The first thing you need to do is get her to talk to a license psychologist or psychiatrist ASAP. My mother has had clinical depression for as long as I can remember. Although there have been bumps in the road, she has gotten treatment for it (both counseling and medicine to correct a serotonin problem) and things have been really great. We also found out she has sleep apnea and that was making things worse because she didn’t even realize she wasn’t sleeping and it really messed things up for her…Most mental illnesses do have an organic component that can be helped greatly by medicine, and depending on the problem and severity counseling could limit or completely negate the need for medication if that is something your family is not comfortable with. Good luck.
My brother was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. He made terribly hurtful, wild accusations of abuse from my parents and made disturbing, threatening comments about my younger siblings, until my parents had to remove him from their home (in his mid-20’s) for everyone’s peace and safety. He lived homeless on the streets for a year or two until a certain city had him arrested and committed for dangerous behavior. This
finally got him evaluated and into treatment. He is now living and working in a stable situation and is pleasant to converse with, although he is still wary of my parents’ supposed abuse. He takes his medication NOT because he believes he has any mental illness, but because it allows him to SLEEP at night.
I understand some people refuse to see a psychiatrist because of the stigma attached to mental illness or because they don’t believe they have mental problems. (They’re too ill to see things clearly. Duh!) So my suggestion is, can you find a neutral, no-stigma-attached physical symptom like sleep problems or weight problems to treat medically that will help the patient (and her family) with behavioral / emotional issues also? Especially if the patient is getting older, the doctor may be accustomed to family members contributing symptom information privately and being present at exams / consultations to hear, remember, and help implement treatment suggestions. Your family member may be willing to see her general physician, who
may be willing to consult with a psychiatrist for specialized medication and dosage advice, but the G.P. may feel uncomfortable ethics-wise doing this without the patient’s knowledge.
Also, is there anything you can find diet-wise or exercise-wise to help brain chemistry and get at least
some symptom relief? These could always be explained to the patient as weight loss or general health improvement, such that they
might be willing to cooperate and stick with the program.
Sounds like it’s time for the Serenity Prayer.
Best wishes,
Christine
