How can I help my depressed brother who doesn't want to take medications?

Question

After losing his house, relationship and going through a heart attack scare, for the past year my brother has been severely depressed , sluggish(sleeps 12 hrs a night) spacey, extremely anxious and seems incapable of making decisions.
Blood tests have shown him to have low thyroid levels,low cortisol and low serotonin levels also, but he balks at taking an antidepressant or other medications. It seems clear to me what he needs to do but he seems to lack motivation to follow any consistant plan of action.so nothing is happening .
He constantly complains how rotten he feels but resists my efforts to set up appointments or get him into treatment. He thinks he should go off and live at a yoga commune where he'll get regular meals an not have any responsibilities to stress him out. I respect yoga but I don't think he'll be getting the treatment there that he needs.
Any suggestions?

Thanks

Answer 1

Can you please give me directions on how to find this yoga commune? I seriously want to go there too.

Answer 2

Some people with mental illness are very resistant to treatment. There are some meds that a doctor could inject on a weekly basis so taking a med would not be such an issue with him. He might feel like a minor miracle if he would accept help. Does he need guardianship so things can get done on his behalf?

Answer 3

heart attacks/heart problems can cause depression, so cann low thyroid-maybe if you explain it that way-he'll go for it, see the primary doctor-you can phone the doctor before his appointment, ask him to ask him about his mood while he has him at the office, the primary doctor can prescribe antidepressants, in a short while your brother may feel better, but then he need to stay on them for many months at least 9-12 months, 2 years if needed. good luck I also have a brother who will not see/talk to any of us.

Answer 4

i know your frustration i have had to deal with both of my sons being bipolar and resisting meds. to be honest that's a tough job and its a hard thing to try to get people to realize what they need to do.unfortunately i don't think you will win him over on this. its to bad that places like this yoga place couldn't have some influence over him but of course they believe their way is better.is there any one else he will listen to sometimes someone who is not a relative can make some progress. i am sorry to say its hard to make people with these disabilities to understand whats best for them they can be very uncompliant. i commend your efforts to keep trying and that's all i really no to do. also maybe you could consider finding a support group for you to attend its a very tough thing to deal with and you could use some help and maybe even find a way through them. good luck to you.your brother is very lucky to have you in his corner. some day he will realize it.

Answer 5

Have you thought about talking to a therapist yourself? Seems that if anyone can advise you, that'd be the place to go. Think of it this way, if you're willing to talk to one, maybe it'll help him to accept that seeking therapy and taking anti-depressants is not yet another sign of failure - which is probably the reason he is so resistant.

Answer 6

A yoga commune? Is he serious? I don't think that's how communes work.

He does need help. Best you can do is what you're doing now: show your concern, try to help him, be there if he needs you. But if he refuses help there is nothing you can do. This is his life to enjoy (or waste)

Answer 7

I would suggest visiting a Psychologist
But scince he's hesitant I think a Long vacation to a faraway plcae would really help.
The Vacation could be to relaxing place like Bali or Goa your brother could relax and think about his life .........

Answer 8

put it in coffee