Serious question: my mom is overweight and it has been 2 years since she stepped out of the house, what to do?

Question

She says she is ashamed of the neighbours, she refuses to go out, even to see a doctor, she always says she will go out next month, next year, when she feels better, loses some weight etc. There is nothing we didn't try, we are all very worried, she even stopped seeing her friends, only her husband, 2 daughters and a son-in-law and so on.

What are we going to do? Are we supposed to call an ambulance and force her to go to a hospital? I mean, she is going to have to see some psychologists, right? But she does not want to, she hates the idea of going to a hospital.

Any advice?

Answer 1

Get the doctor to do a home visit. She'll probably need to see a counsellor as well, it sounds as if she has some confidence problems.

Answer 2

It sounds like your mother is severely depressed. Cutting off her food like some of the others have mentioned is not going to fix the problem. Obesity can contribute to the porblem, but is not the cause of depression,
Someone mentioned calling a doctor and seeing if they will prescribe an antidepressant over the phone. You dont' want to see any doctor who would do that. It is either unsafe, or they are prescribing a weak medicine that won't help.
If you call an ambulance, they won't force her to go to the hospital. That would be kidnapping.
The only way to force care on her is through the elgal system. You can get a court petition, or if she is an immediate threat to herself or other, the police department can make her get evaluated.
Here are some things to try:
1. Make sure she knows how concerned everyone is. It is very difficult to get over the inertia created by depression. I know she feels to tired to go out and do anything, but if she would make herself get up and exercise, she would feel better. Exercise can be as effective as an antidepressnt
2. Call her doctor and see what he/she can offer
3. Look in the phone book for mental health resources in your community. this is not an unheard of problem, and they may have some suggestions that have worked in the past.

Good luck

Answer 3

Depression, Acrophobia, it could be anything like that.
Get advice from a psychologist or similar. She needs help, and you and other family members are limited to give her the help she needs. Some doctors may say that the can not do anything unless she takes the first step- Alright, go to another doctor then.

Also, you need help too. It is a very stressful and emotionally hard experience you are going through. Get some good professional advice. Maybe there is some manipulation from your mothers behalf directed to a particular family member or all family members, to stop and redirect this conduct you will need help, as she does.

Do not lose faith, and seek advice and professional help, I insist.

Things will work out fine for you, I am sure.

Take care of yourself!

Answer 4

It sounds like a depression to me. It's a vicious cycle in that when one doesn't go out, the weight piles on easier and the more weight one puts on, the harder it is to get moving or to get outside and the more depressed one becomes. Something has to happen to break that cycle. I wonder whether she fully understands the predicament she's in.

You can't put her in the hospital without her consent and they'll send her right back home anyway. It'll just make matters worse.

I'm in agreement with the above posters who suggested that she needs to start some sort of a program that she can do at home until she looses enough to feel comfortable going outside again. Thing is, she will have to want to do something about her weight herself, otherwise all efforts will be for naught. There are DVDs out that are suitable for someone who isn't fit, such as "Women at Large." It's not difficult or exhausting, but it'll give her a sense of accomplishment. These are large women doing exercises and for starters, something like that where she can experience success would be good. Last thing she needs is an exercise program that's too difficult.

Talk to your mom about starting a calorie restricted diet. Nothing extreme, but maybe explain that in order for something positive to happen, she will have to start somewhere. If she can manage to try a diet and exercise for only 2 weeks, she'll start seing results and once the results start coming, she'll be motivated to continue. If she agrees, then get all temptations out of the house (candy, frozen pizzas etc). Offer yourself as sort of a coach to monitor her success once a week.

One final thought... ask your mom sometime whether she has any goals; something that she'd like to accomplish before she gets old and work with that.

Answer 5

Attempt to start her on a healhtier lifecycle but don't jump in to intense excercise and dieting. First, cut down on some fatty snack foods, then get her off cakes and cholesterol. Eventually, she will lose weight while still being able to eat normal foods. Encourage fruits and vegetables that will give her positive Calories and energy. Soon, she will be able to take a short walk every once in a while, but don't jump to long lengths. Even a quarter of a mile is a good start, and then you can increase the distances slowly. Take her diet slowly and she'll be much more healthy, fit, and even happy. Excercise stimulates the body and actually can make you happier.

Answer 6

Who buys the food for her? If she doesn't go out that means someone is bringing food to her. Start by only buying healthy meals. Lots of vegtables. no pop, get her moving to exercise. If she won't go along with it, then contact a Dr. and tell them the problems you are having. If you get the right Dr. he might make a house call and advise as to what should be done. There is always Richard Simmons,& Dr. Phil. What ever you do, it is to save her life, so don't stop and get doing what you have to for her to have a normal life again.

Answer 7

Wow. I am really sorry for her, and for you and your family. It must be very difficult living with this situation.

One of the hardest parts is knowing there is really nothing you can do if the person does not want help. I would keep trying and encouraging her to get out, maybe trying baby steps - just one foot out the door for one second, then ten, then both feet for just an instant, then step outside briefly, and so on.

But yes, it sounds like depression to me. Maybe you canget a doctor to prescribe anti-depressants over the phone, or, yes, some will actually make a house call in a case like this.

I did.

Answer 8

does your mom really want help? ask her. if she does. do research. its hard to help someone if they dont want help. But the big thing is..that in order for anything to be successful like this, the person has to be willing to help themselves. You can not force someone who is overweight lose weight. Even if its deadly. Just like you cant legally force someone to stop smoking. All I can say is encourage her. let her know you and family will be supportive all the way. maybe offer to cook healthy foods for her? You can see a doctor who can guide you with this. But the big thing, is to talk to a professional. Because sometimes forcing your will on someone else can be more detrimental than helpful. Good luck.

Answer 9

how obese is she? can she nevertheless stroll? easily, i were obese... i think of my maximum weight became one hundred eighty lbs. i were fat as a infant, so all those teasing from different young babies and adults, i had experienced all that, even from finished strangers... yet i'm holding a healthful weight for virtually 3 years now! i think of the guy who can help your mom the main is herself. tell her that there are different obese human beings available, and that they are additionally human beings who've the rights to be dealt with the two. ask her if she is ashamed of the associates, why? are the associates' opinion extra important than residing her existence? tell her that all of us stay a short existence and she or he's lacking a lot by utilising staying interior the residing house. tell her that what she is doing isn't merely affecting her, yet all and sundry round her. and if she loves her kin, she ought to make the situation to drop extra pounds and experience extra desirable. interfere along with her eating behavior, and likewise workout along with her. if she needs to lose sufficient weight to bypass out of the residing house, then borrow some workout DVDs from the community library or the DVD leases. i recommend Tae-bo. workout along with her, the extra, the merrier. make effective to no longer falter with the time table. i've got self assurance after a week of regulating her weight loss plan and the workout, she would be in a position to experience extra desirable. consistently have fun along with her progression. be vocal approximately praises. tell her that the weightloss could boost up if she is exterior the residing house because of the fact the solar will make her sweat extra, and strolling and briskwalking will boost her metabolism, then burn extra energy. if she wont alter her weight loss plan, tell her to no longer drink any liquid different than water. i assume she isn't the single going to the industry to purchase grocery, so no person buys soda. and use nonfat milk. additionally purchase extra end result and vegetables. additionally dont purchase snacks, junk ingredients, etc. with the workout, you may start up with 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the afternoon, then progression to a minimum of one hour walks or jogs (30 minute in the morning, and half-hour in the afternooni desire that those help. why is there a might desire to work out a psychologist? in case you think of that she might desire to be afflicted by some situation, then ask her no count number if that's ok if a doctor visits for a verify-up. good good fortune!

Answer 10

You need to get a doctor to come to the house to see her. Another option is to call the emergency and tell them she is trying to kill herself and they will send an ambulance and take her to the hospital and evaluate her. Thats kind of drastic

Another option is you can involuntarily commit her for evaluation for three days will the signature of two family members like you and your dad. Its called a 1013. After the three day eval. they will either release her or keep her for treatment.
. We had to do it for a relative because of severe depression. They wee mad as heck bu they got the help they needed.

I'll keep your family in my thoughts.. What a rough situation