by BabyCenter Guest Blogger posted in Pregnancy

By Elizabeth Dougherty
I suffer from depression. It's terrifying to admit something so personal to such a large audience. But until more people fess up, mental health issues will continue to carry a stigma that physical problems don't.
If, by telling my story, I can ease the suffering of one woman, inspire one mom to get help, or simply get anyone who's depressed to know that that she's not alone, it's worth it.
My depression was accidentally diagnosed
When I was in my late 20s, a specialist prescribed an antidepressant to help relieve chronic pain. Soon after I started taking it, I felt as if a black cloud that had been hanging over me my whole life had been lifted.
When my doctors probed more deeply, it became apparent that I had been suffering from lifelong depression. What's frustrating is that I'd been screened for depression multiple times and was even seeing a therapist for pain management. But my health team was focused on my physical pain and I didn't have "checkbox" depression symptoms ? weepiness, hopelessness, or apathy, for example. Instead, when I'm depressed, I'm tired, irritable, and, on my worst days, so overwhelmed that brushing my teeth takes a herculean effort.
By my mid-30s, I was married and wanted to get pregnant. Like many moms-to-be, I didn't want to take medication during pregnancy. Working with my doctors, I slowly weaned off my meds. I did well until I stopped taking the antidepressant ? ...