I am new to this message boards. My
father has depression. It all started
back about two months ago from today,
there way not much going on there, but
since then he has lost nearly 30 pounds
from his orignal weight of 170. We have
taking him to a general physcian to have a
physical test and blood test also done on
him. All of the test came back ok. The
first time the doctor prescirbed him the
anti-depresseant called citalopram. I
think it was a low dosage, he took took
that for about three weeks along with
sleeping pills provided by the dr called.
Amiben. He was having trouble sleeping.
From my understanding amiben would knock
someone out for hours. My would wake up
in maybe 6 or 7 hours. When he was taking
the anti-depressant. He was expereince
excess sweating constantly and shaking of
the left arm. He continued to worry about
everything. He would not let anyone leave
his side. He would hold on to my brother
and sister and tell them dont go anywhere
say right by me. I dont anyone to leave
me. He feels that everyone is going to
leave him. He is always wondering how we
are going to pay the bills. We have a
business that is not in the best of area,
more like the ghetto, and it has a home to
live in the business it self. Its a local
hotel. He is always worried about what is
going to happen or where are we going to
get the money to pay people back. I know
we dont live in the best of areas, but
thats all we can afford based on our
situation. We are all trying really hard
to get out of here and get a nice house
for us to live in and help each other out.
I am worried about him so much that it is
taking a toll on our family. My mother is
by his side. She stays with him all of
the time. My brother and myself have
taken much of the business reponisiblabity
and kept him limited. He is always asking
us you are coming back right. Dont leave
me. Well just last week he had another
Dr. Appointment to review his tests
(blood work) they also did an ekg b/c he
always is feeling nervous. Everything was
normal and in best of health. But the dr
changed his anti-depressant medicine to
paroxetine and increased the dosage to
20mg. Along with that he has some vitaims
the dr prescribed for him to take also.
It has since been a week now that he has
been taking the paroxetine. He is taking
in the afternoon. The reason why is that.
He stays up part of the night watch the
office, the office is attached to the
living quarters, you can see nicely and
peacefully in the livingroom watch tv and
watch the office. But we dont usually get
the type of customer that are nice .. I
mean we live in the ghetto. That is
enough said. Sometimes he is making
progress, but then sometimes he is not. I
know we can not be angry with him we have
trying really hard. It seem much of his
fear and thought circulate around money
and worries. He does not want to go
anywhere from here, but stay here. My
mother has been a blessing for us. We all
work and go to school all day and she is
here with him and handling so much with
the hotel, people, and her husband that
sometimes she just want to break down and
let it out. My father used to be an
acholic. Its been about two years since
he has not been drinking. I dont know if
that has an effect on the situation. I
really need some advice, pointers, or what
can we start to do other than the medicine
if there is anything else. We do not have
insurance and I have applied for the
stated funded insurance, but have to wait
and see if he qualify for it. Please if
anyone out there can help us with any
information of what we can do or change it
would help us a lot. I dont want to see
him like this. He age is 53. I should
have put that in the beginning of the
message. Thanks for your help.
|
johnR
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 229
Posted: 06-01-07 14:12pm
Aum sorry to hear about your dad's
struggles. Go to the library and get some
books on cbt. If he wants to help himself
by doing the exercises like the tea form I
think it will help him and it won't cost
him anything
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johnR
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 229
Posted: 08-01-07 19:14pm
ThomasJones
wrote:
Johnr -- I received the book
and have already gone through it as it is
a quick read. I liked how concise it was
and how no words were wasted. It was
written in layman's terms. I have
started doing the tea forms in my mind.
Baby steps. I will have to force myself
to get a pen and write the tea forms out
as that is the most effective way.
Thanks again for recommending
it.
Hey Thomas I met someone today who shares
your name, but goes by Tommy rather than
Thomas. Anyway, it made me think of you so
I thought I would post you a note to see
how your life is gong? I'm doing really
well but it is hot here and I'm feeling a
bit lethargic today. Hope this finds you
well and hit me back with a reply and let
me know what's new with you? Cheers
|
ThomasJones
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 May 2006 Posts: 7
Posted: 08-04-07 00:27am
johnR
wrote:
Hey Thomas I met someone
today who shares your name, but goes by
Tommy rather than Thomas. Anyway, it made
me think of you so I thought I would post
you a note to see how your life is gong?
I'm doing really well but it is hot here
and I'm feeling a bit lethargic today.
Hope this finds you well and hit me back
with a reply and let me know what's new
with you? Cheers
Hi John, it's good to hear you're doing so
well. This is my first visit here in a
long time.
Things are not going well on my end. I
have been unemployed for eight months and
I'm beginning to wonder if I ever will
find a good job. And since starting a
romantic life is extremely difficult for
me in the best of times I am not bothering
with that for now. I occasionally try to
catch my negative thoughts, but writing
them down in tea forms is not for me. Too
new age I suppose.
I have been running about 20 miles per
week. It gives me time to think and helps
with the stress. If I were able to run
from dawn to dusk and get paid for it I
would gladly do so. While I'm only a
weekend warrior when it comes to drinking
I'm going to try to give it up for a month
and see if that aids mental well-being.
I had opportunities to meet with friends
tonight but I passed. When I'm really
down it's best for me to work through it
away from others. I don't want to kill
the party, plus I feel envious when
everyone else is smiling and I'm
miserable. And depression is a difficult
thing for those who don't have it to
understand.
|
johnR
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 229
Posted: 08-12-07 20:45pm
ThomasJones
wrote:
johnR
wrote:
Hey Thomas I met someone
today who shares your name, but goes by
Tommy rather than Thomas. Anyway, it made
me think of you so I thought I would post
you a note to see how your life is gong?
I'm doing really well but it is hot here
and I'm feeling a bit lethargic today.
Hope this finds you well and hit me back
with a reply and let me know what's new
with you? Cheers
Hi John, it's good to hear you're doing so
well. This is my first visit here in a
long time.
Things are not going well on my end. I
have been unemployed for eight months and
I'm beginning to wonder if I ever will
find a good job. And since starting a
romantic life is extremely difficult for
me in the best of times I am not bothering
with that for now. I occasionally try to
catch my negative thoughts, but writing
them down in tea forms is not for me. Too
new age I suppose.
I have been running about 20 miles per
week. It gives me time to think and helps
with the stress. If I were able to run
from dawn to dusk and get paid for it I
would gladly do so. While I'm only a
weekend warrior when it comes to drinking
I'm going to try to give it up for a month
and see if that aids mental well-being.
I had opportunities to meet with friends
tonight but I passed. When I'm really
down it's best for me to work through it
away from others. I don't want to kill
the party, plus I feel envious when
everyone else is smiling and I'm
miserable. And depression is a difficult
thing for those who don't have it to
understand.
Good to hear from you Thomas but sorry to
hear things are rough right now; I feel
for ya bro Running or any
kind of aerobic exercise is great so keep
that up and I hope the break from weekend
drinking proves useful as well. I
certainly know what you mean about not
wanting to hang with friends when you feel
down or crappy. I hope you keep taking a
stab at countering your thoughts in a tea
form as the work builds new pathways in
your brain that inoculate you from future
anxiety in depression. They have helped me
more than I ever expected but I know what
you mean about them seeming new agey. In
fact they have been around since longer
than I have been on this planet and are
considered the back bone of cbt which also
predates me. Anyway, first and foremost I
hope you find a decent job because being
out of work accelerates the vicious
circle of anxiety and depression. Hang in
there and keep in touch. I'm rooting for
you