12 Signs You May Be Depressed

By Jennifer Elizabeth Masters

Everyone experiences sadness from time-to-time. Depression is very different than sadness as it is more severe, usually accompanied by low self-esteem, loss of interest in activities that would normally be enjoyable, low energy and pain for no reason. Depression is characterized by dark or low moods for more than two weeks. Depression affects home, family, work and social functioning. 

Women experience depression twice as often as men.

Many of us experience depression and are unaware of why we feel so bad. I experienced chronic depression for over twenty years without being diagnosed. My mother pooh-poohed that I was depressed because I functioned, though not very effectively in my life. I was irritable, reactive and even aggressive with others. I lost interest in sex, had insomnia I "managed my insomnia" with two capsules of Benadryl a night. I lived life in a fog of fatigue, illness, aches pains and memory loss. 

What Causes Depression

The medical profession admits to not knowing where depression begins. From my personal perspective, I found that depression is due to a combination of unbalanced hormones, lack of serotonin and repressed anger that we are unable to express at an early age.

Sexual molestation, rape and not being loved, validated or confirmed by our parents in positive ways also contributes to depression. Divorce, break-ups and feeling unloved and lonely can also add to our burden of pain and suffering. Our thoughts become increasingly negative which impacts our stress levels adding to the downward spiral of emotions.

We are left holding a bag of deep-seated repressed resentment and anger from being a "good girl" or "good boy" for our parents. 

The stored emotions begin to bubble up when they are unprocessed. Our body will begin to show signs of struggle with illnesses like diabetes, cancer or arthritis. The longer that our trapped emotions stay in our body, the more profound the depression and physical body pain becomes. PTSD is another form of suppressed emotion with a side of depression.

What The Medical Profession Says

The cause of depression is a combination of genetic, environmental and psychological factors. Approximately 40% of the risk for depression is related to genetics. Other factors such as major life changes, chronic illness, certain medications and substance abuse. 

Cognitive behavior therapy and interpersonal therapy can help. Medications seem to work better in cases where severe depression is present. Taking medications without doing some form of therapy, energy work or healing will not cure the depression. 

Medication and Affects:

Medication for depression is not a cure all. Medication places a band-aid over the issues and further suppresses the original cause - emotions that have not been experienced and expressed. 

I was given Prozac for my depression and fell asleep at the wheel driving to work repeatedly. When I drove three exits past where I worked, I called my doctor that day and said, "I'm done with Prozac!" He informed me it was dangerous to go off the drug cold turkey. My response was, "Not as dangerous as driving three exits past my work without knowing how I got there." I never took another prescription for depression or anxiety (except an occasional antibiotic). 

I cured myself through cognitive therapy and energy healing which I now do for my clients.

15 Natural Cures For Depression That Don't Require A Prescription

Signs of Depression:

1. feeling listless and hopelessness
2. insomnia
3. fatigue 
4. negative thinking that you can't stop
5. irritability
6. increased aggressive behavior
7. memory and recall issues
8. pain without a reason
9. loss of interest in life, social activities 
10. hearing voices in your head that aren't yours
11. you might even feel a little crazy (and how I hate the expression "cray cray!"
12. clutter in your car, home, closets and office

Given the peak onset of depression is 25 to 44 years of age, hormones play a significant role in depression in women.

Different Types of Depression

Yes, there are different types of depression from Pre-menstrual, Post Partum Depression, Perimenopause, Menopause, Bi-Polar and Borderline Personality Disorder. 

What Can You Do?

Cognitive Therapy has been shown to work at least as well if not better than anti-depressants as it treats the root cause, rather than providing a band-aid that masks symptoms. The work I do with clients uses Cognitive Therapy in combination with energy clearing to lift the root cause or pattern, shift low-self-esteem and support you in feeling better about yourself and your life. The combination has remedied those with severe depression as well as those with suicidal tendencies. 

Testimonial About A Suicidal Client Cured!
8.18.2016

Jennifer has been an incredible force in my life since the day that I met her. She has done several clearings for me in the past, I knew she was the real deal and my intuition screamed to me, that she was the perfect person to help when my sister began to struggle with severe depression to the point of becoming suicidal.

A month had gone by and my sibling was like a shell of her former self. She was not eating, barely sleeping, and had not been able to work at all. I was able to convince her that an energy clearing would be beneficial for her. 

Jennifer had just returned home from travel right before I contacted her, but she dropped everything to help us within 10 minutes of my reaching out to her. Jennifer had a ton of insight into my sisters' personality and the origins of her struggle, yet half-way through my sister felt she couldn't continue with the clearing, and instead Jennifer continued with me on the phone. Because of this I was a bit skeptical as to whether it would work for her, but I kid you not. Four days later I contacted my sister and she was at Disney with her kid, about to "get some lunch" I couldn't even believe it worked that effectively and within such a short period of time. 

Since the clearing, my sister has returned to work and although things are not perfect she has returned to her normal, spunky, intelligent, funny, wise, self. 
I thank Jennifer tremendously. She has a true gift, a huge kind heart, and has been an enormous blessing to myself and my family. I would highly recommend her services to anyone and everyone. She's that good!
Sarah 

Are you ready to find happiness and love? Are you certain that your life can be better, happier and more fulfilling but you don't know how to get out of your way? 

E-mail Jennifer for a private discovery session to find out if her work is a good fit for you. Jennifer works with women to build confidence, healthy boundaries, self-esteem and step into their innate power. 

Find Jennifer's books on Amazon. 

Jennifer is the author of the forthcoming book:
Happy Here, Happy Anywhere
The Guide For Overcoming Anxiety, Depression and Unhappiness Without A Prescription!

Jennifer is both a healer and a love and passion coach. She empowers women to be the strong, powerful confident women they truly are, helping them find joy and love within so that life becomes a moving meditation filled with bliss, fun and happiness.

Why New Mothers Avoid Sex After Childbirth

By Jennifer Elizabeth Masters

There are plenty of reasons women don't want sex after they have had a baby. An Australian study surveyed more than 1,500 women after childbirth. 13% of women won't have sex for six months after their first baby is born. The second child could take even longer to recover from. 

Remember that everyone is different. I remember hearing about a cousin of mine having sex with her husband in the hospital yes, right after she delivered her first child. Some women have an incredible sex drive after having a baby, while others couldn't even think about sex for months. I was one of the latter.

This study found that 41 percent said they had resumed vaginal sex within 6 weeks after delivering their baby, 65 percent by eight weeks, 78 percent by 12 weeks and 94 percent by 6 months.

Why?

After having a baby, there are many reasons many women aren't the least bit interested in sex. The biggest reason women don't want sex is that they don't want to get pregnant - AGAIN! I remember being so fearful I would get pregnant. Sounds logical, doesn't it? Many men don't understand what a woman goes through chemically, physically or emotionally during pregnancy and up to three years after childbirth for some women.  

Even with breast feeding a new mother is highly fertile. She will not want to have sex for fear she could be pregnant before she has even re-gained her beautiful figure.

New Mother's Rarely Feel Sexy

The second biggest reason women don't want sex is that they don't feel sexy. Wearing a big breast feeding bra, leaking milk, having a baby hang on them almost all day, takes the pleasure out of being touched by their man. Every time you get turned on while breast feeding, milk squirts out of your breasts and rolls down your side, leaving you feeling sticky, reminding you what breasts were really made for! 

Losing baby weight takes

months - even years for some women. During this time, their breast begin to sag, their tummy is not as tight as it used to be. How could it be. They had a little human in there. I remember my husband looking at me and saying, "You know you can lose that, you know?" I wanted to kick him in the balls. He was not the one that carried three children for 9 months. Men who make comments like that need to be strung up and ...... (something to do with 50 shades of gray) sorry, I got carried away.

Don't Touch Me!

The third biggest reason new mothers don't want sex is that are getting all their tactile needs met holding, nursing, rocking their new baby. Taking a shift for your wife would help this. The last thing many women want is another person pawing and grabbing at your breasts or other body parts after spending all day and half the night nursing, cuddling and holding your new baby. 

I Don't Feel Sexy AND I'm Feeling Blue Too!

Not only does a woman's body need to get back in shape, they have chemistry to balance back out. Hormones are out of whack. They just finished carrying a baby to full term, delivered, her milk came in, she may or may not be breast feeding, there are a lot of hormones trying to regroup in her body. It takes almost a full year for everything to balance out after a full term pregnancy. 

Post partum depression is a real thing. It happens to the most stable of mothers. Crying for no reason, having fears that something will happen to the new baby are all very real. Be kind. Be compassionate. Be understanding. Give yourself a hand job if your lady just isn't interested. 

Remember, this child took two people to conceive. She did not get pregnant all by herself. Thinking that she needs to take care of all your sexual needs when she is taking care of your baby and herself, as well as the household, doesn't help either of you. She needs understanding. She also needs your love and acceptance while she gets her body-mind and emotions back. Balancing everything initially can be more than a new mother can deal with. 

Surgery

Delivering a baby can be very painful. It can cause tears along the perineum (the area between the vagina and anal opening) that take time to heal. Even after the stitches have disolved and staples from her C-section are removed, her body is in discomfort and pain. It is customary to wait for six weeks to have sex. However, for many, six weeks just isn't enough time. Not everyone takes six months to want sex, but many women do. 

An episiotomy scar leaves the vaginal opening changed. Her vagina is re-grouping. There are many physiological changes happening while her body heals. A woman may also be concerned she will be too wide, too large or not enjoy sex the same way after motherhood. Men too can be concerned about fit, feeling and whether he will enjoy sex the same, knowing what just came out of his wife's vagina.

Rest

Many women are so fatigued taking care of a newborn and healing that they would rather sleep than have sex. Women who are sleep deprived are less likely to want sex. Sleep deprivation has been proven to reduce a woman's libido considerably. With adequate sleep and healing she will be wanting to couple with you again. Just be generous with your complements and understanding. Remember this baby is yours too. Understanding, loving kindness and gentleness is what she needs. Do your best to be compassionate. This is a phase, this too shall pass. Be patient, supportive and loving. 

Kegels

Once things begin to settle down, doing kegels to get the vagina back into shape, as well as the pelvic floor strengthened can help tighten up the vagina. There are two distinct sets of muscles a woman can intermittently squeeze and release. The PC muscles are one set, that can be felt when you stop the flow of urine while peeing. Pulling up and sqeezing will tighten the PC muscles. Doing sets of 30 or 40 repetitions while sitting; squeezing, holding for 10 seconds. then releasing, several times a day while folding laundry or even nursing can help to restore your lovely female parts to their pre-pregnant state.

Kegels can strengthen orgasms as well as restore muscle tone.

Jennifer Elizabeth Masters is an author, love and passion coach and healed healer. She has been where you are. Having had three children herself, she knows what hormone changes can bring. For your free discovery session e-mail Jennifer here to book yours, or ask questions. 

Jennifer helps women and men recover from addictions, codependency, sexual trauma and depression. In the process of becoming happy with you, anxiety, fears, control, reactivity all fall away. Her own journey of healing helped her create a program that

helps people heal gently, without staying stuck in their story. If you are interested in recovery, healing or transformation, Jennifer will gently and compassionately give you the nudge you need to get out of your rut, stuckness or negativity. Having healed her own depression, illness and victimization, she knows what works and what doesn't.