I feel like a bit of a twat for advising a nurse on healthcare, but...
I've had big issues with depression in the past, too. I can't emphasise strongly enough that you should make the first move towards getting yourself sorted out as soon as you can. Start with yourself, then with your kids - they'll understand if you're sick, no matter how young they are, but they won't understand why you didn't do anything about it.

I've lurked on here a very long time and I enjoy reading your posts (not so much this one, for obvious reasons) and you seem like a pretty grounded sensible person...the fact that people who've never even met you will spring out of teh interwebs to support you is a testament to you being a general Good Bean. Pick up the phone - it's not a big deal, so DO IT. Once you've been to see the doctor, you'll be referred to anyone else you need to see, and you'll have documents you can give to school and I'm sure they'll give you all the help you need to stay on the course.

Be proactive. It helps, even just little things: set yourself a goal, even if its doing something completely banal, but you'll get a kick out of the achievement. Get out a little more, that should help keep the weight from creeping on and fresh air is good for you. Perhaps you and your youngest could go for walks and discuss why he's not doing so good at school? (Although I guess that depends on whether your son would be in to that kind of thing)

So, in conclusion...
Sort yourself out. There's no reason not to...you may think there's reasons why you can't, but there's nothing actually *stopping* you once you've made the decision to do it. And I'm sure you'll have as much support on here, from your friends and family etc, as you need.
*hugs*
(berk, Fri 12 Jun 2009, 17:04, Reply)