My Mom Won't Eat!?!
Question: Whatever I do or say, She won't eat.
My Grandma has passed away and my Mom was very close to her.
She has been very depressed,and I don't think it's anorexia, because when shes depressed she doesn't eat. SHE IS VERY STUBBORN. My family is waiting to get her into a depression facility, but she will get kicked out if she doesn't eat right.
What should I do?
Please help.
Answers: Whatever I do or say, She won't eat.
My Grandma has passed away and my Mom was very close to her.
She has been very depressed,and I don't think it's anorexia, because when shes depressed she doesn't eat. SHE IS VERY STUBBORN. My family is waiting to get her into a depression facility, but she will get kicked out if she doesn't eat right.
What should I do?
Please help.
I don't have an answer for how to make her eat. But I do recall when my mother-in-law was suffering from Alzheimer's and we couldn't get her to eat very much or often someone told me about Ensure - If you haven't heard of it it's a supplement to meals that has plenty of vitamins and calories and calcium all in one little can. The stuff tastes good and comes in a multitude of flavors, I was able to get my mother-in-law to drink a can or two in a tall glass after it was chilled and she thought it was a malted. Perhaps if you or someone in your family can get her a few cans in some of her old favorite flavors, you can at least get her to drink this. This would help to maintain her current weight and get the nutrients that's she's missing into her - I would as someone else suggested call the center that you mentioned or a grief counselor (most funeral homes offer this service or can direct you) and see if they have any suggestions. Time is all that will heal your mother's loss - be there for her and most importantly listen to her especially if she wants to talk about your grandma. Maybe even you and the rest of your family should tell stories about grandma and the fun things to remember about her. Laughter is the best healer and one thing you don't want to do is to not mention her or pretend that nothing has happened.
Good luck to you sweetheart, my prayers and thoughts are with you and your mom.
p.s. here's some info I found on Ensure and where you can print off a coupon if you want to try it.
http://www.healthcentral.com/nutrition/e...
sometimes it may be a challenge to get the good nutrition you need, especially if you are recovering from an illness. While you can still follow the basic principles or the Food Guide Pyramid and Dietary Guidelines for Americans, you may need help getting the right nutrition into your body. There may also be times when you might not feel like making meals or may not have the energy to shop or cook for food. During these times, oral nutritional supplements, like Ensure, can be a convenient and nutritious option. Ensure is a good source of protein and an excellent source of 24 essential vitamins and minerals. Ensure is nutrition for a healthier you.
Ensure Nutrional Facts
Serv. Size 1 bottle (8 fl oz)
Calories 250
Calories from Fat 50
Total Fat 6g 9%
Potassium 390mg 11%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Total Carb. 40g 13%
Trans Fat 0g
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Sugars 22g
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Protein 9g 18%
Cholesterol 5mg 2%
have you tryed to contact the depression senter. if that dose not work than u should say you will kill your self if she will not eat. that worked with my mom
People who're suffering from moderate to severe depression cannot be forced to eat as they simply don't have any will, at the moment, to eat. You must tackle the root cause of her problem, i.e. her depression, which means that she should be started on antidepressants by a psychiatrist, and once she's on that, then sooner or later, she'll start to eat again.
You need to get the whole family, relatives and friends together for an intervention with your mom. When all of you confront her with this problem at the one time, she will have no other choice but to acknowledge that she has a problem.
Good luck.
I know how you feel.
When my grandmother passed away, my mother was so depressed, she didn't eat. She lost so much weight. Still to this day, she doesn't eat very much, and she's very sensitive when it comes to food. My father is always making comments on my sister and I's eating habits and it makes her so mad, because when she was a teenager, her father would do the same thing, which led to her not eating for an entire week. Your mother is going through a hard time right now, but you just have to give it time. She's in mourning. Everybody grieves in different ways...I think putting her in a facility would make it even worse. Maybe look into finding a therapist she could go and talk to...it could really help her a lot while she's going through this hard time. xoxo
Depression is apart of the grieving process, if it is simply grieving and not organic depression this will pass and she will have some resolution. I also doubt a mental health facility will kick her out for not eating, thats what they are there for.... to help peoples abnormal behaviors. Therapy is also an option, a therapist may be able to guide her through the steps of grieving.
Just for reference the steps of grieving are:
1. Denial, wishful thinking
2. Anger, guilt, depression, negotiation
3. resolution and remembrance of the person in a good light
----keep in mind some people will jump around in this order
You may also just want to be honest with her and tell her that her behavior is not healthy and tell her that what she is feeling is natural and that she needs to take care of herself because it is not fair to you. Good luck and I'm sorry for your loss
being one whom is on antidepressants, the only thing you can do for mom is Encourage her to get help! You cannot push Mom or say things like if you dont do this or that I wont love you or I wont be here for you because that will make matters worse! Try giving her some time...eventually she will get hungry..and if she is put on anxiety or antidepressants she will be hungry ALOT (well I find that) What-ever you do not get mad at Mum...she is and I am sure you are in your own way dealing with things the way you know how to deal with grief!