How do I help my brother? He's 21 and depressed?!
Question: He's been struggling with depression. I talk to him a lot, and I think that helps because he really doesnt have anyone to talk to, and doesnt have insurance.
He's working to finish his HS degree, (he's moved around from my moms house to his dads house, and thus had to switch to 3 different highschools before he just stopped going) He's on his way to finishing, but is afraid for some reason that he cant?
He has dreams, he's a good kid! I just dont know, how I can help motivate him because he's in this shell. Sometimes he just "shuts off" because he thinks that stuff wont bother him that way. He's gotten so used to "Shutting off" that when I talk to him sometimes I dont know if he's listening because he's expressionless.
Im not hospitalizing him. I dont want to put him on meds b/c I dont want him to hurt himself, if the doctors dont get his dosage right. Which they may not until they find the right "mix" for him. They give away pills like candy, I dont want him caught up in that.
Answers: He's been struggling with depression. I talk to him a lot, and I think that helps because he really doesnt have anyone to talk to, and doesnt have insurance.
He's working to finish his HS degree, (he's moved around from my moms house to his dads house, and thus had to switch to 3 different highschools before he just stopped going) He's on his way to finishing, but is afraid for some reason that he cant?
He has dreams, he's a good kid! I just dont know, how I can help motivate him because he's in this shell. Sometimes he just "shuts off" because he thinks that stuff wont bother him that way. He's gotten so used to "Shutting off" that when I talk to him sometimes I dont know if he's listening because he's expressionless.
Im not hospitalizing him. I dont want to put him on meds b/c I dont want him to hurt himself, if the doctors dont get his dosage right. Which they may not until they find the right "mix" for him. They give away pills like candy, I dont want him caught up in that.
Being a good supportive listening sister is wonderful. Good on you.
At this point I would not suggest medication. Does he open up to any-one else though, this needs consideration. If he keeps all these feelings bottled up it may have detrimental effects on his mental health.
Keep an eye on him though. IS he prepared to get help over the phone. There are usually lots of self-help lines that can offer neutral and comforting answers. 21 is still quite a confusing age for most men. Try and get him to laugh more.
At this point all you can do is be there for him but seriously if you really believe he might hurt himself it is YOUR personal responsibility to get him medical help (i.e. hospitalization)
Wow, let me start by saying god help him.
Just, do anything and everything you can to let him know that there are people who love and care about him. Maybe try doing fun things with him to keep his mind off of it. And i know its easier said than done.
Just let him know how much you care about him.
Chocolate always helps too.
there is really nothing u can do but i think that he should c a doctor and get some type of medication and trust me doctors wont mess up his dosage... im 17 and depressed and im trying to finish high school as well.......i think he jus needs someone to help him
There's not much advise I can give on this but I can suggest in the short term to try and take him out to do something fun he used to do as a kid, try and show him the good things that are of value in life. Maybe he could get a hobby he could concentrate a bit on. I'm not sure about your brother but chocolate always works for me! =] A holliday might be good? Try and think if there's a reason for his depression, is there a girl, a bully or just stress of work. I hope this is any help to you, and hope everything works out!
My standard post follows, but, if you are young, antidepressants are unsuitable for young people. See depression treatments, at ezy-build *(below) in section 2, and consult a doctor, to eliminate thyroid problems, etc. as possible contributing factors: also seek a referral to a therapist using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy. It is your decision, and yours alone, as to whether to take any antidepressants offered, but, before you do, read section 1, and check medications out at www.drugs.com so you will be on the lookout for side effects, like sexual dysfunction. My strong recommendation, however, is to follow the advice of my doctor, his associate, and also Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP, and Dr. Mercola, at http://www.mercola.com and many others: avoid antidepressants (pages 2V, and 2Z refer, & antidepressant websites: page 2). The reasons why we all share the same view on this are explained in full, as you will find, if you read the whole section. All of their advice, (except prayer, because many people are not religious) I have incorporated into the "core treatments", including occupational therapy, relaxation techniques, and exercise, with others as options, such as the supplements: Inositol, or SAMe, or herbal remedies, like St. John's wort. If you are diagnosed with clinical (major) depression, antidepressants may be necessary for a while, which will give the treatments time to become effective. The antidepressants themselves need at least several days, or even weeks to begin becoming effective. It's a good idea to taper off them slowly, with medical advice, after several months, say, to a couple of years, at most, because they are only effective in the long term for about 30% of people. Because of this, you would be well advised to begin the treatments immediately, and maintain them. I'd just thank your mental health care provider, and pocket the prescription, trying the treatments for a few months, to see if they are sufficient for you, before considering filling it (unless clinically depressed, and having great difficulty functioning, or suicidal, in which case I'd take them). If the amount of daylight you have been exposed to recently has reduced, perhaps due to the change of seasons, see Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) in section 2, at * http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris and, instead of taking 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements, daily; replace 2 of them with cod liver oil supplements for the winter months only! (or, as probably a better alternative to the 2 cod liver oil supplements: 1 teaspoonful of cod liver oil, with a little butter, to ensure its use; I take mine on sourdough rye bread, or toast, covered with fishpaste, and pepper, to mask the strong taste). Consider having your doctor test your vitamin D levels, using the 25 HYDROXYVITAMIN D test. Optimal levels are 50 - 55 ng/ml (115 - 125 nmol/l. It should be above 32 ng/ml. Motivation is a topic at www.hypnosisdownloads.com Print/refer him.