I am a 22-year-old college graduate staying home to care for my daughter (21 months old). Although I know these are the most important years for her to have me around, and I love her company, I still have bouts of severe depression and crying fits, brought on by such petty things as my husband leaving his underwear on the floor. I truly feel insane sometimes. We just moved four months ago, and I'm 2,000 miles away from all my friends and family and everything I've ever known. I am home all day by myself with nowhere to go, no one to talk to, and no money to get therapy OR child care. I think maybe I just need someone to tell me my situation isn't hopeless, and a way to deal with this extreme sadness and feeling that I am lost and alone.

Stephanie

You've certainly undergone some tremendous changes in your life in the past few years -- marriage, pregnancy, giving birth, graduating from college, and moving far away from your support network. It's no wonder you're feeling overwhelmed and alone.

I suspect that most young mothers (or any woman who once was a young mother) can empathize with what you're going through. I hope you're posting and sharing your situation on some of the message boards in the Better Health community, or participating in some of the chats. I bet those channels could provide you with immediate support from people who've been there ... and survived.

But "real-life," face-to-face resources are also important. I understand that money is a problem when it come to therapy or child care, but I wonder if there might still be some options available to you. For instance, many communities offer reduced-fee counseling services through agencies such as community mental health centers or family and children's clinics. Churches often offer mom's groups or "mother's day out" programs to give Mom a break from child care. I also hope you can begin to make friends in your area as soon as possible, especially with other mothers of young children.

Although caring for your daughter is, of course, very important, so is taking care of YOU. Perhaps you need to establish some interests and activities in your life apart from those of wife and mother. What about talking with your husband about how you're feeling, and problem-solving together? Your daughter (and probably your husband) will ultimately benefit from your increased happiness ... as, of course, will you.