Depression and New Beginnings

​Have you ever had one of those days where nothing seems to go right?  First, you get a flat tire on the way to work.  Once you are late to work, your boss starts demanding that you get that project in today even though you were suppose to have another week to work on it.  You stop at the store after work because you remembered you were out of milk just to realize, after you got home, that you were out of butter too.  You make dinner for the family just to have them turn their nose up at it and all you want to do is cry.  

​What do you do?  Some will take a walk while others will sit and have a glass of wine.  What about that small bit of ice cream in the freezer?  No matter what your coping mechanism might be, you were given the skills to take that break and pull yourself back up.  You might have family or friends who you can talk to and help you work through the pain and sadness.  You pray, hope, and look for a better tomorrow.

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​What if you didn’t have the skills it takes to cope with your bad day?  What if you didn’t have a strong enough faith to go to God for help?  What if you didn’t have a fridge or freezer to keep that little bit of ice cream or you don’t have the family or friend support to help you work through your problems?  What happens then?  Many people fall into depression.  The hurt and abuse of their past along with the struggle of their today does not bring much hope for tomorrow.

​Did you know that many of the young women who apply and are accepted into New Beginnings admit to be suffering from depression?  They have seen no hope for a brighter future for themselves or their babies.  A kindness from some one only brings a temporary relief from the sadness and struggle.  Did you notice that after a bad day, you are not as productive as you usually would be?  Maybe you don’t sleep as much or you hurt a bit.  For those who suffer from depression, this is an everyday bad day.  Every day it is a struggle to do the simplest of tasks.  When it is really bad, even getting showered and dressed is a task that proves to be too complicated so to ask them to go out and work, would be asking the impossible.  The feelings of worthlessness and sadness just increase after not being productive.  Its an endless cycle.

​New Beginnings hopes to change that cycle for those moms and create that new beginning that those young women so desperately need.  We help teach coping skills and give the resources that they need not only physically but also spiritually.  With every success comes new hope and the chance of a brighter future.  Of course, this is not an overnight success story.  Sometimes, it can take a few months and sometimes it can take years.  Just as every person is different, every background story and recovery is different.

In this blog I talk mainly about depression due to circumstance and situation.  Of course, there are other reasons for depression and by no means am I trying to overlook or ignore them.  Sometimes it is really a chemical imbalance and your mind is wired different and therefore experience depression.  In this case, seeking out a professional who will be able to treat you effectively would be the way to go.  Another form of depression that we might see a lot at New Beginnings would be postpartum depression.  This is very common in new mothers as there are so many changes happening not only in a woman's environment but also in her body.  For more information, resources, and tips and tricks to help combat these baby blues, check out the website below by clicking on the button called "Baby Blues".  This article was written by Jackie Edwards who had gone through her own baby blues and found ways to help through research and learning.  Take a peek and learn some strategies to help yourself and others you love who may be going through it.

Baby Blues

Thank you to all who continue to support New Beginnings and give these women hope and a promising future.

​Christina Pritzlaff is married with two children. She has completed Early Childhood 1 & 2 classes, Infant Toddler classes, and completed the coursework for her Associates degree in Child Development. Christina splits her time between spending time with her family and working at New Beginnings. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her children, camping, fishing, reading, and doing counted cross-stitch.

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