Mum has severe depression and anxiety..what to do next

[widgypog]

Mum is very unwell with depression. She has tried many courses of tablets with no effect(worse if anyhting). I spoke to NHS direct because I believe she should go away and have some therapy and treatment. They said it is available but is few and far between. So I went to speak to her G>P who said it is not available. ( I am inclined to think they dont want it coming out of their budget) I looked into private and it is £4000 a week!!.
Does anyone have any experience of all this. She has had 2 previous episodes of this but I dont really believe she has got better just better than she was IFYSWIM.
I just dont think me and dad are equipped to deal with it. She is anxious and panicky along sith everything else.

Sorry don't have any advice, only sympathy.

Bumping for you

thanks hildegard

Oh its horrible. Your poor mum

My mum has been through this and it was just awful to see. She was trying to be happy for me and and dh because we had just had dd and I was struggling a bit with anxiety too, but all along she was really suffering.

In the end she had to go for CBT which she luckily got through her employers (works for a private hospital) but the wait with her GP's was a ridiculous amount of time.

I would really stress that you go back to your GP and ask again for some help. It isnt something that will go away on its own.
Other than that, maybe have a search for independant practitioners in your area. Some arent as expensive as you think.

Is she taking any medication at all?

hi nbg. yes she is taking an anti depressant and some valium so she is quite spaced out..how long did it take for your Mum to get better?

I am yet to find a decent GP. I had to knock them and generalise but the ones I have seen do seem to be a bit useless. I am going with her on Monday and I am afraid I may just take out my stress on her as something has got to be done, but nobody seems to know what.

I looked into a few private clinics and they are very expesive. The thing is that one of the things that worries her is not having enough money for old age so getting her to spend some of her savings on treatment is tricky.

Oh along with all this they have a business which I am running while she is ill. Something I would rather not be doing..oh and walking their dog to try and prevent it
being re homed.

oh sorry I vented a bit then

Its so hard when someone has a mental illness as everyone around you becomes affected by it for one reason or another.

I know my mums was connected to her going through the menopause but I think from the start to her actually feeling better after the CBT was about 18 months/2 years. However that was because it took her a while to seek the help she needed for it.

Honestly the quicker she gets help the better its going to be for her.

I know your struggling with support at the minute but do try your gp again and if they still wont listen, maybe even try and register somewhere else and see if they will offer you some help.

thanks nbg...we are going tom pm . I have told mum to write a list of all the things that she feels are wrong etc. I am going in softly but if I dont get anywhere I am well able to stand up for myself..its just a shame it has to be like this..thanks for listening

Oh good, I am pleased

I really hope you get somewhere with them and your mum gets the help she needs and deserves.