My dad suffers from severed clinical depression and anxeity. How do I help him?

Question

He's in the upper 40s and became unemployed 10 months ago. He's always been depressed, but it's very bad. He's on medication but it doesn't work. How do i help him, how does my family help, what can he do to help himself? Buffalo, NY

Answer 1

just be around him as much as possible.. theres nothing that you can really do besides love him and talk to him and let him know that your there for him. the only one that can really help him is himself and thats just going to take time, but i know for a fact that compassion and always being there for him is the greatest thing you can do for him

Answer 2

You are a good person to care so. Be patient because you may want the family to stay together more than to cure depression in one member. There's nothing that you can really do besides love him and talk to him and let him know that your there for him. If he goes on medication, peace can be maintained for many years. After that all the worries don't matter any more. Be prepared to discover that you too are an outsider in life and will find you have no one to help you.

Answer 3

First, he needs to find a psychologist to help him. If the meds aren't working, he may need to be on something else.
Second, meds are not the full answer for severe depression, he must be in counseling too. A good counselor who will work with him and the family to get him on the right track again.
Third, make sure you are all encouraging him; eating well (alcohol and too much sugar can cause depression to worsen), taking meds (if necessary), getting exercise (endorphins in the brain are activated with exercise elevating mood), finding hope through God, talking and being open and honest, limiting stress and getting adequate sun light and fresh air (sun helps to boost mood in winter months when it's dark longer).

Keep in mind that if your dad has always had a problem with depression that his job loss is a major blow to him. Men define themselves by their employment, so losing a job is devastating to their egos. Encourage him to seek out job counseling and maybe get into a group to discuss career paths that he can take.

Having hope and knowing that he can over come this is very important. I suggest he begins to read some books about hope and to reach out to God and ask for His help. God love him and will help.

Take care, I will pray for your family.

Answer 4

Over the last five years I had begun to have increasingly withdraw into a downward spiral of depression..

But now with the method I can fully focus my energy and thoughts into a decisive line on how to make my life better constantly. And it works like magic! I'm beginning to attract people to me once again and things have just been looking up since then.

Helping you eliminate depression?

Answer 5

I have family members who sufferred too, and through that, i know for fact that pills that "cures" depression and anxiety just makes it worse, once my aunt banned herself from those pills and start drinking herbs (i.e, chamomille tea,) she was miraculously cured from any symptoms and suffering.
note: meditation and lots of rest helps tremendously.

Answer 6

i have a anxiety problem now and then ..what works for me is i take a 4mg activan at night and go to bed great nite sleep and i feel great the next day and for me it last longer then one day..but that's me ask ya doc..wish you and ya dad the best......

Answer 7

Have you met with his doctor yet? What does he/she suggest what you can do?

You need to tell your dad's doctor his medication is not working.

Answer 8

he needs to talk to someon that really helps most of all and tell him to try lexapro worked 4 me and my wound up job

Answer 9

Pray for him.
Jesus can do anything.
Only He can give the peace your Dad's looking for...

Answer 10

he can go to a mental clinic to get help
the family just try to be patient with him