I was compensated by Med-IQ through a grant from Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. and Lundbeck to write about depression awareness. All opinions are my own.
My Depression Story
My husband and I had talked about wanting kids very early in our relationship — like two weeks in early. Fast-forward 10 years, two apartments, a house and a dog later, and it looked like we were finally going to take the plunge into fatherhood.
Yet as we got closer to each decision and milestone, uncertainty started to creep in. The pressure of when and how to take these first, definitive steps; wondering how it would affect our relationship; the question of how we would go about forming our family; the potential challenges of being a two-dad adoptive family. All of these things stressed me out, overwhelmed me, and eventually shut me down.
Helping Myself
So I got help. I found a therapist who prescribed medication to treat what turned out to be depression and anxiety, and we were able to move forward, start our family, live our lives.
But I wouldn’t be where I am today (our son just turned 8, and Papa and I just celebrated 20 years together) without talking to someone about what was rendering me emotionally paralyzed. My own experience with mental illness is why I’m partnering with a leading healthcare educator — to encourage others to find out if they’re suffering from depression, and learn how it can be treated.
Med-IQ is an accredited company that provides continuing education courses for healthcare professionals. They’re now shifting to also focus on patients — providing info that will help patients get more involved in their own care. Med-IQ’s goal is to inform the general public and create a more efficient, effective interaction between patient and physician.
Med-IQ has created a short survey that can help you discover if you’re suffering from depression. It also lists symptoms to look for, various treatment options, and the best questions to ask your doctor.
Why Take the Survey?
• The process is less than 10 minutes long.
• In addition to looking after your own well-being, you’ll also be doing something great for your family.
• BONUS: You’d be doing me a huge favor.
If that’s still not enough incentive, how about $100? I know everyone’s time (especially parents) is precious — so complete the short survey, then enter to win one of 10 $100 Visa gift cards.
But seriously, your mental wellness should be enough of a reason. And FYI, your answers are anonymous — no personal data is kept, stored, or sold.
To be entered to win one of 10 $100 Visa gift cards, once you’ve completed the survey, send an email indicating this to [email protected]. This is merely to distribute the gift cards — your email will not be given to Med-IQ or sold to third parties.
Is Life Perfect Now?
I wanted to end by saying that treating my depression did NOT make me a perfect parent… or enable me to raise a perfect child. What it did was give me the support and confidence to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a dad, and allowed my family to have a husband and father who’s always trying his best to be better at both.
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Resources
General Information on Depression
CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention)
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
DBSA (Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance)
Depression in Men
Men’s Mental Health Treatments CDC
Men and Depression NIMH
Male Depression: Understanding the Issues Mayo Clinic
Depression in the LGBTQ Community
LGBTQ Community NAMI
Gay and Bisexual Men CDC
LGBTQ Youth CDC
These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they are not intended and should not be construed as legal or medical advice, nor are they endorsements of any healthcare provider or practice. Med-IQ bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
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