced myself that i didnt need anyone, that i was better off without anyone.  I was strong and would be happier alone.  I couldnt have been more wrong.  I thought that not only me, but my sons were any longer a part of my family in their hearts.  I didnt feel like there was anyone i trusted enough in my family or my partners family to really express what was bothering me. 

Since my breakdown, i have felt lighter and more free.  I found out just how much support i had from my family, and also from some members of my partners family.  I also learnt there is no shame in admiting you are unhappy or just to have a plain old whinge to someone.   Its a form of stress relief and talking to someone else helps to put things in perspective.  As my Nan reminded me,  'A problem shared, is a problem halved'.   Its what she told me all my life, along with lots of other little gems of advice, which she is now dilligently reminding me of.

I guess what Im trying to say, is that anyone else in a similar position to mine, should try to remember that while there may be distance and time between you and your family, they DO think abt you, and they ARE there for you when you are in trouble.  Also, I found out that your local GP is more understanding than one might think.  These days there is more awareness about depression, and people like me and others who have or do suffer from it, need to help stamp out the stigma of weakness that comes with it.