One step away from the paddy wagon.

danu3 · Dec 13, 2004

See if your husband is willing to take some classes on serious mental illness (does not sound like it the way you described, but worth a shot).

If he is willing, go to http://www.nami.org and look up your local chapter. Just hope they have a Family to Family class in your area. It is a 12 week class on serious mental illness (clinical depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, schizoaffective, ... etc) for family members who have love ones who is suffering the illness. It is taught by family members. There is a Peer-to-Peer course for people who are struggling with the illness also and is taught by people who are struggling with it. It is usually around 9 to 10 week course. The subject matters overlaps somewhat but issues are different.

-Dan

MoJoeRN,C · Dec 14, 2004

I have struggled with depression most of my life. It wasn't until a few years ago I even realized what I had was depression. Last year after suffering what I call a mental breakdown I started on Lexapro. It helped for awhile but I have noticed lately that I am starting to feel that same terrible feeling I felt about this time last year that I feel like lead me to my breakdown. I'm starting to feel the crazy notions (last year I ran off to another state and met these idiots I had met off the internet who ended up taking advantage of me and left me in an even greater state of mental chaos.) Now I'm fantasizing about running away for a vacation to the Bahamas, just picking up and leaving my husband and kids here and going. I just feel dreary, my mind feels numb, I am starting to have trouble concentrating again, I'm somber...I hate this.
My husband doesn't understand. He says I need to see a psychiatrist but he uses this as a way to insult me rather than as a way of showing concern. He calls me a druggie because I take Lexapro. I have to deal with a lot of stress taking care of a blind man (husband is blind) and three kids but I generally handle it a lot worse this time of year.
The weather also, it makes me feel terrible. It is cold and dreary, even when the sun shines it looks bleak outside, no leaves on the trees, brown grass...yuck.
Any experienced psych nurses know what this might be besides SAD?

I too have experienced clinical depression and have been a psychiatric nurse for 27 years. Clinical depression as defined as serious enough to require hospitalization for treatment and can include being on psychotropic medications and seeing a psychiatrist regularly for medication adjustments as indicated. Are you seeing a councilor or receiving psychological counciling. I have come to understand that the medications are good to help the depression initially but the medication alone will not do the trick. Learning important intervention strategies such as assertiveness training, stress reduction, anxiety and/or depression management, coping skills etc. . As you learn how to more effectively cope with the difficulties of life with these "tools", gain confidence and increased self esteem the need for medications can actually be reduced in dosage. In some parts of the country and in some treatment centers Emotions Annomous programs are available. This is a 12 step program which members support each other much the same as AA or NA,

and work very well for some people.