Brooks

Birth of 2nd child caused post-partum depression. Mother's death triggered major clinical depression, which turned out to be part of bipolar depression (not determined until age 45). Beginning at age 35, began prescription medication and counseling for 10 years with minimal results- i.e., I didn't kill myself. I finally landed in a mental hospital and got SOME help, but physician error resulted in loss of half kidney function. After 2nd admission to mental hospital (10years later), I participated in a post- partial hospitalization which made major improvements to my daily life. I confronted years-old issues with the help of my counsellors and the counsellor they set me up with afterwards- one of the biggest was learning to be assertive with my husband .