DH finally agreed to go to docs for stress - what does he need??

[vwcampervanfan]

Hi all,

DH is suffering from stress, it manifests itself in unpredictable mood swings and flying off the handle. This has been going on for a number of years, particularly since we had DD and DS now 4 and 2. He has finally agreed to go to the doctors. I think he should try an AD to regulate his moods better, but does he need to be clinically depressed for this? (I think he is but he probably won't admit it). I am going to the doctors with him.

He is also on nicotine gum, has been since giving up smoking approximately 7 years ago, could this be affecting his moods/ stress levels and should I mention this?

Hello there, my DH has suffered with depression and anxiety for years, so I understand how difficult it is for you. I too had to wait a long time before he would agree to get some help.

AD will help him, there are lots of different ones, and they take a week or two to work. He may also be offered counselling alongside the tablets. My DH was reluctant to take tablets, but they really helped. They tend to start you on a low dose, then providing you can tolerate that, increase it to the next dose up.

It is a good idea for you to go to the doctors with him. If I were you, I would write down all the questions you both have so you don't forget anything once you are there. It is so easy to get side-tracked. I expect you will feel relieved when you have spoken to the doctor - I did, but I also felt exhausted myself.

I would mention the nicotine gum - I don't know if that could affect his moods but it would be worth mentioning to be on the safe side.

Good luck, I hope your appointment goes well.

Thanks Monikar. He didn't make the appointment today as he said he was too busy but I will keep working on him!

Not been yet Has anyone been prescribed ADs for "just" stress without depression?

They are prescribed for anxiety disorders as well as depression, so yes.

Hope your DH (and you) get the help you deserve soon. It's a really big step admitting something's up and going to GP's and IME it is really, really common to put it off and put it off.... :(

Thanks Ragusa. I've been on AD'd myself for PND, thankfully am off them now, so I recognize the signs in him and think ADs will help. He doesn't want to take them tho. If we get an ambivalent GP I think he might not get them ...