Posted by fallsfall on March 5, 2004, at 13:18:46
In reply to Re: Hospitalization, posted by Ilene on March 4, 2004, at 17:56:05
Ilene,
I can certainly relate to the meds issue. I've been on different meds (including an MAOI) for 9 years now. Sometimes they help, sometimes they don't. Switching meds can be a very unsettling thing - and then it still takes a long time to decide if the new med is helping, or if you need to try something else. If your current meds don't seem to be helping, then I would encourage you to be pretty vocal with your pdoc and try something else (I loved Lithium - I took it for 8 years - my longest med).
I understand your zombie feeling - all too well. If some of your depression is worsened by your home environment (or your work environment etc.) then a hospitalization can give you enough of a break from that stress so that you can regroup - and return stronger and more able to deal with the outside world you live in. I have also seen the hospital help people in zombie states because they are a place where people do focus on you and how you are feeling and encourage you to do a little more while understanding that you do have real limits.
The other posters are so right about looking at the logistics, too. If your son has a best friend whose parents could take care of you son for a while, then you would feel more free to focus on you in the hospital. Or if there were relatives who could help.
Do consider moving to be with your husband. You need to weigh the cost to YOU of not having your husband's local support, the cost to your son of having you depressed - against the cost to your son of moving during the school year. It is appropriate to factor YOUR needs into this decision. Your happiness and stability do matter (to both you and your son, as well as your husband). The decision on whether to move or not is not ONLY based on your son's needs. Then again, I can't imagine moving while being as depressed as you sound. Moving when you are feeling good is hard enough!!! Would you have enough money to hire someone to pack your stuff for you (or enough really good friends)? This may be one of those times when you will need to say "If I was feeling good, I would pack it all and have a yard sale etc. etc. BUT I'm not feeling good, and I still need to move, so the MINIMUM that has to happen is stuff has to get into boxes (maybe your local Girl Scout troop would help as a service project), utilities have to be shut off etc. I wish I could do it the "right" way, but at this point I have to accept that I'll have to do it any way I can." Then you can sort out the mess after you have moved with help from your husband.
poster:fallsfall
thread:320157
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20040305/msgs/320687.html