Single Mothers At Greater Risk For Depression

Written by Dave Turo-Shields, ACSW, LCSW


Publishing Guidelines: You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long asrepparttar resource box is included with a live link to my site. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. ***********************************************************

Title: SINGLE MOTHERS AT GREATER RISK FOR DEPRESSION Author: Dave Turo-Shields, ACSW, LCSW E-mail: mailto:editor@overcoming-depression.com Copyright: by Dave Turo-Shields, ACSW, LCSW Web Address: http://www.Overcoming-Depression.com Word Count: 934 Category: DEPRESSION

SINGLE MOTHERS AT GREATER RISK FOR DEPRESSION

In a recent study of 2,921 single and married mothers it was discovered that single mothers have a 40% higher incidence of major depression, with a depressive episode lasting an average of 12 months.

There are two primary areas that catapult single mothers into depression. These are:

1. Increased number of life stresses

2. Decreased amount of social support

These findings correlate strongly with my experience in working with depressed, single mothers. Whatrepparttar 111365 research did not address wasrepparttar 111366 Catch-22 that single mothers are in.

If you are a single parent you already know what I am about to say. If a non-married, childless adult observed all that a single parent does throughout a day, they would need two days sleep to recover from watching such an exhausting day inrepparttar 111367 life of a single mom.

A single mother often doesrepparttar 111368 work of three people on any given day. Now, ask that single-mother to take time to reduce a stressor and increase her social support system and boy are you in for a fight!

There does not appear to be a way out. It's love, duty, hard work and little sleep for single moms.

Is there a better way?

Yes! However, before presenting it to a single mother, you'd better make doubly sure you've done a glorious job of attempting to understand what her average day is like, FIRST!

When an individual is heard, and I mean really listened to fromrepparttar 111369 heart, they have a tendency to open up ("Seek first to understand..."). Then you may haverepparttar 111370 opportunity to offer suggestions.

Now, let's fliprepparttar 111371 coin. Single mothers are often not just exhausted, but can also be jaded, indignant, prideful and stubborn. Life has not turned outrepparttar 111372 way they dreamed it would. Perhaps there were marital dreams, dreams ofrepparttar 111373 perfect home, dreams of providingrepparttar 111374 best for their children, dreams of spending more time with their children and dreams of beingrepparttar 111375 perfect family and more. All lost.

In place of those dreams they may have bitter feelings over repparttar 111376 marital loss, less than optimal living situations, no "play" time with their children, visitation issues, child support issues, financial stress andrepparttar 111377 list could go on for many more pages, couldn't it?

If you are a stressed-out single mom, please pay special and close attention to what I wrote above (maybe read it twice)... then read on.

Here are some ways to make your life easier. They are listed in no particular order, except if you are moderately- to-severally depressed. If that'srepparttar 111378 case then Major Depression (diagnosed by a professional) demands prompt attention first and foremost. Please, please take care of you! A few folks are counting on you to ;-)

Family Meetings 101

Written by Deborah Shelton


Family meetings provide opportunities for feelings to be aired and validated. They also allow younger children to feel they are an important part ofrepparttar decision-making process when it comes to family vacations and other major and minor family functions.

Beforerepparttar 111364 first meeting commences, set a few ground rules such as:

* Speak in a calm tone. * Avoid name-calling, finger-pointing, and sarcasm. * Turn offrepparttar 111365 TV, radio and telephones. * Allow each person to voice his or her concerns and ideas. * Listen to all opinions before making a decision. * If a person voices a complaint, they must also bring to repparttar 111366 table at least one possible remedy torepparttar 111367 situation.

Locations for future family meetings may also be brainstormed atrepparttar 111368 first meeting. Here are a few examples:

* Circle Time Very simply, sit onrepparttar 111369 floor together, in a circle. Designate an object as a "talking token". This can be a small stuffed animal, a necklace to be worn, a hat, or any other item that will be passed around. Whoever holdsrepparttar 111370 talking token may speak. Once they are finished, they must passrepparttar 111371 token torepparttar 111372 next person.

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