Mid-April was the beginning of my downward spiral. I was beginning to ignore my house, my kids, my love of couponing.... everything. Every meal consisted of either fast food or snack food. I quit paying the bills and even bought milk through the drive-thru to avoid going to the store. Living and breathing became a chore, and the desire to be a good mom faded into the background as I struggled to understand the chain of events that led to my demise. I've never been a fan of anti-depressants, but the pain caused by my deep depression was starting to affect every aspect of my life. When you here the phrase "depression hurts", it really does. I had always believed it to be an expression, but I actually experienced real, physical pain. Knowing that I needed help, I swallowed my pride and made an appointment with my doctor.
 |
| I didn't realize that my hair pulling was an issue until it was clearly visible and my scalp was smooth to the touch. |
 |
| My doctor prescribed Zoloft for me and told me that the hair pulling (trichotillomania) was caused by the development of a new anxiety disorder. The Zoloft, she said, would help with both the depression and the anxiety. |
 |
| This is what my scalp looked like during the second month of my Zoloft treatment. I could no longer hide my disfigurement- ponytails were not an option anymore. From this point on, I was a hat owner- and I wasn't very happy about it. |
Next post: Trichotillomania
