Seeking advice on how I can help my dad who has suddenly become depressed and overcome by anxiety for the last 4 months or so. He is in his late 70's and previously he was an active man, swimming twice weekly, driving and out and about with my step-mother, interested in music, theatre, film. Now he is just consumed by anxiety and has no interest in life. He has also lost a lot of weight through loss of appetite.
This all seems to stem from them having to move and downsize their house as it is no longer possible for them to live there. For the past few months he has been taking 20mg/upped to 30mg of citalopram and taking diazepam a few times a day too. But he is still so overcome by anxiety each day, ie. wanting to go to a&e for small things, worrying about household issues, food poisoning, etc. All to do with his health and I guess realizing he is aging.
How do I deal with his anxiety when we speak on the phone, should I let him go to a&e, let him phone up people to check out his worries, ie. let him phone up about electric bill queries, drain blockages, etc. At present the whole family try and rationalize with him but should we just let him do what he wants to alleviate his stress?
At present he has an enabling team coming to help each day and another team overlooking the situation. Unfortunately I live a long way away and I am finding it hard to know how to deal with his anxieties over the phone.
I think they are considering changing his medication as he is so anxious and due to his age he cannot increase dose of citalopram.
It is so hard seeing my lovely dad become such a nervous, worried man so any advice would be great.