A Follow Up to Catholic Motherhood and Depression Article

Catholic Motherhood and Depression

Dear readers,

Thank you so much for your thoughtful responses both on my Catholicmom.com column and in the comment box on my actual blog, The Theology of Laundry. I know I learned a lot!

Many of you suggested resources that I wish I had known about back when I was battling serious depression. I thought it might be useful to sumarize what many of you suggested – and may I just say how comforting it was to know that many out there have endured the trial of depression and are willing to reach out so openly.

Here’s a quick list of some websites and blogs that deal with one’s inner peace and mental health:

http://www.peacefulwife.com - A wonderful site, self-deprecating, honest and humble. This one made me pray.

http://respectedhusband.wordpress.com - Literally the ‘husband’ site of the peaceful wife blog. These spouses have made a momentous journey to peace together. Worth reading every word.

http://www.retrouvaille.com - Troubled marriages need this program. Click now.

http://www.johnjanaro.com - The blog is called “Never Give Up”, and can be found at this website. John also has a book called Never Give Up: My Life and God's Mercy, available on Amazon.

http://www.depressedandcatholic.com - A website by Kathleen Hockey which raises some interesting discussion. For example, her most recent was on ‘Catholic guilt.’ Her website is full of resources.

Books:

Who will rock the cradle? The battle for control of childcare in America, edited by Phyllis Schlafly.

When Anger Hurts: Quieting The Storm Within, by Matthew McKay, PH.D, Peter D. Rogers, Ph. D., and Judith McKay, R.N.

Please note: I have not scoured every single resource here looking for any potential conflicts with the Magisterium. Always do your spiritual and mental health reading under the care of a good spiritual director.

And this is my last piece of advice for suffering souls: seek spiritual direction. It has helped me grow in more ways than one. May God bless all readers, all those pressed under the weight of depression and may He also help those who love them.

With prayer, Marissa