My mom is sick and depressed. What should I do?

Answer 1

I have anxiety/depression, so it is like I have this wonderful "bank" of knowledge to draw from. I can't give medical advise, but I can give idea and supportive advise.

The first idea is to get Mom to the doctor, any doctor that is a general practitioner. The doctor will ask Mom a series of questions to see if her sickness and depression have symptoms he can diagnose. Some illnesses cause depressions, this is called "organic depression", that is a depression related or stemming from the illness.

If Mom is "sick nd depressed" just in general, go to a general practitioner with her. Sit with the doc and her and get an opinion. Or two or three.

Most health care insurance providers can also help with referrals. If no health insurance, most cities and areas have minimum help or "public health clinics". most of which are very good at treating illnesses and depression, as they have seen it all.

If Mom is depressed, get a health check up, a referral from the doctor to go to a mental health doctor. Treating depression is seldom a 1,2,3 magic, all gone situation. It may take months for the meds to take effect or to find the right ones, which is very common.

Getting a diagnosis enables you and mom to also research in the library and on line all the thousands of helpful and easy to read advise web pages and help pages. In a way, this is also a "treatment" role, as it involves the person in their own healing. Also, it tend to get the ill person a good feeling from research or that: "Ah Ha. Me too!".

All meds should be researched by you and mom, as some are not as effective as older ones, as our friendly pharmaceutical industry likes to push "new" meds which generates enormous profits. A good example is the 85% efficacy of "MAOI" (some which have food restrictions and some which don't) over SSRI's.

The terms you will find out all about when you and mom research. You have the power, no one else does.

Naturally, exercise, not smoking, limiting caffeine and taking a close look at diet is needed. Some foods, such *** heavy meals, starchy foods, heavy steaks, MSG, sugars all have a bad effect on many people.

If I didn't excercise, walk and bike I would be in very, very big trouble. And I do it anyway, even if it is hellishly hot in South Florida where I live.

Actually, if you only know how much food plays in all this, you would be astounded.

Also, there is the people factor. Said plain, when a person is ill and depressed, a close look at who is in the life of the person, who is a good influence and who is a bad influence is one very effective way of augmenting depressions and illnesses.

Also, the same goes for reading the news, watching the TV and movies. From now, "light and funny" only.

Fear not, it does get better, and you never know, something really wonderful may happen as a result of all this.

There are a lot of new meds these days, many options in including using generics medications, and support groups exist both in communities, churches, community centers and on line.

Answer 2

Call 211, info line and ask to speak to a therapist. The operator will take your name and number and have one contact you.You will get a call back with-in a half hour and you can explain everything going on with your mom to him/her. You can try asking her how you can help and make sure you let her know that her depression worry's you. Some times people can work them selves through depression but if it lasts more than a week you should really consider speaking to someone on her behalf. You can call a city or town mental health facility and speak to someone there, or you can call local ER and do the same there. Tell your mom your worried about her and see what she says. Maybe suggest she speakto someone and you will go with her. Listen when she talks and use your gut instincts. If you feel she is getting worse, get her help. Try 211 first, I use it here in ct. Please remember that depression not only affects that one person but everyone around, you need to take care of you too!

Answer 3

MOM needs to get to a doc. Have her checked for HOSHIMOTOS disease. It is very common in women and heireditary. It is a Thyroid disease,and can be checked by blood test. It is often overlooked. It can cause depression, anxiety, fatigue, hair loss,weight gain or loss,and make you feel like your going crazy,in severe cases. Most people dont know that the Thyroid, controls so much.I would start there. I know this, because my daughter has it.GO see an Endochronoligist.WHY be miserable,life is to short.

Answer 4

I think she need to see a medical doctor for a good medical work-up. Some blood work and such. There may be something medical causing the depression. If not, the doctor can get her on some medicine for the depression. Best of luck to you both.

Answer 5

Hi, Encourage her to go to a doctor ASAP. There is so much now that can be done for depression, many medications, one on one counseling, support groups, just to mention a few. I know this must be hard on you to see your mother like this, but you are sound very kind and supportive, which will help your mother immensely. Good Luck and I hope your mother starts feeling well soon.

Answer 6

Does your mom have insurance? if so you may want to be able to log into your insurance companies information superhighway web site and seek for for docs that are bilingual. If she does no longer, look in the phone e book less than clinics that artwork on a sliding scale fee and the classified ads say in the journey that they are bilingual or no longer.

Answer 7

If she is sick to the extent of not being able to get up, ask her to count backwards. Otherwise make her engage in some physical activity so that she does less of thinking/brooding.

Answer 8

This is a very good blog, a beginner’s guide to abnormal psychology.
Short, clear and simple; and you can even post your question and contact the author regarding particular subject you are interested in, for FREE

http://sensitive-psychoworld.blogspot.com/

Answer 9

try to get your mom to see a dr or get counseling and get on some meds for her depression
you sound like a very good daughter to worry about your mom like that
good luck to you and you mom

Answer 10

Every day have a conversation with her and each of you share three good things that happened to you that day. Simple little technique but it works.