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Mother Depressed?

  • 19-04-2010 9:23am
    #1
    foxyboxer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,528 ✭✭✭


    Hello,
    Not a personal issue but an issue we are having at home.
    I work in Dublin but tavel home to Cork every weekend.
    Since the start of the year, my mother seems to have fallen into depression.

    This was caused by my father moving out due to drinking. He seems to have cleaned up his act and moved back in home last month.

    Everything seemed fine, but she has put in a claim for Job Benefit Allowance. She works in home help for 6 hours a week and the claim is to make up the difference to the €196 per week. As we all know, the public service have been working quite slowly and the claim is taking some time to process. She receives the additional funds from the community welfare officer.

    The problem is now that she is having serious problems accepting that it takes a long time. She is constantly worried and has lost significant weight due to this. The persistant asking of "Will I get into trouble? Will I get arrested" is beginning to irritate everyone in the family and we find ourselves giving her grief for asking. We consistently point out that there is nothing to worry about. She has even told my dad she'd throw herself into the river (sarcastically...but still)

    We're all worried about her state of mind. She has high blood pressure and is taking sleeping tablets. Has anyone experienced this before and what can be done to ease her misgivings.


Comments

  • #2
    Cheap Thrills!
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,723 ✭✭✭Cheap Thrills!


    Yes, its anxiety and is a common companion of depression.

    Medication can make people quite anxious and panicky. They fret and obsess about things which are outside their control.

    It sounds like your Mother could be 'catastrophizing' which means she is jumping to extreme conclusions about everyday events. If so there is very little point trying to talk sense to her as she believes her own version of 'reality'.

    She needs to go for professional help for this anxiety as you can see no-one in the family can reassure her when she is in this state of mind.


  • #3
    Nevyn
    Closed Accounts Posts: 43,045 ✭✭✭✭Nevyn


    Just because your Dad has stopped drinking or drinking to excess that does not mean his behaviour or manner or how he treats your mother has changed, it could be the stress of having him back in the house as well as money worries.

    I would suggest that you see if you can get your Mam to go to Alanon meetings.


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